Mumsnet Talk

Perfectstorm reminded me of Brave New World in another thread, so I thought I'd see who else enjoyed this book. And I always feel like you can't talk about Brave New World without mentioning 1984.

So, opinions? Preferences? Anything?

Also I found this quote on Wiki comparing the two, it's from Neil Postman's book ^Amusing Ourselves to Death^
"What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions." In 1984, Orwell added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we fear will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we desire will ruin us."

That is an interesting quotation. It looks like Huxley turned out to be more correct, doesn't it?

Sex is a source of freedom in 1984, or would be if the protagonists hadn't been defeated. But a source of constraint in Huxley. I suppose that is because sex is conceived as passion and intimacy in 1984, making love a radicalizing experience of forming close loyalties to someone other than the state.

Sex does seem to be one of the main themes in the two.

The lack of family in BNW is interesting though, I can't imagine the world ever going that far (or at least I hope not), but the entertainment thing strikes a chord.

I don't remember either book v well. The 'heor' in BNW -- a young man who has somehow grown up outside of society -- he is a moralist, v disapproving, but I can't remember the source of his moral code, and I can't remember whether it was an empowering code or just another form of self-stultification. There is much body-loathing, mistrust of appetite in 1984. Is there in this young man, or is he an ideal?

heor = hero, not gloomy donkey from winnie the pooh

He lives outside of the controlled world in BNW, and is essentially seen as a savage. He knew his mum and family, doesn't agree with the self centred world that he is bought into. So in a way he has more in common with the "ideal" in 1984

Thanks. And he read Shakespeare? And drew a moral standpoint from that? I'm going to have to read it again aren't I.

Yep I forgot about the Shakespeare thing, looks like I need to read it again too!

'Brave New World' is a quotation from The Tempest.

i love brave new world and, indeed, 1984

probably 2 of my favourite books of all time
interesting quote