Utopia, 1984 Comparison Essay, Research Paper

Research Paper: Love in Utopia, Brave New World and 1984

Love is without a doubt one of the most powerful emotions in the world. Most people in the world who have experienced this emotion know that with love, almost anything is possible. When in Love, the greater is his/her capacity for suffering, or anything else in that matter (Miguel de Unamuno, The Tragic Sense of Life). The governments in both Brave New World and 1984 understand that eliminating love and loyalty is important in their continual process of domination over their societies. In Sir Thomas More s Utopia, his Utopian society understands the importance of love and loyalty. There is a huge contrast between the way love is treated in Utopia, and Brave New World & 1984. In both Brave New World and 1984, the governments have replaced love and loyalty, with suspicion and hatred, while in Utopia it is treasured.

In the novel 1984, many examples are provided as to how the Inner Party manages to manipulate the public into scorning emotions, love and loyalty. Suspicion and hatred are the main two feelings that replace love and loyalty, in the society of 1984. The smallest thing could give you away. A nervous tic, a look of anxiety, a habit of muttering to yourself (Orwell, 65). This example shows the unfortunate replacement of loyalty with fear and suspicion of everyone in 1984. It was terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wander when you were in any public place, or near a telescreen (65). Suspicion is a dominant feeling felt by almost all the members of the Outer Party in 1984. For example, when Winston met Julia for the first time, his immediate thoughts were; She must be with the thought police (45). The society of 1984 is a total nightmare, in which everyone is suspicious of everyone and very little loyalty exists. An example of betrayal in the novel occurs when Winston entrusts his secretive relationship with Mr. Charrington. Then, Mr. Charrington turns around and betrays Winston, by turning out to be a member of the notorious thought police! It occurred to Winston that for the first time in his life, he was looking, with knowledge, at a member of the thought police (234). Love in 1984 does not exist and has been eradicated because the inner party knows that it is dangerous. Feelings towards other human beings can sometimes compel us to do things that we would not normally do. Emotions such as rebellion, and loyalty all occur when people are in love.

The Inner Party understands that the nuclear family is very dangerous, because love amongst family is probably one of the strongest bonds between humans. The Parsons family in 1984 is a classic example of how the Inner party has destroyed the normal love within families. The children were part of the spies (23), an organization promoting children to spy upon their parents, making sure that no ideas against the party existed. Having children spy on their parents is one of the many ways the Inner party has eliminated love from the family. It destroys the normal way a family functions, and causes disharmony amongst the members in the family. The children also have the power to turn in their parents to the thought police, which show that love clearly no longer exists in 1984. I m in for thoughtcrime K my daughter was listening through the keyhole K I was talking in my sleep (245). The Spies and Anti Sex League both are organizations, intended to accomplish the Inner party s true task of placing suspicion, hatred and fear amongst each other. 1984 is a society that is governed by totalitarian governments. The Inner party understands that the people must be loyal to one person only, that person being Big Brother. In this society, love and loyalty are replaced by suspicion, fear and hatred of everyone.

In Brave New World, the feelings of love and loyalty are not replaced by suspicion and hatred. These feelings, or any feelings in that matter, have all been eradicated through ingenious methods, with the use of science and technology. In the World State, the children are trained from the moment they are created , to have no emotions in life. The government in the World State understands that emotions are a dangerous thing to have; therefore, they have concluded that the best way of maintaining social stability is by brainwashing and training children from a young age to have no feelings. All conditioning aims at keeping the people happy with their chosen social destiny (Huxley, 13). As mentioned, conditioning is used to make the people happy, this way they won t feel love or happiness, nor will they feel hatred or suspicion. I had six girls yesterday, one on Monday, two on Tuesday, two on Wednesday and one on Saturday (Huxley, 141). The government downplays the importance of sex by encouraging multiple partners. As shown by this comment made by Bernard, the government has decreased the significance of love amongst the members in the World State. Now children, join in on the erotic play (22). Since early childhood, children are taught to play with each other naked and to fondle each other. The society has eliminated love, and replaced it with constant sex. One example of how little the general population understands about love is demonstrated when John tells Lenina I love you . Lenina s immediate response is that she wants to have sex. The society has been brainwashed so much that they relate love only with sex. To the people in the World State, they do not understand what true love is.

Another method of eliminating feelings all together is through the enforcement of their wonder drug Soma. Why don t you take some Soma? It ll make you feel much better (Huxley, 64). Another common phrase in Brave New World is A gramme is better than a damn . This phrase refers to a gram of Soma, is better then taking in and feeling pain. By using this so-called wonder drug , the mass population has been drugged so much that they have very few emotions. I want him but I can t have him K. take Soma then (70). In this example, Lenina is talking to her friend Fanny. Lenina describes to Fanny how she has some odd feelings for John, feelings she s never felt for any other man. This example shows how Soma once again is used to brainwash the society, because Lenina resolves to taking Soma to solve her problems over her odd feelings for John. Soma and sleep teaching are all methods used by the Controllers, to eliminate love and loyalty from the World State.

In Utopia, love is by far one of the societies most profound feelings. The society in Utopia feels that love, and marriage is very important parts of their society. In contrast to the situation in 1984, the citizens of Utopia try and maintain and even increase the importance of love, instead of trying to erase or eradicate love. Marriage is one of the most important events to Utopians. Even if the person is an offender, they may be allowed to marry even while serving for committing a crime K as long as they re in love (More, 104). In contrast to the other two societies, love and marriage are very important parts of the Utopian s lives. Even when someone is serving time as a slave, they lose all their rights, except for marriage (love), which is to the Utopians, an important right. Another example of how dear love is to the Utopians, is when they come to the topic of seduction. Attempted seduction is treated just the same, and no less of a crime then seduction (105). That shows the absolute importance of love to the Utopians. Their women are not married before eighteen, nor their men before two-and-twenty K if earlier, punishment will be warranted (Utopia Marriage, 8). Utopians enforce strict laws upon marriage simply because marriage, which is symbolic of love, is important to them. Utopians enforce a strict minimum age for marriage, so that love will be honored and respected amongst members in a marriage. Divorce is forbidden, but in certain cases, if there is no other choice, they may receive a royal pardon from the Prince (Utopia Marriage, 9). The reasons for forbidding divorce in a marriage is simply because (as mentioned before) love is of utmost importance to Utopians.

Unlike 1984 or Brave New World, Utopians aim at trying to preserve love between the partners in a marriage. Slavery is sentenced upon those that have disgraced their marriage, the guilty are made infamous, and never allowed to marry again. (Utopian Marriage, 12). In 1984 and Brave New World, the worst punishment is placed upon those that engage in love. In contrast to Utopia, citizens experience the worst form of punishment (slavery), if they cause harm to their marriage, or disgrace their marriage by cheating or loving another person. The citizens of Utopia treasure love, and try to keep love alive, instead of denying the importance of it like that of 1984 and Brave New World. This is obviously the biggest difference between Utopia, and the other two novels, because in Utopia feelings and emotions are terrific, while in both 1984 and Brave New World, emotions are condemned.

Yet like all struggles throughout history, there have always been survivors. Rebels, as some may call them, in this case try to preserve love and loyalty in 1984 and Brave New World. In 1984 the rebels are obviously Winston and Julia, who are preserving love by engaging in their rebellious relationship. Their relationship is one of the few cases in 1984 in which traditional emotions such as love still exist. Winston loved Julia, and promised himself that he would never betray her (Orwell, 129). The two of them have a special relationship, one in which traditional emotions such as love actually exist in it. In Brave New World, only one character fights for the use of traditional emotions. John, who is known to many as the Savage , is the only character in Brave New World who continues on true emotions by expressing love. His beliefs contradict those of The Word State, as he shows in his struggle over his love for Lenina (Astrachan, 3). John is the only character that understands about love and loyalty. The rest of the society has been treated and brainwashed so the society has absolutely no idea what John is talking about. Winston, Julia and John are one of the few characters, and in some cases the only characters who preserve traditional emotion in their societies.

In 1984 and Brave New World, both societies have tried many times to eradicate love and loyalty. Their reasons for eradicating love is simple, love and loyalty tend to cause people to be loyal to someone else, other then their country or government. In 1984 and Brave New World, virtually no love exists between people, the few individuals that continue this rare emotion are John, Winston and Julia. Winston and Julia face constant turmoil from their secretive relationship in the novel 1984. In the society of 1984, it is through the use of telescreens, thought police and other methods that the public has become suspicious of everyone. Loyalty is one of the main things that are lacking in 1984 and is shown throughout the book, like when Winston met Julia for the first time. In Brave New World, John is the only survivor that has been spared from the brainwashing and is the only one that is able to express and experience real emotions. In the World State, the society has been completely brainwashed through the use of superior scientific technology. Soma, sleep-teaching, all are methods that are used to maintain public stability and happiness. John is the only character in the novel that actually experiences love, in which he feels for Lenina. The effects of the brain washing are shown when problems arise, all the people naturally resolve to take Soma. The society has become emotionless, and lacks normal human compassion and love. Utopia is an excellent example of how 1984 and Brave New World should be. The Utopian society shows how everyone should treat love, and to treasure it, instead of being fearful of it. In Utopia, love is without a doubt, one of their most important emotions. The reason Utopians create laws to enforce true marriages, is so that the citizens of Utopia never forget how important love is. The strict punishment on seduction, adultery and the sort, are all examples of how love is treated, in contrast to 1984 and Brave New World. In both societies (1984 and BNW), they punish those that experience certain emotions, while in Utopia, those that disgrace love are punished for doing so. Love is always in every society, whether it is allowed, like in Utopia; or whether it s forbidden, like in Brave New World and 1984. Love is like light, it shines through the dark night K it easily melts away all the evil. Love can surpass everything. (Utopian Internet Site). Whether love is allowed or forbidden, it will shine through the night , and continue to survive, like in 1984 and Brave New World through certain individuals.

Works Cited

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Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. London: Flamingo Publishing, 1932.

Internet Source. Utopian Love . Http://www2.gol.com/users/utopia.

Internet Source. Utopia and Marriage . Http://www.d-holiday.com/tmore/utopia.htm

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More, Thomas. Utopia. London: Penguin Classics, 1961.

Orwell, George. 1984. London: Penguin Classic, 1949.