Huxley and Orwell

Brave New World and 1984. These two works are paralleled around a similar idea. These two works are involving a similar plot and similar characters. It is easy to draw up constants that run through both literary works. The article "The Two Futures: A.F. 632 and 1984" makes this analysis, while discussing that there are differences, as well. It is important to remember that even though Aldous Huxley and George Orwell wrote the books at different times, inherently influenced by each other and previous authors, the 17 year time lapse existed. Seventeen years held 1932 to 1949, which were crucial historical years.

"The Two Futures: A.F. 632 and 1984" creates a key contrasting and comparing of the literary warnings by initiating the analysis with comparisons. There are clearly similarities contained within both works. One was written after the other and both have the same basic principle. The ideas of characters being forced to conform to a society run by the leader or major force is a clear representative of the similarity. There are the people who are good members of society like Lenina and Parsons. There are the people who are too smart and can create revolutionary ideas like Helmholtz and Syme. There are the tragic characters like Bernard and Winston. There are also the lovers to many like Lenina and Julia. It is evident that these characters are not identical in nature; however, their characters outlines in the outlines of their environments are very similar.

A clear relation between the two pieces relating to characters is the tragedy of the seemingly heroic Bernard Marx and Winston Smith. These two people seem as though they are going to be the ones that stand up to "the man" (Mustapha Mond or O'Brien) and fight the power and be these incredible heroes that leave a reader flabbergasted. As mentioned in "The Two Futures: A.F. 632 and 1984", they are the two that cannot quite seem to stray too far from the party; yet, they do not fit in either. This is where their tragedy lies. They put up initial efforts and rebel against their parties, but in the end, they allow themselves to be defeated because they just do not want to go far enough. It seems Bernard could not stand up and help Helmholtz and John during the rioting and soma, and O'Brien manipulated Smith from the beginning in thoughts with the "we will meet in a place where there is no darkness". These men allowed their overbearing societies to be the victors. This is probably the biggest warning to readers. The people who appear to be the strongest against the strongest opposition are the ones who end up crumbling into submissiveness.

Besides the similarities, "The Two Futures: A.F. 632 and 1984" talks of the different influences and historical knowledge Huxley and Orwell had. Huxley had his book published before the rise of such totalitarians that Orwell saw. Orwell wrote from a different stand-point targeting the Nazis and Communists because he had seen those revolts and revolutions and purges and persecutions. Huxley saw the subtleties of the changing governments, hence the overabundance of his subtleties and precautions sprinkled throughout Brave New World. He did not think that the government would change so drastically right off the bat. He thought is was going to take time, which is why messages like balance between the "savage" and "civilized" societies is subtle. Orwell saw the overt movements and actions of totalitarian governments. He clearly understood this dangerous trend, even when the Soviets were even perceived as allies. This is why he published Animal Farm at a time no one wanted to see the bad side of communism. He saw the quickening dangerous trend spiraling out of control in the near future.

1984 and Brave New World are almost interchangeable in their messages for cautiousness. They are trying to warn against government suppression. They are trying to prevent society from becoming lazy and submissive. They are trying to provide textual realities that could become the future. "The Two Futures: A.F. 632 and 1984" clearly defines the worlds of the two authors to be parallels of one another, yet different. Characters and plots and main ideas are interchangeable, but this was explained by an acquaintance of Zamiatin and Huxley as proof "these ideas are in the air we breath". Maybe the similarities are because of too much Huxley influence on Orwell, or maybe the explanation is that more than one warning needed to be issued about grossly potential dangerous governments and societies.