A Comparison of Utopian Societies

Ever since the worlds first nation state was created, the number one goal of its citizens has been to create the “perfect” society. To a majority of people in the novels Brave New World (c.1932) by Aldous Huxley and The Giver (c.1993) by Lois Lowry, a utopia and “perfect” society has been accomplished. But at a second glance, the world that Huxley creates and Lowry’s community are actually totalitarian dystopias with many secrets. The similarities of both novels are evident and some readers may make the conclusion that Lowry simply wrote a spinoff of Huxley’s novel. Yes, the similarities of these two novels are phenomenal, but so are the differences. Both novels take place in a futuristic society, yet both communities are distinctly different. Both novels feature characters of similar traits and personalities, yet the ways in which they were raised are contrasting. To some readers Huxley and Lowry’s novels seem considerably similar, but more in-depth readers can recognize the uniqueness of both novels.

Despite their similar subject manner, finding the similarities of the two novels requires a little more analysis then one might expect. Both novels have an individual who wants to change his society for the better. Lowry’s novel has Jonas, who uncovers the secrets and discovers the shallowness of “the community”(Giver1) and Huxley’s novel has John, who see’s the true corruption of “the Other Place”(BNW110). Both of these men set out to change their surroundings for the better and ultimately end up sacrificing themselves. Jonas and John are also Jesus figures in their novels. Both Jonas and John try to make their surroundings better for themselves and others. Although it is debatable whether or not either of them accomplishes ...

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...cific jobs at the “Ceremony of Twelve”(Giver45) based on their interests, attitudes and beliefs.

Aldous Huxley and Lois Lowry both wrote futuristic science-fictional novels in their hay day. The novels were written sixty years apart, yet have many similarities between them. Brave New World and The Giver have similar characters and similarities in the ways emotions are controlled. However these two novels also feature many differences; from the way children are brought up to the social structure of the societies. Huxley and Lowry created two masterful novels about the doom and gloom of the future. The two novels send out a warning to the world of the possible totalitarian state we may enter in the future. Both of the books are novels that may scare people with their perceptions of the future, but never the less are two historic, insightful, novels.