1984 And Brave New World

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorHigh School, 12th grade August 2001

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MIDTERM When I was told to write a report comparing two of the works which we had read in class I knew immediately that I wished to use George Orwell's novel, "1984", but could not decide on which other book to use. I could have easily chosen "Earth In The Balance" by Al Gore or Margaret Atwoods "The Handmaid's Tale", but none of these seemed to intrigue me to the point which "1984" did. Luckily, I finished "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley before the report was due. I found that this book stood just as tall as "1984", and maybe perhaps even surpassed it. "Brave New World" and "1984" have the three qualities I look for in comparing two books. Both books were highly enjoyable and while both had remarkable similarities, they each had very distinct differences about them. In my report I will take a look at their similarities and differences.

The novels I will discuss parallel each other in many ways. They both attempt to give us a look into the future. Both novels take place in London. Orwell's novel takes place in the year 1984 while Huxley's novel takes place in the imaginary date of A.F. 632.

Both books have main characters who work among a system in which they are very much opposed to. In "1984" we meet Winston Smith who works in Minitrue which is the organization that lies to the public about things going on in their society. They distort numbers and facts whenever they find it beneficial to them. This brings inner conflict to Winston and leads him to wonder why this happens. It leads him to engage in anti-party thoughts and acts such as love and sex. To express his feelings he writes in a diary which is illegal.

Winston lives...