Brav New World
...writers have thrilled and
challenged readers with visions of the future and future worlds. These
authors offered an insight into what they expected man, society, and life
to be like at some future time.
One such author, Ray Bradbury, utilized this concept in his work,
Fahrenheit 451, a futuristic look at a man and his role in society.
Bradbury utilizes the luxuries of life in America today, in addition to
various occupations and technological advances, to show what life could be
like if the future takes a drastic turn for the worse. He turns man's best
friend, the dog, against man, changes the role of public servants and
changes the value of a person.
Aldous Huxley also uses the concept of society out of control in his
science fiction novel Brave New World. Written late in his career, Brave
New World also deals with man in a changed society. Huxley asks his
readers to look at the role of science and literature in the future world,
scared that it may be rendered useless and discarded. Unlike Bradbury,
Huxley includes in his book a group of people unaffected by the changes in
society, a group that still has religious beliefs and marriage, things no
longer part of the changed society, to compare and contrast today's culture
with his proposed futuristic culture.
But one theme that both Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451 use in
common is the theme of individual discovery by refusing to accept a passive
approach to life, and refusing to conform. In addition, the refusal of
various methods of escape from reality is shown to be a path to discovery.
In Brave New World, the main characters of Bernard Marx and the "Savage"
boy John both come to realize the faults with their own cultures. In
Fahrenheit 451 Guy Montag begins to discover that things could be better in
his society but, sue to some uncontrollable events, his...
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