Sometimes in society it feels as if we are pressured to feel or act a certain way by the government and that we are not in control of ourselves, but they are. The two novels Brave New World and 1984 are both good examples of complete government control but when comparing the two it is evident that the governments have different views on the control of sex and morality.
In the novel Brave New World it is obvious that the government is in complete control of its society. Within this government it control the thoughts, actions and fate of all citizens starting from before the human is even born. "We also predestine and condition. We decant our babies and socialized human beings, as Alphas or Epsilons, as future sewer Workers or future...He was going to say future World Controllers, but correcting himself, said Future Directors of Hatcheries instead" By stating this, the impression is given that the government has ultimate plans for every human, they choose those plans and abide by them for their own benefit. From even before a child is born they are categorized and have a job chosen for them. By choosing these jobs the government in the long run is also controlling the future of their society and their hope was to have many World Controllers also known as Future Directors of Hatcheries, which is a job that will continue the idea of ultimate control.
Similarly, in the novel 1984 the government also attempts to have complete control of the minds and bodies of its citizens. One citizen in particular is Winston Smith who does not subscribe to their beliefs in a variety of ways. One obvious example is through the large posters with the caption of "Big Brother is Watching You” The captions give evidence that the government has close watch over its people and all that they do. Shortly after this the "Thought Police" were introduced who's job was to "snoop in on Conversations, always watching your every move, controlling the minds and Thoughts of the people" Through the Thought Police the government can know every aspect of a persons life while being in full control of it.
When comparing the two novels Brave New World and 1984 a main similarity between the two is that both governments have complete control over citizens. Throughout both novels government control is clear when the government is able to control most, if not all aspects of citizens' lives including their actions and thoughts. Although both novels have similar controlling governments, their governments are different when it comes to the rules regarding sex and morality. in the novel Brave New World the government is very persistent to control all aspects of citizens lives including laws regarding sex and morality. Within this government sex is very casual and not meant to be emotional or cause any kind of attachment between people. This is evident in a conversation between two teenagers when they are talking about sex. “And you know how strongly the DHC objects to anything intense and long drawn. Four months of Henry Foster, without having another man- why, he'd be furious if he knew..." This conversation shows how sex doesn't seem to be something to question unless that question is about the amount of people you are or have been with.
The government has given its society, especially teenagers the idea that sex is to be encouraged and that you will be frowned upon if you are not with more than one partner, or the relationship with any one partner is long drawn or intense. In contrast, within the novel 1984, which also has a controlling government it does not see sex and morality as something to encourage but rather something to sin upon. Throughout the novel it is obvious that sex and morality is also controlled by the government and in this government it is seen as "not allowed." In this society sex is not casual, it is an act that is only to be performed if you are married and if you are trying to reproduce. "The girl with dark hair was coming towards him across the field. With what seemed a single movement she tore off her clothes and flung then disdainfully aside. Her body was white and smooth, but it aroused no desire to him, indeed he barely looked at it."
If this scenario was to happen in today's society most men would have jumped for the opportunity to get naked and have intercourse with a beautiful woman. In this society the government has ruled that casual sex is not to be even though of so when a man is approached by a woman he is to not even have arousing or sexual thoughts at all.
Both novels Brave New World and 1984 are good examples of different beliefs when it comes to being in complete control. The idea of complete control through the government took place in both novels which was the main similarity between the two but there was also a difference where both governments disagreed on appropriate laws that should be set for sex and morality. People can learn from these novels in that when life seems to be unfair we can only ultimately blame ourselves because we are in complete control of our own lives, thoughts and actions nobody else, not even the government.