A Brave New World

Orwell & Huxley – comparison

Orwell feared those who would ban books.
Huxley feared that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. 


Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us.
Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance.


Orwell feared we would become a captive culture.
Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. 


In 1984, Orwell said that people are controlled by inflicting pain.
In Brave New World, people are controlled by inflicting pleasure. 


In short, Orwell feared that what we fear will ruin us.
Huxley feared that pleasure will ruin us.