George Orwell, author of 1984, and Robert A. Heinlein, author of Starship Troopers, both harshly criticize modern society in their dystopic science fiction novels: either by exaggerating fatal flaws or amplifying the triumphs of mankind. Even though both books present similar ideas about humanity, they portray them with very different attitudes. Orwell takes a depressing fear-inspiring approach whereas Heinlein motivates the reader to see the best of humanity.
George Orwell uses Winston Smith’s rebellion against the Party to represent self-sacrifice for the good of society. He sacrifices his personal safety by committing thought-crime, reading “Goldstein’s Book”, loving Julia, and rejecting the Party’s lies. At the meeting in O’Brien’s house, …show more content…
Heinlein demonstrates individual sacrifice for the greater good multiple times throughout Starship Troopers. Johnny Rico demonstrated this quality when he jumped into the bug-hole after his comrades:” I looked at the third hole, the one that had swallowed up my platoon sergeant and half my platoon…then I jumped” (252). The moment he jumps he is not thinking of himself, but rather of his fellow soldiers. This exemplifies the root answer to what it means to sacrifice for the greater good. Many other officers in Starship Troopers also sacrifice their lives to protect their platoons. Sacrifice allows people to “climb the moral ladder” (Brault). Heinlein respects and praises individuals who put others needs ahead of their own and illustrates this by rewarding characters for self-sacrifice for the whole of …show more content…
People show compassion towards others. The best example of this in Starship Troopers is when Johnny explains the biggest shortcoming and simultaneously the greatest strength of humanity. Major Reid asked Johnny what limit of prisoners it takes to start a war, to which Johnny replied, “It doesn’t matter if it’s a thousand--or just one, sir. You fight”(178). The willingness to sacrifice, show emotion, and fight for what they believe in makes them human. Empathy and compassion for others is uniquely a human quality. Johnny uses this to justify the war, killing the pseudo-arachnids to save humans. Because they do not show any regard for their fellow soldiers, the pseudo-arachnids are not human. Human’s care whether they live or die, the pseudo-arachnids do
George Orwell uses Winston Smith’s rebellion against the Party to represent self-sacrifice for the good of society. He sacrifices his personal safety by committing thought-crime, reading “Goldstein’s Book”, loving Julia, and rejecting the Party’s lies. At the meeting in O’Brien’s house, …show more content…
Heinlein demonstrates individual sacrifice for the greater good multiple times throughout Starship Troopers. Johnny Rico demonstrated this quality when he jumped into the bug-hole after his comrades:” I looked at the third hole, the one that had swallowed up my platoon sergeant and half my platoon…then I jumped” (252). The moment he jumps he is not thinking of himself, but rather of his fellow soldiers. This exemplifies the root answer to what it means to sacrifice for the greater good. Many other officers in Starship Troopers also sacrifice their lives to protect their platoons. Sacrifice allows people to “climb the moral ladder” (Brault). Heinlein respects and praises individuals who put others needs ahead of their own and illustrates this by rewarding characters for self-sacrifice for the whole of …show more content…
People show compassion towards others. The best example of this in Starship Troopers is when Johnny explains the biggest shortcoming and simultaneously the greatest strength of humanity. Major Reid asked Johnny what limit of prisoners it takes to start a war, to which Johnny replied, “It doesn’t matter if it’s a thousand--or just one, sir. You fight”(178). The willingness to sacrifice, show emotion, and fight for what they believe in makes them human. Empathy and compassion for others is uniquely a human quality. Johnny uses this to justify the war, killing the pseudo-arachnids to save humans. Because they do not show any regard for their fellow soldiers, the pseudo-arachnids are not human. Human’s care whether they live or die, the pseudo-arachnids do