People lose pieces of themselves, and sometimes, they dont even know it. They lose the piece that makes them who they are, their humanity and this is all because of totalitarian social control, which obviously is dehumanizing. In Orewells 1984 and Aldous Huxleys Brave New World, it is seen that totalitarian social control is in fact, dehumanizing. There are some unanswered questions regarding these two novels, Are these works warnings about the dehumanization effects of totalitarian social control? It is believed that it is a warning. All forms of social control led to dehumanization in both 1984 and Brave New World, from monitoring telescreens, to the use of soma. And whats worse is that the people who are controlled, who are dehumanized, dont even realize it.
The people in 1984 and Brave New World are under many forms of totalitarian social control and techniques. They were used shortly after birth, and even during adulthood. Social conditioning is used very regularly to brainwash the mind into thinking what the higher power wants them to think and behave. Once someone is conditioned, they lose their thoughts and feelings on that situation. Following up on Huxleys Brave New World, Alpha children wear grey. We are much better than Gammas and Deltas. Theyre too stupid to read and write. These people, once conditioned to follow the previous quote will lose their avility to think. They will judge others by their rankings and more. Another form of conditioning is found in Orwells 1984. The citizens were constantly being watched by Big Brother, they had to live in fear. George Orwell, 1984, You had to live, did live, from habit that became instinct, in the assumption that ever soud you made was overheard. From these two techniques of social conditioning, the people lose their ability of free thought and expression, and in a sense, their freedom. In Orwells 1984, it is seen that the citizens are restricted from doing anything without being scared. To make people live in fear is dehumanizing, to remove their ability of human thoughts and feelings is dehumanizing.
Relating to the removal of human thoughts and opinions, very rapidly, totalitarian social control will start removing human feelings also. Human feelings and the ability to express it is what makes humans humans. When a person is mad, they express it, they would cry, scream, shout. But this was taken away from them in Huxleys Brave New World. Theres always soma to calm your anger, to reconcile you to your enemies. In Orwells 1984, they removed the ability to feel joy, happiness, anything good. Never again will you be capable of ordinary human feelings. Everything will be dead inside you. Never again will you be capable of love, or friendship We shall squeeze you empty and then we shall fill you with ourselves. What isnt realized that it does not matter whether or not the positive or negative feelings are removed, both will be lost in the long run. One cannot feel happiness or anger without knowing what the other is. Orwells quote also relates to the previous point, the higher power will make one think what they want them to think. This form of totalitarian social control is dehumanizing because human feelings are being taken away, leaving nothing behind, so that they are hollow.
After removing human feelings, the higher power will take away all desires and decisions. The peoples desires and decisions are fabricated and forced into their minds. With social control, the government suppresses the peoples desires and judgment and makes them want what the government wants. This is dehumanizing because the humans are forced into predestination, as seen in Brave New World, making people like their inescapable social destiny. In Orwells 1994, We shall abolish the orgasm. Our neurologists are at work upon it now. The government in 1984 is working on removing the desire for sex by eliminating any pleasure from it. Again, both situations are dehumanizing because the humans are losing a piece of themselves, little by little.
Following the last three points, total dehumanization will be put in effect if the removal of human feelings, thoughts and desires are successful. There are many short, prompt lines in each novel symbolizing the loss of humanity. In Orwells 1984, You had to live- did live. You will be hollow Everything will be dead inside you. Boot stomping on a human face, - forever and found in Huxleys Brave New World, Making people like their inescapable social destiny. The mind that judges and desires and decides made up of these suggestions. Suggestions from the state. You can carry at least half your morality about in a bottle.
In the end, are these just two great pieces of literature, or are they something more? Were they a sign, a form of a warning regarding totalitarian social control? It is believed so. All forms of social control that were displayed in the novel all led to dehumanization. They should be able to think, feel, desire, but this was all take away during the process of totalitarian social control. What is worst is that the people do not even realize that they lost all that. It really makes one wonder, are we under totalitarian social control also? The people in the two works were clueless and could not realize it. What if we were like that too?
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