Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Modern Society vs. Brave New World
The novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley has many comparisions to the modern society of America. To start with one could compare the use of soma to that of an anti-depression or even modern illegal drugs. As the characters in the novel would use the ration they were given to help soothe them and/or take them away to another world mentally many people in America find the use of such drugs as Zoloft and Xanax to help soothe anxiety or depression. The use though of soma for such occasions as the church orgranized orgy could also be a comparison to ecstasy at a rave. Another similarity between the book and our world is that of cloning. As cloning has become a topic for argument in today's society, in Brave New World the use of "test-tube babies" and the splitting of the embryo could be compared to cloning. One last comparison between the two is that of the use of hypnopedia. As this method is not used to teach children the ways of life in today's society, one could compare the use of the media and propaganda to that. Typically children believe what they hear, and when they hear it over and over again, it becomes a way of thinking.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Brave New World #1
1. Connections between Brave New World and Utopia
Both Brave New World and Utopia hit the topic of a distopic/utopic society. One can either believe them to be wanted, or not. Even though they both discuss the idea of a futuristic world, they branch off into very different ideas and morals. For starters, marriage is allowed and pushed in Utopia whereas in Brave New World "everyone belongs to everyone else" or so it is quoted many times throughout the novel. In Utopia, Sir Thomas More explains how everyone has a sole purpose within the society which is also true in Brave New World but in a different manner. Everyone in Brave New World is born or rather made into a certain social caste: Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, Epsilon whereas in Utopia it is your family (which is considered a cuss word in Brave New World mind you) and rank of the people around you. Some of the major similarities that I picked up on are the needed permission to travel to another area, the usage of slaves, and the lacking of individuality between everyone.
2. The goodness of Brave New World
Personally, I really like the avalibility of being able to sleep with whoever you want, basically when you want it, without having to worry about what someone back home is thinking of you. No, really I do not particulary agree with anything throughout this novel, because the more I think of each idea, the more I analyze and disagree. Like say having no disease whatsoever in society...if you take disease out of the world you take doctors away from the world basically, and what's the fun in that. Another thing is the dying at the age of sixty, which is great and all, but then you could miss out on so much more that the world has to offer within the next say thirty years.
3. One major issue with Brave New World
So the first time I read this novel, I was appauld at the idea of setting up an object on one side of the room (such as flowers or books) and letting little children run towards them, only to send them into electric shock and cause some serious issues later on in life. For some odd reason, this just does not seem to be too good for the brains of young children. Another thing is probably the escape of soma. The whole issue on being able to run away from all stress by taking a dosage of a pill just seems like a lame excuse for a life to me.
Both Brave New World and Utopia hit the topic of a distopic/utopic society. One can either believe them to be wanted, or not. Even though they both discuss the idea of a futuristic world, they branch off into very different ideas and morals. For starters, marriage is allowed and pushed in Utopia whereas in Brave New World "everyone belongs to everyone else" or so it is quoted many times throughout the novel. In Utopia, Sir Thomas More explains how everyone has a sole purpose within the society which is also true in Brave New World but in a different manner. Everyone in Brave New World is born or rather made into a certain social caste: Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, Epsilon whereas in Utopia it is your family (which is considered a cuss word in Brave New World mind you) and rank of the people around you. Some of the major similarities that I picked up on are the needed permission to travel to another area, the usage of slaves, and the lacking of individuality between everyone.
2. The goodness of Brave New World
Personally, I really like the avalibility of being able to sleep with whoever you want, basically when you want it, without having to worry about what someone back home is thinking of you. No, really I do not particulary agree with anything throughout this novel, because the more I think of each idea, the more I analyze and disagree. Like say having no disease whatsoever in society...if you take disease out of the world you take doctors away from the world basically, and what's the fun in that. Another thing is the dying at the age of sixty, which is great and all, but then you could miss out on so much more that the world has to offer within the next say thirty years.
3. One major issue with Brave New World
So the first time I read this novel, I was appauld at the idea of setting up an object on one side of the room (such as flowers or books) and letting little children run towards them, only to send them into electric shock and cause some serious issues later on in life. For some odd reason, this just does not seem to be too good for the brains of young children. Another thing is probably the escape of soma. The whole issue on being able to run away from all stress by taking a dosage of a pill just seems like a lame excuse for a life to me.
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