Brave New World vs Oceania

Neil Postman makes a sound argument about the differences between Orwell’s 1984 and Huxley’s Brave New World. It is true that Orwell “Feared that what we hate will ruin us,” while Huxley “Feared that what we love will ruin us” (Postman). Orwell’s society, Oceania, was extremely oppressive through violence and scare tactics; while Huxley’s Brave New World maintained control by creating a caste system and providing escape from fear and unhappiness. While there are examples in contemporary society that can relate to both fictional worlds, Huxley’s Brave New World is a more appropriate characterization of today.

The thought police of Oceania who would be able to gain knowledge of any idea that the residents had could be likened to the U.S. government’s ability to wire tap phones via the Patriot Act. However, wiring tapping is not as extreme as the thought police. We also do not have telescreens that can spy into our homes; however we do have security cameras and webcams that can allow us to see into the lives of others if they choose to let us. We do not have three minutes hate to direct all of our anger toward one subject so that we can remain civilized; feuds and displeasures come out everyday in newspapers; on TV; on the internet; and via word of mouth. Our media does try to manipulate us, but texts that are supposed to be truthful are typically not altered to the pleasure of the government. Members of the opposite sex are not separated and forbidden from engaging in sexual encounters like Winston and Julia; in fact, much of our culture is heavily influenced by sex. Sex is present in music videos, TV shows, commercials, and print ads. Half-nude models adorn shopping bags from Abercrombie and Fitch, and sexual references are made in countless songs that are played over the airwaves; much like how sex is ever present in Huxley’s Brave New World.

Huxley takes the casualness of sex to an extreme with kindergarten aged children playing sexual games on the playground; however he does present that sex plays a huge role in our lives. The technology of altering embryos is actually something being considered in today’s scientific world, not the intelligence level, but many genetic research projects relate to this. It is amazing that Huxley would dream of this, or have nightmares about it in 1932. The influence of soma, a drug that allows people to sleep away their problems and have a dream vacation from everyday life mirrors alcohol and substance abuse, without the unwanted side effects. Huxley is making a statement that we wish to evade our problems and fears, like when Lenina needs to sleep for 19 hours to survive the trip to the reservation. Soma allows the people to escape, and only enjoy the good things in their life. Even if someone is not an alcoholic or illicit drug user, there are still ways to escape; everyone has them. For some it may be music, reading, writing, sports, dancing, or any other hobby that allows us to escape from the rest of our lives. We do these tasks because they provide us pleasure or reward which provides pleasure. We do not do these things because it is our duty, and it is a fair assumption to say that many of us would be much less happy without our hobbies to release stress.

Why neither utopia is perfect, as none are, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley presents an idea that is much more relatable to today’s society. While 1984 does have some presence today, it would be much more applicable to a Cold War era society that feared the Communists and spies, much like the people of Oceania feared Big Brother, and in a society that as a whole is more conservative in public. In general, we do not use violence to make people obey society’s rules. Our society is influenced on a much larger scale by the media and actions of others. There is always a large group of people that want to fit in with the “in crowd” so they willingly comply, while a few choose to not conform.