Connection to Brave New World - Identical - Cam

The scene in which Sissy incorrectly defines a horse (11) reminds me of the novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. The book is similar to 1984 by George Orwell, though instead of an apocalyptic society where people are dumbed down by the government, Brave New World explores how people choose to be dumbed down and exchange intelligence for LSD trips and carefree lives.
Huxley introduces a character from New Mexico whom the English-characters refer to as John Savage, as Bernard and Lenina find him while on vacation among Native Americans. When he and his mother are brought back to London, John has such difficulty assimilating to this new culture that he runs away into isolation. His perspectives are so different from the Londoners that they find great amusement in his monogamous beliefs, and he experiences great pressure to conform.
Sissy experiences the same pressure to conform when Gradgrind berates her in front of the class, and forces her to choose between her family and education.conformity (43) Yet Sissy, it seems, much like John, does not completely conform to the society she lives in (she still retains the name 'Sissy' opposed to 'Cecelia'; and in her heart never abandons the circus performers that raised her)