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Essay / A comparison between George Orwell's Social Control in 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World
How do the authors of the two texts explore the theme of social control? Both 1984 and Brave New World depict dystopian futures, with societies monitored and controlled by their government. George Orwell's 1984 describes how the ability to alter past events can be used to control the people of a society, unlike Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, in which control is achieved by degrading the chosen individual. Orwell describes how, through strict measures and sanctions, control can be achieved, while Huxley illustrates how fundamental anamalist pleasure can bend a person to someone's will. As The Party defeats Winston and the Brave New World characters attempt to overcome their conditioning, both authors show how when the mind is conquered, true control is achieved. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay In Huxley's Brave New World, control is gained not by altering the past, but by dehumanizing an individual. The text compares the treatment of humans to that of animals, claiming that students get information "straight from the horse's mouth" and that children have the "stupid curiosity of animals." This is further illustrated when the Controller calls someone "savage" and compares his citizens to "gentle tame animals". It is obvious that through the dehumanization of an individual, control can be achieved. Orwells, 1984, shows how control over past events can lead to the suppression of a population. This message is illustrated in the Party slogan, "He who controls the past controls the future: he who controls the present controls the past", recited by Winston during his time at the Ministry of Love. In The Mystery of Truth, memory lapses symbolize how social control can be achieved by controlling the knowledge available to a population, particularly in 1984, by changing and destroying facts from the past that conflict with the government regime. Vestiges of the past are, however, still present, such as the painting of St. Clement's Church and the old glass paperweight, which act as metaphors for a history unchanged by the Party. It is revealed however that the party has control over even these objects, as the painting of St. Clement's Church hides a telescreen and the old paperweight is smashed by the Good police as they arrest Winston and Julia. The Party manages to take control of its people in 1984. The Party's rule is described by Orwell through the metaphor as "a boot trampling on a human face – forever". This shows that repression of individuals can lead to the control and oppression of a population. There is also an element of irony in 1984, which manifests itself through circumstances such as the torture and brainwashing that occurs in The Ministry of Love, and that "Big Brother", rather than acting like a caring older brother that one might expect, is in fact, someone who controls through various cruel methods. In Brave New World, the method of control is completely opposite, with pleasure being the primary device used for control. Here, “everyone is happy” because citizens participate in consumerism and are encouraged to constantly consume and buy the latest things, with people who are not up to date being considered “humble” and “inferior.” Here, rather than eliminating sexual desire through criminalization, it has been devalued so that it acts., 2(1), 1-6.