Orwell’s 1984, and Huxley’s Brave New World both present extremely intricate dystopian societies, and illustrate their respective author’s observations on certain human traits. The vast majority of people often overlook several of these observations. One observation exemplified by the novels is that human nature and behavior can be permanently altered by changing one’s environment. Furthermore, love is a major part of humanity, however humans can be influenced to the point that even love for significant others may be erased. In 1984 and Brave New World, respectively, Orwell and Huxley utilize key examples to illustrate their observations about the malleability of human nature, and the value of love.
In 1984, the Party uses several tactics to …show more content…
This fact on humanity itself is the main reason why different cultures exist to this very day. In the World State, the general consensus is that people have sex with whoever, whenever they want as a favor to each other. Therefore, understandably, the idea of love and marriage is simply too outrageous for the people of the World State to comprehend. In the novel, John is clearly morally different from the rest of society, as demonstrated by his initial feelings of love towards Lenina and ambition to form a platonic relationship with her. John’s serious question to Bernard, asking him if he’s married to Lenina, also illustrates his infatuation. Additionally, his disapproval of the State’s policy on love depicts how his lifestyle at the savage reserves influenced his mindset on life itself. In addition to his different outlook on love, John completely disapproves of soma, which is a major part of the World State. The fact that he destroyed the children’s large rations of soma and “picked up the cash-box and showed them its black emptiness...” during his visit to the hospital illustrates his utter hatred for it. Moreover, the children’s lack of respect for his mother’s death further exemplifies the difference in morals between John and the World State. Ultimately, John takes his own life. However, if John had continued to …show more content…
John is able to hold onto feelings of love, unlike the majority of society, due to his rather unique stance on love itself. However, his the value he places on his morals is eventually tested when Lenina attempts to seduce him into having sex. Having very realistic character traits, John has realized and frowned upon Lenina’s “whorish” nature prior to this incident, and is required to decide if he values a sexual relationship with Lenina more than his own code of ethics. He eventually decides that he values the latter more, slaps Lenina, and calls her a “Impudent strumpet!” (Page 130), refusing her offer. Had he followed up on her initiation, John’s personality would not easily allow him to forgive himself for breaking his own morals. His unfortunate suicide at the end of the novel, having been too ashamed of himself after barbarically beating Lenina with a whip, demonstrates this. In addition to John, it is implied that Bernard shares similar feelings of affection towards Lenina, as demonstrated by his jealousy when he hears about Henry’s ambition to engage in intercourse with her. However, having been born with a stature shorter than all other Alpha-Pluses, he is stated to be a social outcast, and “queer” by Lenina in particular. Eventually discovering on a
In 1984, the Party uses several tactics to …show more content…
This fact on humanity itself is the main reason why different cultures exist to this very day. In the World State, the general consensus is that people have sex with whoever, whenever they want as a favor to each other. Therefore, understandably, the idea of love and marriage is simply too outrageous for the people of the World State to comprehend. In the novel, John is clearly morally different from the rest of society, as demonstrated by his initial feelings of love towards Lenina and ambition to form a platonic relationship with her. John’s serious question to Bernard, asking him if he’s married to Lenina, also illustrates his infatuation. Additionally, his disapproval of the State’s policy on love depicts how his lifestyle at the savage reserves influenced his mindset on life itself. In addition to his different outlook on love, John completely disapproves of soma, which is a major part of the World State. The fact that he destroyed the children’s large rations of soma and “picked up the cash-box and showed them its black emptiness...” during his visit to the hospital illustrates his utter hatred for it. Moreover, the children’s lack of respect for his mother’s death further exemplifies the difference in morals between John and the World State. Ultimately, John takes his own life. However, if John had continued to …show more content…
John is able to hold onto feelings of love, unlike the majority of society, due to his rather unique stance on love itself. However, his the value he places on his morals is eventually tested when Lenina attempts to seduce him into having sex. Having very realistic character traits, John has realized and frowned upon Lenina’s “whorish” nature prior to this incident, and is required to decide if he values a sexual relationship with Lenina more than his own code of ethics. He eventually decides that he values the latter more, slaps Lenina, and calls her a “Impudent strumpet!” (Page 130), refusing her offer. Had he followed up on her initiation, John’s personality would not easily allow him to forgive himself for breaking his own morals. His unfortunate suicide at the end of the novel, having been too ashamed of himself after barbarically beating Lenina with a whip, demonstrates this. In addition to John, it is implied that Bernard shares similar feelings of affection towards Lenina, as demonstrated by his jealousy when he hears about Henry’s ambition to engage in intercourse with her. However, having been born with a stature shorter than all other Alpha-Pluses, he is stated to be a social outcast, and “queer” by Lenina in particular. Eventually discovering on a