After reading Brave New World, I noticed an abundance of similarities between the novels, The Giver and Brave New World. These two novels have a unique form of lifestyle. To start with, certain emotions in the novels were inappropriate to their society. ‘Love’ is something they didn't necessarily see as essential to a human’s life. They much rather see it as unfit and prefer to 'like' one another. Although, if one were to love another being then they would be seen as a negative influence or ridiculous. Love shows commitment and a passion for your partner and that emotion is an extremely delicate balance in both societies. Neither one of the novels conveyed a commitment to relationships.
Another similarity is that the individuals were labeled into a specific role for their life. For instance, in The Giver, the children were assigned to their lifetime job. Their job classified their positions in life and what they will do for a living. For Brave New World, the workers in the laboratory we're also designated based on color for their job. The purpose of this Color Division System was to help provide different castes in place so people would know what caste (position) they are in. Though, it's crucial that they each have a place in their community so they can distribute their lifestyle.
Thirdly, for both novels, their government maintains control of the activities being done in the community. For example, in Brave New World their saying, "Everyone belongs to everyone else" signifies that a relationship isn't just being taken seriously, but it also emphasizes that a being can be in more than one relationship. In their community, it's habitual and appropriate that the citizens be in more than one relationships. The government has influenced its people to accept this fact and endure it with their lifestyle. Furthermore, in The Giver, the government hid the truth about life and disapproved on most colors to society. The purpose of this is that no one would feel any pain or remorse from the truth. Though for color, they have only provided the colors black and white so it's fair that everyone shares the same experience.
Overall, I find it fascinating that both novels have various equivalences. Their way of living makes me question which environment is sustainable. Although, if I had to dispute, I'd prefer to live in an environment where I wouldn't be through any agony. Pain is a horrible task that I fear experiencing even though it's a part of life. I'd like to avoid it as much as possible. Therefore in The Giver the horrible truths of life are avoided so the chances of being in pain are at low. While in Brave New World you have soma to escape the pain that you're in. Both options are tempting but they each have their consequences.
Anyway, what are your thoughts? Which entity would you live in? The Giver or Brave New World?
-Natalie Alyssa Pantoja
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ReplyDeleteI agree about both novels having specific policies in their society that has eliminated war, pain, suffering, differences, and choice. The Giver also demonstrates in Brave New World, the basic qualities of what makes people human. Both novels eliminate the necessities their civilians need for humanity to existence and the result of that, the civilians are oblivious to their environment. Expressing love in The Giver is not a necessity to human life, like the artificial civilians in the Brave New World has everyone belonging to everyone else. Commitment and passion had no existence because it was not considered happiness or appropriate to their society. Moreover, everyone takes parts in specific roles in their society. Brave New World had the Bokanovsky groups, Deltas, Betas, and Controllers; the hue of their clothes symbolized the roles they take part in. The Giver had children assigned to their life roles. Both sci-fi novels clarify the importance of expressing passion and free-will since it is the necessity of what makes humanity full of life.
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