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Compare And Contrast Brave New World And 1984

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It is not the nature of human beings to wish for unexpected change. On the contrary, we hope to know the possible results before making significant changes. When we look to the future, we hope we will know what we’re getting into. In Aldous Huxley’s dystopian Brave New World and George Orwell’s 1984, the authors paint the audience their picture of what the future might look like—a future of corruption and manipulation. Social critic Neil Postman claims that Hucley’s vision from Brave New World is more relevant today. While I agree with his assertion, many ideas in Orwell’s 1984 remain frighteningly pertinent as well. In 1984, the people are controlled by the all-seeing, all-powerful Big Brother. Threatening telescreens display a constant message that “Big Brother is watching” in every room, from which there is no escape. Petrified by the idea of what might happen to them if they break a rule, the citizens of Oceania live emotionless, cookie-cutter lives. Though we don’t see imposing telescreens and cameras …show more content…

Postman notes this contrast, saying, “In Huxley’s vision, no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity, and history. As he saw it, people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.” In today’s society, people don’t realize how thoroughly manipulated they are, or, even worse, they don’t care. As people become further addicted to technology and social media, they lose sight more and more of the consequences entailed. Each social media feed is meticulously crafted to pull you in and make you believe whatever the program wants you to believe. Because this is hidden behind the guise of “entertainment” or “keeping up with things,” users turn a blind eye to their excessive hours of screen time and the opinions forced into their brains. Lost in their search for fulfillment, they do not see the

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