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Brave New World vs. 1984

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Brave New World: Relevant or too Relevant? In the 1930s and 1940s, Aldous Huxley and George Orwell presented notions of a lurid future society in their novels. Huxley’s Brave New World is a dystopian novel that tells a tale of humans born in laboratories who are free to use drugs and have sex at their leisure, which mirrors a few aspects of today’s world. Today, sexual promiscuity and prurience has increased. Substance abuse has also proliferated. Moreover, many rapid scientific/technological developments have been made. Despite Orwell’s 1984 prophesying that telescreens and totalitarianism will be copious, our world is steadily racing toward a society that echoes Huxley’s Brave New World. The eerie resemblance is more than just a coincidence. Whether the circumstance applies to a teenager or an adult, sexual promiscuity has become increasingly common. By human nature, men and women will be aroused by someone whose attributes are in his/her favor (such as a large bosom or wide hips of women for men and muscularity or great hair of men for women), even if they are married and devoutly committed to his/her partner. Monogamous relationships are also threatened by divorce and extramarital affairs. Another reason marriages break apart is due to pornography— men and women may feel unsatisfied in their relationship and/or seek sexual gratification from a third party. A study by the Family Research Council and the Marriage and Religion Institute claims that 56% of divorces are caused by an obsessive interest in pornography. With marriages breaking apart as people’s prurience increases, orthodox holy matrimony is at risk. In Brave New World, people are encouraged to have an unlimited number of sexual partners. For example, when Lenina states that she has been seeing Henry Foster exclusively, her friend Fanny responds “It’s such horribly bad form to go on like this with one man” (Huxley 46). Evidently, promiscuity is highly encouraged; and in today’s society, promiscuity increases as people are interested in sex with more than one person. According to a study done by Columbia University, the amount of adolescents who have had sex went up by 10% in the past decade. Overall, sound evidence evinces that our society is also approaching a similar state in which sexual satisfaction can be attained from a myriad of people. Like sexual indulgence, drugs are also more common in today’s world. Illegal use of drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, etc. has become a major issue both politically and socially. Laws are made for approving or disapproving these drugs, yet many of them are not abided. A report by the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration declared that 8.7% of the population aged 12 years or older has used illicit drugs for non-medical purposes. Illegal drugs often act as stimulants, depressants, or hallucinogens. Under stressful circumstances, people may take them to obtain relief. This is common in Brave New World, as the drug soma is taken when a character experiences unnatural or nerve-racking situations. According to Mustafa Mond, “… anything unpleasant should somehow happen…there’s always soma to give you a holiday from the facts.” (Huxley 213). Soma is an escapist drug that provides relief temporarily. Most, if not everyone, in the World State uses this drug. Like drug abuse today, using soma is a very common practice. A study by Columbia University indicates that 23% of adolescents have experimented with drugs, and said the experience was pleasurable. A handful of people have had some experience with drugs, and the percentage is estimated to continue increasing. Statistics significantly point to a society with increased drug use, such as the one in Brave New World. Promiscuity and drug abuse are not the only things increasing—science and technology has accelerated at an unbelievable rate. In just the past 100 years, humans have gone from creating the first non-horse power automobile to landing a man on the moon. By 2050, scientists predict that there will be automobiles and airplanes with increased amenities and luxuries. Along with these technological expansions, there will also be biological breakthroughs. It is predicted that genetic engineering will eradicate the need for natural birth, as humans will be able to customize their offspring to be the epitome of perfection. Even in today’s world, In Vitro fertilization, a process in which a zygote develops outside the womb, has a 42% success rate on average. It has even become a “household” term, according to WebMD.com. With such processes becoming commonplace, it will not be shocking if humans emulate the process of being decanted in the future, such as in Huxley’s novel. Scientific and technological advancements of our world are uncannily similar to those of the world created by Aldous Huxley. Despite vast leaps in sexual desires, drug use, science, and technology, our current world bears some resemblance to Orwell’s 1984. Forecasts of constant monitoring by telescreens and ultimate totalitarian governments parallel with today’s surveillance cameras and governments of nations such as North Korea. When we enter a building, we are under constant watch by ubiquitous cameras. The moment we do something wrong, we are in trouble. Nevertheless, the camera’s sole purpose is to ensure security, not to keep individuals in control. We are still free to act as we please, unlike characters in 1984. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is a revered figure—similar to Big Brother. Citizens are expected to love the country and the leader, and any opposition results in arrest. However, it is unsure of how long governments like this will last as the US desires to intervene and convert the country into a more capitalistic society. Eventually, CFR.org predicts the “end of totalitarian and communist regimes” at some point in history. Despite the immediate parallels of today, our world is still heading in the direction of replicating Brave New World. Our world is progressing towards a society similar to Brave New World due to increased sexual activity, substance abuse, and revolutionizing scientific and technological improvements. While some changes may not be positive, they are continuously happening. They can only be prevented by educating people not to abuse sex and drugs. Scientific and technological innovations are always happening, thus making them difficult to prevent. However, the real question lies here: have the parallels of today’s world and the society in Brave New World become relevant, or too relevant?
Works Cited
"Brave New World vs. Today." Savezeus.blogspot.com. N.p., 9 Mar. 2009. Web. 31 July 2013.
"Future Timeline | Technology | Singularity | 2020 | 2050 | 2100 | 2150 | 2200 | 21st Century | 22nd Century | 23rd Century | Humanity | Predictions | Events." Future Timeline. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 July 2013.
"General Population Drug Use Statistics." Drug Abuse and Recognition Training. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 July 2013.
"IVF Statistics Revealed." Attain Fertility. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 July 2013.
Loranhe, Luc. "Policies for a Society of Greater Sexual Freedom." Sexualfront.com. N.p., 2006. Web. 31 July 2013.
Reference, WebMD Medical. "In VItro Fertilization (IVF) Facts, Success Rates, Multiple Births, What to Expect." WebMD. WebMD, 17 Jan. 0078. Web. 31 July 2013.
"Science Journalism in Totalitarian Countries: The Impacts to a Current Time." WCSJ2013. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 July 2013.
"Statistics on Sexuality in Today's World." L.I.F.E Recovery International. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 July 2013.
Turner, C. F., L. Ku, S. M. Rogers, L. D. Lindberg, J. H. Pleck, and F. L. Sonenstein. "Adolescent Sexual Behavior, Drug Use, and Violence: Increased Reporting with Computer Survey Technology." Columbia University, 8 May 1998. Web. 31 July 2013.

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