I marvel in the fact that we are able to live in a world where we are free to again knowledge. We are able to gain as much education as we please and climb social class with hard work. Here we are not told to be a certain level or given only enough knowledge to do a single job for the rest of our lives. The Brave New World hold back knowledge from their people. Giving the eggs of the Beta's, Delta's, Gamma's, Epsilon's only the ability to learn to a certain education. All this to keep society under complete control and always happy. This makes me very thankful of the world I get to live in.
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The Brave New World society has been taught to have an obsession with sex. The are given free range to sleep with anyone. Also being taught to crave the idea of sex. Today with media we use sex as to entice people to buy a product. Pictures of half naked women and men show on TV commercials and in magazine. Although we are not to the extent of the Brave New World, the thought of sex is used to get people to do something. Almost like the government in Brave New World use it to control the masses. "People believe in God because they've been conditioned to believe in God." Though Mustapha Mond is talking about the Brave New World, these words can relate to our world and society. Religion has opened up in America. You are allowed to believe whatever you want to believe. Unlike the Brave New World and many places in our world we are not conditioned to believe in one single God or religion.
Around the world there has always been religion people have always believed in God or Gods. So is Mustapha Mond right when he says "they've been condition to believe in God." So from the beginning of time have we subconsciously be taught to beileve and fallow a God to control society? Lenina in the Brave New World is rather popular she has been asked by and has slept with many men. This action had made her very desirable to the men in her world. John who has become obsessed Lenina is disgusted when he finds out about her promiscuous past. John's reaction confuses and hurts Lenina she had never meet a man who didn't want to sleep with her. John reaction is very similar to a reaction today. Many are looked down upon for having multitude partners. Though it is cruel to judge people on past history, it also shows our societies morals are still in place. Unlike the Brave New World where morals have become completely corrupt.
As Linda is brought back to the Brave New World she is again introduced to Soma. Unlike the alcohol she would drink on the reservation Soma has no hangover or after effect. Back in the Brave New World she is look at in disgust because of her role as a mother and body image. To remove any bad feeling surrounding her Linda goes into a "Soma holiday." This action seems to almost developed into our society today. When we have been rejected or disappointed by ourselves and outside influences. We turn to drugs or alcohol as an escape from reality. Like Linda many decide there is nothing to create happiness inside them besides the drug. Today many lose their lives to drug over doses and alcohol poisoning becoming a norm in our society. While in the day and age of Huxley this cause of death would be rare and scandalous. Showing how society today in ways is emanating the Brave New World.
John and Bernard go to training center to see how the Alpha-plus children are taught. We learn that the children are sent to dying homes to watch elders in the Brave New World die. As they watch this, they are giving candy/chocolate.This makes the children realize that death isn't bad it is a way of life and they should not be scared of it. This same attitude towards death is done in Mexico. During Cinco de mayo children and families throw large parties and feasts in the gave yards. This helps the children see death as a party and celebration. Making them immune from the terrors many of us feel today.
Popé, the leader of the reservation, gives John a very old book of Shakespeare's works. As John reads he begins to relate with these plays. John uses Shakespeare as a reference to make or justify his actions. He uses the story of Hamlet to spur his aggression towards Popé becuase he has slept with his mother. He stabs Popé trying to kill him, like Hamlet tries to kill his uncle for taking his mother and killing his father. John throughout the story shows his relation to Shakespeare's words more then to either of the worlds he lives in.
Lenina and Bernard make the journey to New Mexico to visit the Reservation. As they arrive the only thing on Bernard's mind is that he will likely be sent to Iceland, to live in semi-isloation. This imminent fate sent Bernard to depression-like state. To cover his dissaponitment he takes four gramme of Soma. Then sleep with Lenina to again mask his self-pity.
This reaction to his exile seem rather normal in today's society. Many who get laid off will turn to drugs or anything that will help lessen their pain or anger. Resulting in guilt, just like Bernard who regrets sleeping with Lenina.Showing that almost nothing good comes from masking certain feelings. Bernard, an Alpha-plus, is introduced in chapter 3 and develops into our main character. As an Alpha-plus Bernard does not possess the same qualities as the other Alphas. "...eight centimeters short of the standard Alpha height and slender in proportion."
Bernard is constantly reminded of his lack in height and size when interacting with the lower classes. He also displays rather strange thoughts and actions compared to the other Alpha-pluses he has interacted with. He is not boisterous or comfortable with discussing private affaires in public Bernard is unsettled when Lenina so openly talks about them going away for a week to New Mexico. Also unlike the others does not mask his pain with soma or "sex-hormone chewing-gum". Drugs which have been made to destroy angry or unsettling emotions within the society. In these actions and thoughts, Bernard has unconsciously not conform to the society around him. |