Orwell and Huxley

The future is hard to predict. In fact, the weather channel rarely gets it right. When a believable prediction is made, it is hard to come to a different conclusion, especially without reasonable evidence. So the statement made on the comparison between Huxley and Orwell’s novels makes perfect sense.

Although they are tow completely different extremes, as a comparison article had stated, there are endless connections. Whether it be though characters, slogans, or even basic plot, "it conducts a kind of dialogue between the lines with Huxley’s novel" (121). This quote is in reference to Orwell’s 1984. Many people believe that after reading Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, Orwell was inspired to right his own prediction of the future. However, while I think that there are hundreds of connections between the two, Orwell saw past Huxley’s world, into a world far past A.F. 632.

When Huxley wrote Brave New World in the 1930s, he could not have been more accurate of the times to come. In the 70s, his prediction of soma resembled greatly the hippie generation and their slogan of "do what feels good." However, this generation has now quieted and has moved into a new generation. The generation of today is much more resembled to Orwell’s 1984. Today, parents can track their children by their coats, online companies can track previous purchases, and emails can even display ads related to your email topic. It seems as if our world has shifted between the minds of Huxley and Orwell. As Huxley stated in regards to this, "Mr. Orwell’s forecast in Nineteen Eighty-Four was made from a vantage point considerably farther down the descending spiral of modern history than mine, and is nearly correct" (119). In this line from Huxley himself, he acknowledges that while both him and Orwell were on different paths to the future, it as if Orwell has seen past him.

I found it very interesting that as both of these mens’ careers continued, they seemed to continue justifying their works in regards to each other’s opinions. While reading this article it caught my eye that in 1959 Huxley wrote Brave New World Revisited. This new novel "is so shot through with references to Orwell’s novel that it might almost be called a justification of Brave New World in terms of Nineteen Eighty-Four" (120). It seems as though although Orwell was partially influenced by Huxley’s work, Huxley felt that Orwell made good enough points that he changed some of his own opinions. In my opinion, this marks both Huxley and Orwell as two of the most intelligent authors of their time.

Stand Up For Rights, Even If Not Your Own

Every person has something that to them, they feel is so important that they would do anything. For me, this matter is actually gay rights. While I myself am not, I know and spend time with many who are, including close friends. I feel that no matter what, two consenting adults in love should have the right to marry.

This idea is opposed for several reasons, a main reason being religion. Those greatly influenced by the church feel that marriage is a sacred thing between a man and a woman, and should remain that way. In my opinion this makes the church hypocritical. A major foundation of a church is that everyone is welcome. So how can they then say this and turn homosexuals away?

Also, many would say that it is a moral issue. If the couple were to adopt a child, how would it affect this child growing up? Growing up, this child would know of no other life. I have read countless articles in magazines of children growing up with either two mothers or two fathers who would not ask for anything more.

Personally, I question those who look down upon this. Fifty years ago, the same feelings were held about divorce. It was looked down upon by churches and the affects on children were feared. Today, however, it is incredibly common. In fact, almost half of marriages end in a divorce. That is today’s normalcy. I think people should start accepting things such as gay marriage as the normalcy of the next generation. Love is a beautiful thing no matter who it is between. I have been with my boyfriend for two years and experienced this feeling. There is no reason that others should not have the rights to have the same feelings and equality. So although this issue does not affect me directly, it is a cause I do feel strongly for.

In a way, the same goes for the character Winston, of Orwell’s 1984. When he joins a group opposing Big Brother, he has no connection to it other than that he knows in his heart that things should be different. And just like the path Winston is now in, all paths will have ups and downs, but what is right always manages to come through.