Saturday, May 12, 2012

How can I compare and contrast Brave New World and The Children of Men?

Both Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and P.D. James's The Children of Men are British dystopian novels, but unlike most dystopias, these books feature populations that are happy and content with the autocratic governments that rule them. In Brave New World, the people have been conditioned to love their situation in life and live primarily for pleasure. In The Children of Men, the aging population is mostly concerned with being comfortable and are largely apathetic about what their government is doing. In both of these novels, the people are threatened by their own complacency and desire for comfort rather than by an outside force.
Because they live in such comfortable societies, these novels feature reluctant protagonists who hesitate to bring change to their present conditions. Theo does not believe that there is any good in hoping for a change in government and is very cynical of the ideals of the Five Fishes. Though Bernard thinks he's different from the rest of the people around him, his relationship with John Savage demonstrates that he too primarily desires comfort and pleasure and is unwilling to bring change to benefit society.
Children and childbirth are major themes in both The Children of Men and Brave New World. Both novels depict societies where there are no children born. In The Children of Men, it is because all men have become sterile. In Brave New World, it is because children are manufactured in test tubes rather than by traditional birth. However, there are differences in how childbirth is perceived. In James's novel, childbirth is longed for. Julian's pregnancy is seen as a miracle and gives hope that mankind might not become extinct. In Huxley's novel, childbirth is considered vulgar and disgusting. Linda is ostracized because she is a mother. To be called a mother is a despicable thing. This may be one of the greatest differences between the novels.

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