Need a novel to compare to 1984 for essay

[Oli]

Hi,

I'm doing a comparitive essay for english literature and I'm definitely doing 1984 as it is my favourite book and something i could write passionately about. I havent decided on a question or subject for comparison yet but i'm thinking of either;
'Identity of the character',
'Bleakness/Hopelessness/Pessimism',
'Repression',
'Sexuality/Attitudes towards Sex'

Teacher said politics/history would also be a good idea however I'm not too wise on politics and totalatarianism and all the rest of it (yet still managed to thoroughly enjoy the novel)

Any other ideas for the subject of comparison would be greatly appreciated. However, I seriously need help with recommendations ofr another book. 'Remains of the day' has been suggested as has 'Catcher in the Rye'

Thanks in advance

[The Atheist]

Well, a nice easy one is Huxley's Brave New World. It's a short book and there are some easy comparisons - both in character and situation.

For a more historical approach, you could go for Yevgeny Zamyatin's We, which 1984 is partly derived from.

Or, go completely off the wall and use Stephen King's The Stand. It's a very long book, but there are some nice comparisons between Randall Flagg and his "empire" and the Party/BB.

[Silas Thorne]

Maybe you could compare it to the comic series 'V for Vendetta' by Alan Moore? Oh, but that's not a novel.
Or how about 'Clockwork Orange'?
Actually, 'Brave New World' is the one that comes to my mind too on this. There seem to be numerous parallels.

[Jassy Melson]

The comparison and contrast of 1984 and Jack London's The Iron Heel would make an interesting essay. The Iron Heel is a rather short novel and easy to read. It was written in the early twentieth century, so it predates 1984 by a few decades, but is more or less contemporary with Huxley's Brave New World.

[Oli]

Thanks guys, i think i want to take on the helplessness/pessimistic angle as there is plenty of that in the book; the ending, O'Brien's vision of the future, children turning in their parents, overwhelming power of the Party, thoughtless drones etc etc

[Teacher]

Agreed. Safe bet is Huxley's novel.