Welcome to your venue to post anything and everything dedicated to your independent reading for Q2. Refer to the handouts for guidance. I hope you enjoy this assignment.
During the Animal Farm unit, we responded to the Thomas Jefferson quote: “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.” In other words, oppressive leaders must appease their adversaries in order to legitimize their rule. This idea is evident in both Brave New World and Animal Farm.
Primarily, the World State uses soma to control the population. By organizing social meetings that require the use of soma, the World State regulates the amount of free time citizens have to reflect on their lives. Since most of their time out of the office is spent under the influence of soma, citizens don’t have time to criticize the flaws of the World State society.
Another way the World State silences its potential adversaries is by using hypnopaedia to control their opinions. For example, the saying “history is bunk” (34) is used to prevent citizens from learning about history. Without knowledge of history, and the old “viviparous” methods of reproduction, the people can never imagine alternate lifestyles besides their current one. The World State fears that if people return to natural reproduction, the efficiency and standardization achieved by the Bokanovsky Process will be lost. For this reason, they spread name calling propaganda to degrade people that reproduce naturally by labeling them as “savages.”
Similarly, in Animal Farm, the government of the pigs “brainwashes” the animals into believing their lives have improved since the reign of Jones. Although the truth is quite the opposite and the pigs are more oppressive than Jones, the animals cannot realize this. Due to propaganda spread by Squealer and the ever-changing Seven Commandments, the animals are unconsciously “brainwashed” to support the pigs corrupt rule. The pigs also instill fear in the animals to ensure their obedience by holding public executions and using violent dogs to enforce policies.
Overall, both the World State and the pigs silence those of good conscience in order to maintain their oppressive reigns. However, Bernard seems to be a unique individual that recognizes the World State’s corruption (similar to Benjamin from Animal Farm), do you predict he will protest the World State?
Lauren, I completely agree with you in how this Thomas Jefferson quote reflects how the World State is so successful in controlling their people. By conditioning the population to only know and want what their caste is supposed to, along with introducing soma and using hypnopaedia, the state prevents any possible doubts against them. I also agree with how you compare Benjamin in Animal Farm to Bernard. However, Benjamin is a merely indifferent character. This precludes him from acting out against Napoleon and the rest of the pigs. Bernard, on the other hand, feels insecure and lacks the confidence to question the World State. I wonder if his trip to the savage reservation will help him discover the entire deceit of the government, to where he will be able to finally protest this horrid State.
I too along with Lauren and Lia agree with the Thomas Jefferson quote and I also agree with comparing Bernard and Benjamin. With Benjamin, he was the only one on the farm that could see what the pigs were doing but decided that there was no point and speaking up because he felt that things would never change. Bernard on the other hand, is also aware of the defaults in the world state and does not care about talking about it. Throughout the novel he becomes a lot more comfortable with speaking against the world state but yet he still does nothing. I wonder if he will become just like Benjamin and do nothing, or actually take a stand.
One of the recurring dystopian elements in the World State, and the one that disturbs me the most, is the Hypnopaedia used on the children. While the moral brainwashing that takes place (The hatred towards "viviparous" reproduction, for instance) is creepy, it leans toward a grotesque, making it harder for me to take seriously. To me, the greatest effect of the hypnopaedia is the conflict-aversion. During the date, for instance, any new or challenging idea Bernard brings up is responded to with Soma, rather than have a discussion that could possibly provoke argument. As Lenina says, "Was and will make me ill...I take a gramme and only am."
That concept, that thinking is bad, something that could be insidious, is terrifying. It's political correctness so far to the left that it can hardly be seen as such, and it is my only real problem with the World State's ideology.
For the most part, we haven't seen any real abuses by the World State. While it does oppress the people of the reservations, I have yet to see anything it does to its own people. While their systems of indoctrination and propagation are foreign to all of us, to decry them would be as close-minded as what they do when they sneer at our lifestyles. After all, parents indoctrinate their children as well, and often they teach hate, which the World State does not.
So when I say that the self thought-suppression is terrifying, I mean it. The book has yet to rock my world, but that got to me in a way 1984, which I've also read, did not. In 1984, the oppression is not subtle. People are living in fear of being tortured and killed, and Doublethink is a self-defense measure, not a piece of propaganda. Compared to Brave New World, it's nothing. I make this point because on the whole, I am not wowed by Brave New World. The morals seem too flimsy to really scare me, and truth be told I don't have a problem with their genetic engineering. But that they've gone past teaching people not to think dangerous thoughts, and moved to teaching them not to think, is a repression of something far more atavistic. Thinking is something core to being human, and it shouldn't be possible to vilify it.
While my issue with the World State is with their psychological control, I may be the minority. Do you guys feel the same, that the hypnosis is the problem?
December 21,2012 Halle Vernon Entry #1- Community, Identity and Stability
From the very beginning, Brave New World is, for lack of a better word, eerie. This novel is taking place in a world where suffering and emotions are trying to be erased through strict control of every aspect of a person’s life. Even though suffering does not exist in the way it does now (at least it hasn’t been shown yet in the novel), people have been so desensitized to emotion that they don’t even know happiness – they are merely content and undoubting. I found that the planetary motto “Community, Identity, Stability” summarizes the main themes I saw in what I’ve read so far in the novel. There isn’t a global sense of community, but within their class they there is due to the lack of individual identity. There are sharp, indisputable divides between the Alphas, Betas, Gammas, Epsilons and the Deltas. The use of community in the world motto reminds me of in Animal Farm during Napoleon’s rule, there becomes the commandment “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.” There are ideals of community and identity being preached to all people, yet those of the lower classes are destined to be looked down upon and struggle in difficult manual labor, being trapped into a fate they were born into. Although the story is not told in a naturalist style, this is certainly evidence of a naturalist theme found in it. This society has abolished the ability for someone to form their own identity. Every aspect of these people’s lives are regulated, from the environment their embryos develop in, to the brainwashing they receive in their sleep throughout their childhood. Mustapha Mond how this policy was originally opposed on behalf of liberty- something the students are not familiar with. He regards liberty with an attitude of distain, describing it as “Liberty to be inefficient and miserable. Freedom to be a round peg in a square whole.” It’s interesting to see the negative portrayal of concepts that have a positive connotation in society today. Nothing he says is untrue- their system guarantees that people end up wanting to do what they do, and being well suited for it. Both of these tie back into stability, and how in order to create stability, every aspect of life was controlled. From the fact that the years are being numbered on a totally new system, and the complete absurdity and extremity of society, a cataclysmic event must have sparked some sort of change. I wonder happened, or if the author thought it to be irrelevant to the story. You see this major shift in the way people think, largely due to brainwashing, displayed when Mond talks about the past. I wonder how many people know about how life used to be, and about what happened before Ford. This control of information and education is similar to that in Animal Farm in regards that it is being done in order to maintain the order of the current society and prevent those being ruled to be aware of things greater than themselves. However, I feel that the rulers in Brave New World believe that their controlling the world is in the best interest of mankind, and unlike Squealer, the passionate speakers for Ford seem to genuinely believe in everything they say. The only character who hasn’t fit into the mold given to them so far is Bernard Marx- with his jealousy of Henry and genuine affection for Lenina. Do you see him as possibly causing change because of his differences, or being exiled, brainwashed, or otherwise eliminated as a possible threat because of them?
Venesa Rugova December 21 Entry #1 Brainwash & Control
A prominent idea that has emerged throughout the first couple of chapters includes the World state using brainwashing techniques in order to control and “stabilize” the minds of humans. Three of these techniques include the soma, hypnopaedia, and the use of electric shock.
The drug soma is a symbol of the use of instant gratification to control the World State’s population. the novel states that this drug is now a great drug for old aged people in that now it retains the mental and physical character of youth throughout life. When one thinks of youth, we would refer to the words naive and less experienced in knowledge. As an adult, one becomes more aware of what is going on around them and therefore is able to create stronger opinions and judgements.This drug allows the adults to keep their mind as an adolescent, decreasing the rates of questioning that may form. This is the governments way of reassuring that no one ties to question or overrule the World States authority. The second method includes hypnopaedia. The World State uses the hypnopaedia as moral training to children. For example a recorder voice whispers to a children and it states that Alpha children have to work harder than the other classes and it disparages the lower intelligence and inferiority of the lower castes. The voice teaches pride and happiness in the Beta caste: Betas do not have to work as hard as the cleverer Alphas, it explains, but they are still smarter than the Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons. This teaches the children where they stand in social class and give them a clear understanding of their role in society. The use of this automatically insures that a child grows to full fill their duties in society. The fact that this is used during sleep signifies that the World State is able to control them better during sleep where they are most vulnerable to what is going on around them. As the words enter the children’s minds, they are not able to protest anything and therefore they learn what they are being told.
The final technique, electrical shock, is used in order to put a sort of hatred into babies to stay away from something. For example, as the babies crawl toward the books and the flowers, cooing with pleasure, alarms ring shrilly as they are shocked. From then on when the babies see books and flowers, the wail in terror. This method uses fear in controlling babies by inserting the negative memory of pain into them when they see a certain object. This technique I find personally disturbing in that they inflict such terror and pain into young children in order to alter their opinions or feeling on something.
The idea of control and use of fear is very similar in that in Animal Farm. The pigs constantly persuade the animals into thinking that their actions are for the good of the farm, when all the pigs are really doing is destroying the farm. Just like the information that is pout into the children’s heads in Brave New World, Animal Farm uses their ways of persuasion to alter the belief and opinions of the animals and “brainwash” them into thinking what the government wants them to think. Both novels also include fear which can be one of the strongest device in order to control one. By inserting fear within someone, it it keeps them at the mercy of the government.
While reading the novel, my thinking lead to the whole of brainwashing. While researching I found this article on the New York Times website that was interesting (the article also mentions George Orwell’s novel “1984”): http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/weekinreview/06weiner.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Alexandra Rinaldi December 21 Entry #1: Brainwash, Tone
From the short amount of this novel that I have read, Many prominent symbols and characters have already arose, and foreshadowing elements are hinted in different places within the first 4 chapters. I was at a complete loss for words as I read the beginning chapters and the twisted ideology of the book made me question our government, society, and most importantly our future. The tone seems dark and dramatic but at the same time there is a sense of forced happiness, as everyone in this dystopian world is literally created and grown to love their social standing. An extremely disturbing part in the book that I wanted to discuss was in chapter 2 when the babies were tortured and brainwashed by the scientists, so that they would grow up accepting of their place in society. The babies of the Delta caste system were electrocuted when they touched books and almost deafened as they played with flowers. These actions were so the infants would grow up associating nature and education with negative and traumatic memories, therefore they would hate the outdoors and favor working in factories. A rose, which usually is a symbol of love and beauty, is turned into a painful memory for these poor infants. This connects to their world though, because love has been cut out from the norms of society while beauty is still a prominent factor. This form of brainwash was disturbing and unreal in my opinion. A line from this chapter that clearly reflected upon the treatment of the babies was when the author described how “the infants were unloaded”(p.20). This was extremely significant to me because in this society humans are no longer treated like human beings, but more like animals. The scientists are breeding these children according to social status and physically manipulating them to fit certain standards, which sickens me. The Beta’s are also brainwashed, by having to listen to a recording as they sleep, which repeats an announcement that emphasizes the superiority of the Beta’s over the Gamma’s and Delta’s. This recording is played as the Beta children sleep so that it gets into their brains while they are unconscious, and molds/persuades their thoughts, bestowing the feelings of dominance in this particular social caste. From what we know of Lenina already it is clear she is going to get into some trouble. The fact that she keeps going back to Henry instead of mixing up the men she is with is most likely going to lead her to hardship. An idea that is repeated in chapter 3 is the notion that “everyone belongs to everyone else,”. In this society, there is no monogamy, parents, and the people are barely educated on the past. The desperate desire for stability has lead these people into a dystopian society filled with corruption and manipulation. Everyone belongs to everyone, if this is the case, what is there to live for? This twisted
Intelligence is freedom because without it, the characters in Brave New World cannot oppose the injustices of the World State. This emphasis on intelligence is also present in Animal Farm and in the world outside of literature.
In Brave New World, the World State applies pre-natal conditioning to every citizen according the caste they will be placed in. The rigid caste system provides no opportunity for individuality because from birth, citizens have no control over their own opinions or characteristics. In order to prevent any of the lower-caste members from rising to a higher-caste, the World State restrains their intelligence. To do this, the amount of oxygen delivered to the embryo is reduced in order to prevent proper brain development. From the World State’s twisted perspective, the purpose of the “oxygen-shortage [is] for keeping an embryo below par” (14).
Another method the World State uses to control the intelligence of its citizens is a lack of education. For instance, the Controller teaches the students that a home consists of “no air, no space; an understerilized prison; darkness, disease, and smells” (37). By altering the truth and making the home seem as unappealing as possible, citizens automatically prefer their current lifestyle over any other lifestyle since the World State presents other lifestyles as inferior. Ultimately, the World State restricts the intelligence of its citizens to prevent them from opposing the injustices of society.
The lack of intelligence among the animals in Animal Farm also demonstrates this idea that intelligence is freedom. Due to the pigs’ intelligence, they were easily able to oppress the ignorant animals. The animals’ lack of education prevented them from resisting the pigs’ rule. For example, due to the illiteracy among the animals, they were not able to recognize the pigs’ alterations of the Seven Commandments.
Even in the outside world, intelligence is freedom. It gives people the opportunity to pursue their individual dreams and stand up for themselves. In Pakistan, the government oppresses women by preventing them from receiving an education. Recently, a young Pakistani girl stood up for her right to education. She was shot by the Taliban. However, her up rise inspires others to continue the fight for their freedom by standing up for education.
Lia Golden December 22, 2012 Entry #1: Individualism
In Huxley’s version of a dystopia, The World State attempts to create a perfect society in which everyone is happy. In order to achieve this, the State uses technology to condition people to do and want only what their predetermined caste is supposed to. However, people lose the freedom to think for themselves. Ironically, Huxley introduces the characters of Bernard Marx and Helmholtz Watson, two people that are individuals in a society where one of its mottos is “Everyone belongs to everyone” (40). After what I have read of Brave New World, I’m exploring the role of the individual in this novel through Bernard and Helmholtz.
Bernard is in the highest Alpha caste, yet possesses physical deformities, and doesn’t agree with some of the State’s ideas, including sexual relationships and sports. This causes him to feel unhappy and insecure, and is disrespected by others. Bernard dislikes the State because he feels he is too weak to fit his social position, and therefore can act cruel and harsh to others. For example, when encountering to a couple of Delta caste members, he speaks to them rudely: “’Hurry up!’ he shouted more loudly, and there was an ugly rasp in his voice.” (65). Bernard fears that the Deltas will not treat him with the respect of his caste because he has insecurities of his appearance. As the novel progresses, I wonder if Bernard will gain the confidence to actively criticize the World State.
Helmholtz additionally represents an individual in the World State, yet in a much different way than Bernard. Although in the same Alpha caste, Helmholtz is extremely intelligent, attractive, and is well respected by others. Helmholtz condemns the State because he feels he is too strong for his caste. When meeting with Bernard, Helmholtz discusses his plans: “’…I feel I could do something much more important. Yes, and more intense…’” (70). Helmholtz has the desire to make change, and because of his status, has the opportunity to successfully do it. I wonder if he will serve a prominent role in the rest of the novel, or just serve as a foil to Bernard.
In our everyday world, people who differ from the restrictions of society can either become miserable, like Bernard, or want to do something more, like Helmholtz. A person that is an excellent example of someone like Helmholtz is Steve Jobs. He defied the technology and media industries by creating products that drove the way people use both use personal computers and listen to music. Here is a link on his life: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs
Tristen Lee December 22, 2012 Entry #1: Power, Arrogance
The beginning of this book, mostly the process of mass-producing people, and controlling their lives and their actions reminded me of this clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gvojzTvjgg watch from 4:32 to 6:20. Yes, it is a cartoon, but there is an obvious theme; that power is destructive. Power is very influential. In this case, the creature’s strong mind and ability to control others is what enables her to be so powerful. The Directors have the ability to determine what the future of humanity is by what they people they make in the factories. Both of these creatures have complete control over their domain, and their intellect is the dangerous factor. When you are smarter than those that surround you, why would you doubt yourself? Arrogance is a very dangerous trait for a world leader to have. When a man is consumed by his own ideas and his success, he becomes blind of all other things. When Mr. Foster joins the director of their tour of the factory, they both sit in the success of the factory. It seems like all of the exposed society has no problems with the ideas that they we’re crafted like robots, for a specific “task” or a caste. Mustapha Mond uses many of the fear tactics that are used in Animal Farm, threatening that “mothers and fathers” will come back. Another bit of propaganda that is used is the card stacking, for Mond only gives the negatives of family life. Is there some sort of arrogance, or possibly ignorance of a better way of life? What amuses me is the fact that the students aren’t confused by the fact that their life was given a predestined meaning due to which rack they are in the Decanting Room. Instead the technological concepts in the factory are what confuse them.
Tristen, that adventure time connection was a perfect example of the dangers of power and it related a lot with the book. While i was reading, i didn't pay full attention to the propaganda techniques, but now that you point a few out i can see many techniques that are used. I think that above all, Mustapha Mond uses fear to get his way. He's using his power and control to manipulate these innocent beings. And to answer your question, I do think that there is ignorance of a better life. If you are born and raised a certain way, there's nothing to compare your current life too. And especially if you are being brainwashed in the way that these infants and children are, they are completely blind to anything negative in their life, because they have been manipulated to be this way.
Venesa Rugova December 22 Entry #2- Nature vs Nurture
The World State in the novel brings up the on going battle between nature versus nurture, and the defiance of nature. The nature versus nurture debate concerns the relative importance of an individual's inherited qualities versus personal experiences and teachings. The world state essentially defeats the natural creation of humans and then creates a world based on control and teachings of where a person belongs in society.
Primarily, the World State has over come the natural process of the creation of a human and in this case, they are able to create hundreds and even thousands of siblings from one embryo. In this world, sexual reproduction is not needed in order to create human life anymore which has lead to the lack of use of the word “parent.” On page 23 of the novel, the Director asks the boys if they even knew what the word parent was. Some of the boys even blush at the sound of the word because it brought up the thought of sexual reproduction which is not relevant during this time. The World State has completely surpassed nature in the way that there is the Bokanovsky Process, which involves shocking an egg so that it divides to form up to ninety-six identical embryos, which then develop into ninety-six identical human beings. This ability signifies just how much power the World State holds, in that they have defeated nature. In this dystopia nature is not a significant aspect of life anymore while nurture is the most dominant aspect, which is something I found very fascinating.
Nature is also brought up in being a burden on the World State’s economy. Their intentions are for the lower class to have a sort of hatred towards nature which is stated in the novel by saying, “A love for nature keeps no factories busy. It was decided to abolish the love of nature, at any rate among the lower classes; to abolish the love of nature, but not the tendency to consume transport” (23). Nature in this world is something that is only needed in certain ways such as getting people to go to the country in order for the consumption of transport, but in this case thats was all that was consumed at one point. However, now they stimulate lower classes to love all country sports which in the World State, requires the use of elaborate apparatus. As a result, the lower castes now pay for both transportation and manufactured goods when they travel to the country for sporting events. This is another example of how nature is only relevant in some what stimulating the economy. Other than that nature itself , which was always admired and even evoked questioning, has turned to nothing more than a economical purpose. This elimination of questioning nature eliminates questioning among humans also making it easier for the state to hold onto their power.
On the contrary to nature, this dystopia surrounds itself on the power that nurture provides. In any case, nurture is dominant in that the way one is taught is the most likely the way they will think throughout life. A persons upbringing and experiences signify their characteristics. For the World State, since they control the minds of the humans they are able to create the thoughts that each class will have. They are the ones that educate the humans and alternate their feelings and opinions by manipulating babies and others by using technology. Nurture is dominant in their case because this dystopia does not live by the natural process of life, but instead goes by the World States power and control of human kind. For example, the state manipulates the babies to hate flowers and books by electrically shocking them, which then puts a negative feeling towards those items. The state also teaches the people about the social class they will soon be apart of and their purpose in the world. In this society, what the World State wants the people to think is what the people are going to think. They are able to do so by using Hypnopaedia to educate the babies. Due to this type of life, the humans don’t know much of a world where a life is created through sexual reproduction. Nurture overpowers nature in the novel.
This idea of nature versus nurture has made me wonder, which is more powerful and influential in our world?
Alexandra Rinaldi December 23 Entry #2: Symbols and Ideas
As the book moves forwards, we learn more about the characters and the complexity of this society grows.
Bernard is introduced, along with Helmholtz and we learn that they are sheer opposites. Bernard is a misfit who feels that changing society would be the best way for him to fit in. He’s an alpha who is embarrassed of his small size, because its harder for him to project his social dominance onto the lower classes, since physically he is the same as the Delta’s and Gammas. Helmholtz is clearly an alpha and both his physical and emotional characteristics prove this. Helmholtz is “a powerfully built man, deep chested, broad shouldered, and massive.,(p.66), who has plenty of women to choose from and a great career. Helmholtz and Bernard discuss Bernard’s dislike for the society they are living in and the unfairness of the world. Bernard has a biased point of view where the main reason for his discomfort in society is due to his inability to fit in. The citizens are highly controlled and watched, which clearly justifies Bernard’s immediate fear of being heard while discussing his unhappiness towards the government and social system. Bernard quotes “when people are suspicious with you, you start being suspicious with them”(p.70), this line has extreme significance within the book, and also our world today. When a person is insecure it leads them to question not only themselves, but also the things around them causing them to put the blame on anything that seems to be the reason for their mistakes. This is to find a sense of comfort in knowing its not their fault. I feel that this relates to Bernard because he’s blaming the government and society for his discomfort. Helmholtz is happy with his life and has no problem with society, which is why I question whether or not he’s going to go against Bernard in the future. The author made a point of expressing Helmholtz’s disappointment in Bernard at the end of the chapter by saying how ashamed he was of him and how “he wished Bernard would show a little more pride”(pg.71).
An extremely significant symbol that is introduced and expanded on in chapter 5 is the drug the citizens take called soma. This drug is a perfect representation of the people’s detachment from reality. Soma distorts the people’s perception of reality and makes it easier to do wild things; in this case in chapter 5 they have an orgy. Soma is a legal drug that is commonly served with meals in this society. This is an example of how the people in control of the World State manipulate these people and always try to keep them busy and not focused on reality. When the ceremony at the Fordson Community Singery is over, and the speaker leaves, an insignificant couple is mentioned to have “still retained their happy ignorance of the night”(p.77). This line really stood out to me and I found great importance within this quote. The people who are a part of society are so ignorant to the manipulation and brainwash that they have nothing to fear because they have never known anything different from the world they live in now. Their happiness is never lost because they’re formed and conditioned to feel and act a certain way. This is a perfect example of the dangers of being ignorant.
Lia Golden December 23, 2012 Entry #2: Technology and Government Control
From the beginning of the novel, I can notice how the World State uses technology to control its population, which is a major theme in the story. The State implements these technologies to create a stable society in which everyone is happy. However, this also creates a superficial place where people cannot think for themselves. In addition, the World State ironically both censors and limits science, a means to build their technology, as they see the search for truths threatening to the State’s control.
The way the World State uses technology to control their people is demonstrated through many examples in the novel. First, the State has complete control of reproduction. This is shown through the surgical removal of ovaries, the Bokanovsky Process, and hypnopaedic conditioning. From the beginning of a person’s life, citizens are in the state’s hands, and are conditioned to not think for themselves. Another example of this theme is the use of the drug Soma. Mustapha Mond, the Resident Controller of Western Europe, describes the drug by saying it has “All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects” (54). This technology is used to control the World State citizens in their leisure time, by ensuring they will be consistently happy. In addition, the drug is used in the same way as religion and alcohol in current modern day, to bring people together and form a community, initiated by the State.
When comparing this form of government to our everyday world, I know that people in our society have the freedom to think for themselves, yet will not always be happy. Still, I am thankful for living this way because I have the ability to contemplate and question my surroundings, which make me a better human being.
The idea of a government with unlimited powers and its negative impacts is also prevalent in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. Although in Animal Farm the pigs control the animals using propaganda and fear, the restraint has the same effect on society as Brave New World. Orwell writes the novel as a satire to criticize the Russian government that Stalin was leading. Given this, I believe Huxley might also be warning the dangers of giving the state control over all aspects of a society through his novel. I wonder what Huxley’s true purpose was to writing a novel about such a chilling dystopia. Was he criticizing controlling governments, or was he just warning about the wrongful uses of new technologies?
Lia, I completely agree with your idea that Huxley is criticizing totalitarian governments. I also feel that Huxley uses Brave New World as a warning for a consumer society. Everything in the World State revolves around efficiency and profit- from how many humans to produce for the caste system to the hypnopaedic messages encouraging citizens to buy new clothes. A perfect example of the World State's consumer society is the fact that Henry Ford is their "God", being that he is the father of mass production. Overall, the World State sacrifices individuality and freedom for efficiency and profit.
Michelle Perez Entry #1- Brainwashing and Social Stability
My initial reaction when I started this novel, was how bizarre this futuristic world was, how technology could easily replace all of these natural processes and how the government could be allowed to predetermine the lives of so many people in order to create a "perfect" and "stable" society. It was almost disturbing how much they could and were willing to control the lives of so many people with technology: putting people into different castes and making them believe as though this was the natural order of the world and to accept the position they were put into without any hopes of moving up in society. The World State makes sure that people know their place and don't step out of the line the government put them behind. The government is able to control these people through brainwashing and experiments like the shock treatment the Delta babies were put under, to be forced to be fearful of such things like beauty and nature in order to be more focused on working in factories. People are stripped of their rights of free thought and the right to make a better life for themselves for the good of a system that is made to only benefit the elite classes.
While reading the beginning of this novel, I tried imagining what it would be like to be part of this system, to be placed into a caste and have the course of my life so restricted by decisions others made for me. I realized that I wouldn't question it. From birth I would have been brainwashed into thinking that this is the natural course of life and would have nothing to compare it to because the teaching of history is looked down upon or not thought of as necessary. If born into a lower caste, I would be indifferent about it since I know no other lifestyle and have been brainwashed into knowing that this is my caste and to know my place in society. I would blindly accept these ideas and not even think of questioning them because I wouldn't know any other way. This reminds me of the sheep in Animal Farm in that they know that the reign of Napoleon was not working as they had hoped when Animal Farm was starting out, but they had forgotten what life was like under the reign of Jones. They didn't know which was worst, but assumed that the reign of Napoleon had to be better, because of the lies told to them by the pigs, assuring them that they were better off without Jones. The sheep and other animals did not question their life under the rule of Napoleon because it was the only life they could remember. This brainwashing maintains the stability that keeps this system working and allows the government to maintain such power.
I really liked how you personalized your entry by trying to picture yourself as a member of this dystopia. Its interesting to read earlier responses after progressing further in the novel. In the beginning, we tended to focus on the mindset of the people. As the novel progresses, as well as discussing whether or not the oblivious masses are happier under this style of government, we see how the Alphas are affected. In the brief scene where Mustapha Mond is writing that an innovatory biology book cannot be published, he seems much more human. Despite the fact that he is preventing innovation, the spread of knowledge and discovery, he expresses genuine interest in the new theory, describing it as ingenious. “”What fun it would be,” he thought, “If one did not have to worry about happiness!”(177) This shows a side of Mond that believes his actions are in the best actions of the people.
In the world in Brave New World, it is difficult to form one's own identity in a world where humans are made like machines in an assembly line. The government creates social restrictions that its people have no choice than to live by. It is impossible to ignore the social divisions in this society because from birth, children are brainwashed subconsciously to be proud of their caste and look down upon those in lower castes. Certain statements the government feeds to them while they sleep become second nature to them and rules that these people live and abide by without any thought. The government ensures that these castes stay clearly defined by the colors each caste must wear to be identified by their caste and not by their personalities or values. Right away people are judged based on their class from just the color of their clothing. Assumptions are made based on the lines fed to them by the government to keep each person in line and where the government decides they belong. People are just thought of as castes and not individuals. People like Lenina try to make an identity for themselves based on these restrictions. This is shown through the way that even though her caste is only permitted to wear green, she tries to accessorize herself and find her own identity through her clothes, as there are even average features that people in each caste have. Like any thing made in an assembly line, there are bound to be mistakes or mishaps that occur. In a society such as this, these people are immediately picked out of the crowd and from then on are known for that one particular defect. All of the children of the same caste are fed the same caste appropriate messages subconsciously and, depending on the caste, are deliberately limited physically and mentally to prepare them for the predetermined plans for their futures. The members of the lower castes are created to be alike, as they are treated as worker drones in society. These people create their identities around the guidelines that someone else has deemed appropriate for them and that decide their place in society. To be an individual is to be saved for the higher classes whereas the lower classes are thought of as just that: inferior and to be thought of as all the same.
Reading this book has made me wonder if there is truly a utopian society. I have come to believe so because as long as certain requirements are met, the society would be considered such a thing. If there was an organized system in which the citizens were happy, there was peace and economic stability (comment if you believe I’m missing something), what makes that society anything less from perfect. And it seems like the society in Brave New World captures that essence. We, as outsiders and “all-knowers”, as readers from a narrator’s perspective, see the evils that exist in the system. But what, honestly, is the difference between happy and brainwashed-happy. Its hard to imagine because we have never actually been brainwashed, but for the most part, aren’t the people in the story happy? Now, Bernard has had rumors spread that during the process of his creation, he was given alcohol, which stunted his growth and makes him different from the rest and he is unhappy. Helmholtz is too great for society; he is above the rest and therefore is unhappy. But these two men are the flaws in the system, created by human error, but flaws, if had not existed, leave a rather perfect society. This book has truly set evil, manipulating connotations about the society that the people live in, but what is the problem with that as long as the people or happy. It might seem like a “commie” remark, but the most longed feeling people have on this earth is happiness, and if the World Society is giving them this feeling, even if by drugging them, what’s so wrong with that?
Oliver Stein Entry 2 Happiness is bliss After re-reading the scene with Helmholtz and Bernard, I have come to a conclusion: There is no problem with Hypnopaedia as long as you accept that the thought suppression is an acceptable cost for world happiness. (Note that I am referring to the genetics and brainwashing system, rather than the World State as a whole. I have not missed their abuses of those on the reserves.) Rather, the issue lies with overly-large margins of error in regards to the formation of the Alphas, Betas, etc. As seen with Bernard and Helmholtz, the system is not perfect. While there is a problem, as Michelle has pointed to in her second post, it is in the execution, rather than the system itself. If people like Bernard and Helmholtz could have been correctly assembled, they would be happy. Michelle says that propaganda used in Animal Farm is the same as that used in Brave New World, but I would raise a point: they are telling the truth when they say that people are happier now. That’s not the case in Animal Farm, where they are starved, abused and scared; but in Brave New World each caste is given food, shelter, and bliss. (In the form of Soma) As the book continues, I am going to move forward under the assumption that the World State has achieved something positive. Unless the events of the book change my mind, I will look at the (Admittedly strange) utopia as a net positive, rather than a negative. In particular, I believe that the happiness engendered by the World State outweighs the eradication of thought. This is important because if the World State is bad because of the Hypnopaedia and Freemartins, than the actions on the reserves are a further condemnation of the World State, rather than a dark side of something good.
Lauren Prisco
ReplyDeleteDecember 20, 2012
Entry #1- Soma and History in Chapter 3
During the Animal Farm unit, we responded to the Thomas Jefferson quote: “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.” In other words, oppressive leaders must appease their adversaries in order to legitimize their rule. This idea is evident in both Brave New World and Animal Farm.
Primarily, the World State uses soma to control the population. By organizing social meetings that require the use of soma, the World State regulates the amount of free time citizens have to reflect on their lives. Since most of their time out of the office is spent under the influence of soma, citizens don’t have time to criticize the flaws of the World State society.
Another way the World State silences its potential adversaries is by using hypnopaedia to control their opinions. For example, the saying “history is bunk” (34) is used to prevent citizens from learning about history. Without knowledge of history, and the old “viviparous” methods of reproduction, the people can never imagine alternate lifestyles besides their current one. The World State fears that if people return to natural reproduction, the efficiency and standardization achieved by the Bokanovsky Process will be lost. For this reason, they spread name calling propaganda to degrade people that reproduce naturally by labeling them as “savages.”
Similarly, in Animal Farm, the government of the pigs “brainwashes” the animals into believing their lives have improved since the reign of Jones. Although the truth is quite the opposite and the pigs are more oppressive than Jones, the animals cannot realize this. Due to propaganda spread by Squealer and the ever-changing Seven Commandments, the animals are unconsciously “brainwashed” to support the pigs corrupt rule. The pigs also instill fear in the animals to ensure their obedience by holding public executions and using violent dogs to enforce policies.
Overall, both the World State and the pigs silence those of good conscience in order to maintain their oppressive reigns. However, Bernard seems to be a unique individual that recognizes the World State’s corruption (similar to Benjamin from Animal Farm), do you predict he will protest the World State?
Lauren, I completely agree with you in how this Thomas Jefferson quote reflects how the World State is so successful in controlling their people. By conditioning the population to only know and want what their caste is supposed to, along with introducing soma and using hypnopaedia, the state prevents any possible doubts against them. I also agree with how you compare Benjamin in Animal Farm to Bernard. However, Benjamin is a merely indifferent character. This precludes him from acting out against Napoleon and the rest of the pigs. Bernard, on the other hand, feels insecure and lacks the confidence to question the World State. I wonder if his trip to the savage reservation will help him discover the entire deceit of the government, to where he will be able to finally protest this horrid State.
DeleteI too along with Lauren and Lia agree with the Thomas Jefferson quote and I also agree with comparing Bernard and Benjamin. With Benjamin, he was the only one on the farm that could see what the pigs were doing but decided that there was no point and speaking up because he felt that things would never change. Bernard on the other hand, is also aware of the defaults in the world state and does not care about talking about it. Throughout the novel he becomes a lot more comfortable with speaking against the world state but yet he still does nothing. I wonder if he will become just like Benjamin and do nothing, or actually take a stand.
DeleteOliver Stein
ReplyDeleteDecember 21
Entry 1#- Self Control
One of the recurring dystopian elements in the World State, and the one that disturbs me the most, is the Hypnopaedia used on the children. While the moral brainwashing that takes place (The hatred towards "viviparous" reproduction, for instance) is creepy, it leans toward a grotesque, making it harder for me to take seriously. To me, the greatest effect of the hypnopaedia is the conflict-aversion. During the date, for instance, any new or challenging idea Bernard brings up is responded to with Soma, rather than have a discussion that could possibly provoke argument. As Lenina says, "Was and will make me ill...I take a gramme and only am."
That concept, that thinking is bad, something that could be insidious, is terrifying. It's political correctness so far to the left that it can hardly be seen as such, and it is my only real problem with the World State's ideology.
For the most part, we haven't seen any real abuses by the World State. While it does oppress the people of the reservations, I have yet to see anything it does to its own people. While their systems of indoctrination and propagation are foreign to all of us, to decry them would be as close-minded as what they do when they sneer at our lifestyles. After all, parents indoctrinate their children as well, and often they teach hate, which the World State does not.
So when I say that the self thought-suppression is terrifying, I mean it. The book has yet to rock my world, but that got to me in a way 1984, which I've also read, did not. In 1984, the oppression is not subtle. People are living in fear of being tortured and killed, and Doublethink is a self-defense measure, not a piece of propaganda. Compared to Brave New World, it's nothing. I make this point because on the whole, I am not wowed by Brave New World. The morals seem too flimsy to really scare me, and truth be told I don't have a problem with their genetic engineering. But that they've gone past teaching people not to think dangerous thoughts, and moved to teaching them not to think, is a repression of something far more atavistic. Thinking is something core to being human, and it shouldn't be possible to vilify it.
While my issue with the World State is with their psychological control, I may be the minority. Do you guys feel the same, that the hypnosis is the problem?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDecember 21,2012
ReplyDeleteHalle Vernon
Entry #1- Community, Identity and Stability
From the very beginning, Brave New World is, for lack of a better word, eerie. This novel is taking place in a world where suffering and emotions are trying to be erased through strict control of every aspect of a person’s life. Even though suffering does not exist in the way it does now (at least it hasn’t been shown yet in the novel), people have been so desensitized to emotion that they don’t even know happiness – they are merely content and undoubting. I found that the planetary motto “Community, Identity, Stability” summarizes the main themes I saw in what I’ve read so far in the novel.
There isn’t a global sense of community, but within their class they there is due to the lack of individual identity. There are sharp, indisputable divides between the Alphas, Betas, Gammas, Epsilons and the Deltas. The use of community in the world motto reminds me of in Animal Farm during Napoleon’s rule, there becomes the commandment “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.” There are ideals of community and identity being preached to all people, yet those of the lower classes are destined to be looked down upon and struggle in difficult manual labor, being trapped into a fate they were born into. Although the story is not told in a naturalist style, this is certainly evidence of a naturalist theme found in it.
This society has abolished the ability for someone to form their own identity. Every aspect of these people’s lives are regulated, from the environment their embryos develop in, to the brainwashing they receive in their sleep throughout their childhood. Mustapha Mond how this policy was originally opposed on behalf of liberty- something the students are not familiar with. He regards liberty with an attitude of distain, describing it as “Liberty to be inefficient and miserable. Freedom to be a round peg in a square whole.” It’s interesting to see the negative portrayal of concepts that have a positive connotation in society today. Nothing he says is untrue- their system guarantees that people end up wanting to do what they do, and being well suited for it.
Both of these tie back into stability, and how in order to create stability, every aspect of life was controlled. From the fact that the years are being numbered on a totally new system, and the complete absurdity and extremity of society, a cataclysmic event must have sparked some sort of change. I wonder happened, or if the author thought it to be irrelevant to the story. You see this major shift in the way people think, largely due to brainwashing, displayed when Mond talks about the past. I wonder how many people know about how life used to be, and about what happened before Ford. This control of information and education is similar to that in Animal Farm in regards that it is being done in order to maintain the order of the current society and prevent those being ruled to be aware of things greater than themselves. However, I feel that the rulers in Brave New World believe that their controlling the world is in the best interest of mankind, and unlike Squealer, the passionate speakers for Ford seem to genuinely believe in everything they say. The only character who hasn’t fit into the mold given to them so far is Bernard Marx- with his jealousy of Henry and genuine affection for Lenina. Do you see him as possibly causing change because of his differences, or being exiled, brainwashed, or otherwise eliminated as a possible threat because of them?
Venesa Rugova
ReplyDeleteDecember 21
Entry #1 Brainwash & Control
A prominent idea that has emerged throughout the first couple of chapters includes the World state using brainwashing techniques in order to control and “stabilize” the minds of humans. Three of these techniques include the soma, hypnopaedia, and the use of electric shock.
The drug soma is a symbol of the use of instant gratification to control the World State’s population. the novel states that this drug is now a great drug for old aged people in that now it retains the mental and physical character of youth throughout life. When one thinks of youth, we would refer to the words naive and less experienced in knowledge. As an adult, one becomes more aware of what is going on around them and therefore is able to create stronger opinions and judgements.This drug allows the adults to keep their mind as an adolescent, decreasing the rates of questioning that may form. This is the governments way of reassuring that no one ties to question or overrule the World States authority.
The second method includes hypnopaedia. The World State uses the hypnopaedia as moral training to children. For example a recorder voice whispers to a children and it states that Alpha children have to work harder than the other classes and it disparages the lower intelligence and inferiority of the lower castes. The voice teaches pride and happiness in the Beta caste: Betas do not have to work as hard as the cleverer Alphas, it explains, but they are still smarter than the Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons. This teaches the children where they stand in social class and give them a clear understanding of their role in society. The use of this automatically insures that a child grows to full fill their duties in society. The fact that this is used during sleep signifies that the World State is able to control them better during sleep where they are most vulnerable to what is going on around them. As the words enter the children’s minds, they are not able to protest anything and therefore they learn what they are being told.
The final technique, electrical shock, is used in order to put a sort of hatred into babies to stay away from something. For example, as the babies crawl toward the books and the flowers, cooing with pleasure, alarms ring shrilly as they are shocked. From then on when the babies see books and flowers, the wail in terror. This method uses fear in controlling babies by inserting the negative memory of pain into them when they see a certain object. This technique I find personally disturbing in that they inflict such terror and pain into young children in order to alter their opinions or feeling on something.
The idea of control and use of fear is very similar in that in Animal Farm. The pigs constantly persuade the animals into thinking that their actions are for the good of the farm, when all the pigs are really doing is destroying the farm. Just like the information that is pout into the children’s heads in Brave New World, Animal Farm uses their ways of persuasion to alter the belief and opinions of the animals and “brainwash” them into thinking what the government wants them to think. Both novels also include fear which can be one of the strongest device in order to control one. By inserting fear within someone, it it keeps them at the mercy of the government.
While reading the novel, my thinking lead to the whole of brainwashing. While researching I found this article on the New York Times website that was interesting (the article also mentions George Orwell’s novel “1984”):
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/weekinreview/06weiner.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Alexandra Rinaldi
ReplyDeleteDecember 21
Entry #1: Brainwash, Tone
From the short amount of this novel that I have read, Many prominent symbols and characters have already arose, and foreshadowing elements are hinted in different places within the first 4 chapters. I was at a complete loss for words as I read the beginning chapters and the twisted ideology of the book made me question our government, society, and most importantly our future. The tone seems dark and dramatic but at the same time there is a sense of forced happiness, as everyone in this dystopian world is literally created and grown to love their social standing.
An extremely disturbing part in the book that I wanted to discuss was in chapter 2 when the babies were tortured and brainwashed by the scientists, so that they would grow up accepting of their place in society. The babies of the Delta caste system were electrocuted when they touched books and almost deafened as they played with flowers. These actions were so the infants would grow up associating nature and education with negative and traumatic memories, therefore they would hate the outdoors and favor working in factories. A rose, which usually is a symbol of love and beauty, is turned into a painful memory for these poor infants. This connects to their world though, because love has been cut out from the norms of society while beauty is still a prominent factor. This form of brainwash was disturbing and unreal in my opinion. A line from this chapter that clearly reflected upon the treatment of the babies was when the author described how “the infants were unloaded”(p.20). This was extremely significant to me because in this society humans are no longer treated like human beings, but more like animals. The scientists are breeding these children according to social status and physically manipulating them to fit certain standards, which sickens me. The Beta’s are also brainwashed, by having to listen to a recording as they sleep, which repeats an announcement that emphasizes the superiority of the Beta’s over the Gamma’s and Delta’s. This recording is played as the Beta children sleep so that it gets into their brains while they are unconscious, and molds/persuades their thoughts, bestowing the feelings of dominance in this particular social caste.
From what we know of Lenina already it is clear she is going to get into some trouble. The fact that she keeps going back to Henry instead of mixing up the men she is with is most likely going to lead her to hardship. An idea that is repeated in chapter 3 is the notion that “everyone belongs to everyone else,”. In this society, there is no monogamy, parents, and the people are barely educated on the past.
The desperate desire for stability has lead these people into a dystopian society filled with corruption and manipulation. Everyone belongs to everyone, if this is the case, what is there to live for? This twisted
view on the world has made me question where our society is headed.
DeleteLauren Prisco
ReplyDeleteDecember 22, 2012
Entry #2- Intelligence is Freedom
Intelligence is freedom because without it, the characters in Brave New World cannot oppose the injustices of the World State. This emphasis on intelligence is also present in Animal Farm and in the world outside of literature.
In Brave New World, the World State applies pre-natal conditioning to every citizen according the caste they will be placed in. The rigid caste system provides no opportunity for individuality because from birth, citizens have no control over their own opinions or characteristics. In order to prevent any of the lower-caste members from rising to a higher-caste, the World State restrains their intelligence. To do this, the amount of oxygen delivered to the embryo is reduced in order to prevent proper brain development. From the World State’s twisted perspective, the purpose of the “oxygen-shortage [is] for keeping an embryo below par” (14).
Another method the World State uses to control the intelligence of its citizens is a lack of education. For instance, the Controller teaches the students that a home consists of “no air, no space; an understerilized prison; darkness, disease, and smells” (37). By altering the truth and making the home seem as unappealing as possible, citizens automatically prefer their current lifestyle over any other lifestyle since the World State presents other lifestyles as inferior. Ultimately, the World State restricts the intelligence of its citizens to prevent them from opposing the injustices of society.
The lack of intelligence among the animals in Animal Farm also demonstrates this idea that intelligence is freedom. Due to the pigs’ intelligence, they were easily able to oppress the ignorant animals. The animals’ lack of education prevented them from resisting the pigs’ rule. For example, due to the illiteracy among the animals, they were not able to recognize the pigs’ alterations of the Seven Commandments.
Even in the outside world, intelligence is freedom. It gives people the opportunity to pursue their individual dreams and stand up for themselves. In Pakistan, the government oppresses women by preventing them from receiving an education. Recently, a young Pakistani girl stood up for her right to education. She was shot by the Taliban. However, her up rise inspires others to continue the fight for their freedom by standing up for education.
Link: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/15/world/iyw-support-for-malala/index.html
Lia Golden
ReplyDeleteDecember 22, 2012
Entry #1: Individualism
In Huxley’s version of a dystopia, The World State attempts to create a perfect society in which everyone is happy. In order to achieve this, the State uses technology to condition people to do and want only what their predetermined caste is supposed to. However, people lose the freedom to think for themselves. Ironically, Huxley introduces the characters of Bernard Marx and Helmholtz Watson, two people that are individuals in a society where one of its mottos is “Everyone belongs to everyone” (40). After what I have read of Brave New World, I’m exploring the role of the individual in this novel through Bernard and Helmholtz.
Bernard is in the highest Alpha caste, yet possesses physical deformities, and doesn’t agree with some of the State’s ideas, including sexual relationships and sports. This causes him to feel unhappy and insecure, and is disrespected by others. Bernard dislikes the State because he feels he is too weak to fit his social position, and therefore can act cruel and harsh to others. For example, when encountering to a couple of Delta caste members, he speaks to them rudely: “’Hurry up!’ he shouted more loudly, and there was an ugly rasp in his voice.” (65). Bernard fears that the Deltas will not treat him with the respect of his caste because he has insecurities of his appearance. As the novel progresses, I wonder if Bernard will gain the confidence to actively criticize the World State.
Helmholtz additionally represents an individual in the World State, yet in a much different way than Bernard. Although in the same Alpha caste, Helmholtz is extremely intelligent, attractive, and is well respected by others. Helmholtz condemns the State because he feels he is too strong for his caste. When meeting with Bernard, Helmholtz discusses his plans: “’…I feel I could do something much more important. Yes, and more intense…’” (70). Helmholtz has the desire to make change, and because of his status, has the opportunity to successfully do it. I wonder if he will serve a prominent role in the rest of the novel, or just serve as a foil to Bernard.
In our everyday world, people who differ from the restrictions of society can either become miserable, like Bernard, or want to do something more, like Helmholtz. A person that is an excellent example of someone like Helmholtz is Steve Jobs. He defied the technology and media industries by creating products that drove the way people use both use personal computers and listen to music. Here is a link on his life: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs
Tristen Lee
ReplyDeleteDecember 22, 2012
Entry #1: Power, Arrogance
The beginning of this book, mostly the process of mass-producing people, and controlling their lives and their actions reminded me of this clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gvojzTvjgg watch from 4:32 to 6:20. Yes, it is a cartoon, but there is an obvious theme; that power is destructive. Power is very influential. In this case, the creature’s strong mind and ability to control others is what enables her to be so powerful. The Directors have the ability to determine what the future of humanity is by what they people they make in the factories. Both of these creatures have complete control over their domain, and their intellect is the dangerous factor. When you are smarter than those that surround you, why would you doubt yourself? Arrogance is a very dangerous trait for a world leader to have. When a man is consumed by his own ideas and his success, he becomes blind of all other things. When Mr. Foster joins the director of their tour of the factory, they both sit in the success of the factory. It seems like all of the exposed society has no problems with the ideas that they we’re crafted like robots, for a specific “task” or a caste. Mustapha Mond uses many of the fear tactics that are used in Animal Farm, threatening that “mothers and fathers” will come back. Another bit of propaganda that is used is the card stacking, for Mond only gives the negatives of family life. Is there some sort of arrogance, or possibly ignorance of a better way of life? What amuses me is the fact that the students aren’t confused by the fact that their life was given a predestined meaning due to which rack they are in the Decanting Room. Instead the technological concepts in the factory are what confuse them.
Tristen, that adventure time connection was a perfect example of the dangers of power and it related a lot with the book. While i was reading, i didn't pay full attention to the propaganda techniques, but now that you point a few out i can see many techniques that are used. I think that above all, Mustapha Mond uses fear to get his way. He's using his power and control to manipulate these innocent beings. And to answer your question, I do think that there is ignorance of a better life. If you are born and raised a certain way, there's nothing to compare your current life too. And especially if you are being brainwashed in the way that these infants and children are, they are completely blind to anything negative in their life, because they have been manipulated to be this way.
ReplyDeleteVenesa Rugova
ReplyDeleteDecember 22
Entry #2- Nature vs Nurture
The World State in the novel brings up the on going battle between nature versus nurture, and the defiance of nature. The nature versus nurture debate concerns the relative importance of an individual's inherited qualities versus personal experiences and teachings. The world state essentially defeats the natural creation of humans and then creates a world based on control and teachings of where a person belongs in society.
Primarily, the World State has over come the natural process of the creation of a human and in this case, they are able to create hundreds and even thousands of siblings from one embryo. In this world, sexual reproduction is not needed in order to create human life anymore which has lead to the lack of use of the word “parent.” On page 23 of the novel, the Director asks the boys if they even knew what the word parent was. Some of the boys even blush at the sound of the word because it brought up the thought of sexual reproduction which is not relevant during this time. The World State has completely surpassed nature in the way that there is the Bokanovsky Process, which involves shocking an egg so that it divides to form up to ninety-six identical embryos, which then develop into ninety-six identical human beings. This ability signifies just how much power the World State holds, in that they have defeated nature. In this dystopia nature is not a significant aspect of life anymore while nurture is the most dominant aspect, which is something I found very fascinating.
Nature is also brought up in being a burden on the World State’s economy. Their intentions are for the lower class to have a sort of hatred towards nature which is stated in the novel by saying, “A love for nature keeps no factories busy. It was decided to abolish the love of nature, at any rate among the lower classes; to abolish the love of nature, but not the tendency to consume transport” (23). Nature in this world is something that is only needed in certain ways such as getting people to go to the country in order for the consumption of transport, but in this case thats was all that was consumed at one point. However, now they stimulate lower classes to love all country sports which in the World State, requires the use of elaborate apparatus. As a result, the lower castes now pay for both transportation and manufactured goods when they travel to the country for sporting events. This is another example of how nature is only relevant in some what stimulating the economy. Other than that nature itself , which was always admired and even evoked questioning, has turned to nothing more than a economical purpose. This elimination of questioning nature eliminates questioning among humans also making it easier for the state to hold onto their power.
( entry # 2 continue) ^
ReplyDeleteOn the contrary to nature, this dystopia surrounds itself on the power that nurture provides. In any case, nurture is dominant in that the way one is taught is the most likely the way they will think throughout life. A persons upbringing and experiences signify their characteristics. For the World State, since they control the minds of the humans they are able to create the thoughts that each class will have. They are the ones that educate the humans and alternate their feelings and opinions by manipulating babies and others by using technology. Nurture is dominant in their case because this dystopia does not live by the natural process of life, but instead goes by the World States power and control of human kind. For example, the state manipulates the babies to hate flowers and books by electrically shocking them, which then puts a negative feeling towards those items. The state also teaches the people about the social class they will soon be apart of and their purpose in the world. In this society, what the World State wants the people to think is what the people are going to think. They are able to do so by using Hypnopaedia to educate the babies. Due to this type of life, the humans don’t know much of a world where a life is created through sexual reproduction. Nurture overpowers nature in the novel.
This idea of nature versus nurture has made me wonder, which is more powerful and influential in our world?
Alexandra Rinaldi
ReplyDeleteDecember 23
Entry #2: Symbols and Ideas
As the book moves forwards, we learn more about the characters and the complexity of this society grows.
Bernard is introduced, along with Helmholtz and we learn that they are sheer opposites. Bernard is a misfit who feels that changing society would be the best way for him to fit in. He’s an alpha who is embarrassed of his small size, because its harder for him to project his social dominance onto the lower classes, since physically he is the same as the Delta’s and Gammas. Helmholtz is clearly an alpha and both his physical and emotional characteristics prove this. Helmholtz is “a powerfully built man, deep chested, broad shouldered, and massive.,(p.66), who has plenty of women to choose from and a great career. Helmholtz and Bernard discuss Bernard’s dislike for the society they are living in and the unfairness of the world. Bernard has a biased point of view where the main reason for his discomfort in society is due to his inability to fit in. The citizens are highly controlled and watched, which clearly justifies Bernard’s immediate fear of being heard while discussing his unhappiness towards the government and social system. Bernard quotes “when people are suspicious with you, you start being suspicious with them”(p.70), this line has extreme significance within the book, and also our world today. When a person is insecure it leads them to question not only themselves, but also the things around them causing them to put the blame on anything that seems to be the reason for their mistakes. This is to find a sense of comfort in knowing its not their fault. I feel that this relates to Bernard because he’s blaming the government and society for his discomfort. Helmholtz is happy with his life and has no problem with society, which is why I question whether or not he’s going to go against Bernard in the future. The author made a point of expressing Helmholtz’s disappointment in Bernard at the end of the chapter by saying how ashamed he was of him and how “he wished Bernard would show a little more pride”(pg.71).
An extremely significant symbol that is introduced and expanded on in chapter 5 is the drug the citizens take called soma. This drug is a perfect representation of the people’s detachment from reality. Soma distorts the people’s perception of reality and makes it easier to do wild things; in this case in chapter 5 they have an orgy. Soma is a legal drug that is commonly served with meals in this society. This is an example of how the people in control of the World State manipulate these people and always try to keep them busy and not focused on reality. When the ceremony at the Fordson Community Singery is over, and the speaker leaves, an insignificant couple is mentioned to have “still retained their happy ignorance of the night”(p.77). This line really stood out to me and I found great importance within this quote. The people who are a part of society are so ignorant to the manipulation and brainwash that they have nothing to fear because they have never known anything different from the world they live in now. Their happiness is never lost because they’re formed and conditioned to feel and act a certain way. This is a perfect example of the dangers of being ignorant.
Lia Golden
ReplyDeleteDecember 23, 2012
Entry #2: Technology and Government Control
From the beginning of the novel, I can notice how the World State uses technology to control its population, which is a major theme in the story. The State implements these technologies to create a stable society in which everyone is happy. However, this also creates a superficial place where people cannot think for themselves. In addition, the World State ironically both censors and limits science, a means to build their technology, as they see the search for truths threatening to the State’s control.
The way the World State uses technology to control their people is demonstrated through many examples in the novel. First, the State has complete control of reproduction. This is shown through the surgical removal of ovaries, the Bokanovsky Process, and hypnopaedic conditioning. From the beginning of a person’s life, citizens are in the state’s hands, and are conditioned to not think for themselves. Another example of this theme is the use of the drug Soma. Mustapha Mond, the Resident Controller of Western Europe, describes the drug by saying it has “All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects” (54). This technology is used to control the World State citizens in their leisure time, by ensuring they will be consistently happy. In addition, the drug is used in the same way as religion and alcohol in current modern day, to bring people together and form a community, initiated by the State.
When comparing this form of government to our everyday world, I know that people in our society have the freedom to think for themselves, yet will not always be happy. Still, I am thankful for living this way because I have the ability to contemplate and question my surroundings, which make me a better human being.
The idea of a government with unlimited powers and its negative impacts is also prevalent in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. Although in Animal Farm the pigs control the animals using propaganda and fear, the restraint has the same effect on society as Brave New World. Orwell writes the novel as a satire to criticize the Russian government that Stalin was leading. Given this, I believe Huxley might also be warning the dangers of giving the state control over all aspects of a society through his novel. I wonder what Huxley’s true purpose was to writing a novel about such a chilling dystopia. Was he criticizing controlling governments, or was he just warning about the wrongful uses of new technologies?
Lia, I completely agree with your idea that Huxley is criticizing totalitarian governments. I also feel that Huxley uses Brave New World as a warning for a consumer society. Everything in the World State revolves around efficiency and profit- from how many humans to produce for the caste system to the hypnopaedic messages encouraging citizens to buy new clothes. A perfect example of the World State's consumer society is the fact that Henry Ford is their "God", being that he is the father of mass production. Overall, the World State sacrifices individuality and freedom for efficiency and profit.
DeleteMichelle Perez
ReplyDeleteEntry #1- Brainwashing and Social Stability
My initial reaction when I started this novel, was how bizarre this futuristic world was, how technology could easily replace all of these natural processes and how the government could be allowed to predetermine the lives of so many people in order to create a "perfect" and "stable" society. It was almost disturbing how much they could and were willing to control the lives of so many people with technology: putting people into different castes and making them believe as though this was the natural order of the world and to accept the position they were put into without any hopes of moving up in society. The World State makes sure that people know their place and don't step out of the line the government put them behind. The government is able to control these people through brainwashing and experiments like the shock treatment the Delta babies were put under, to be forced to be fearful of such things like beauty and nature in order to be more focused on working in factories. People are stripped of their rights of free thought and the right to make a better life for themselves for the good of a system that is made to only benefit the elite classes.
While reading the beginning of this novel, I tried imagining what it would be like to be part of this system, to be placed into a caste and have the course of my life so restricted by decisions others made for me. I realized that I wouldn't question it. From birth I would have been brainwashed into thinking that this is the natural course of life and would have nothing to compare it to because the teaching of history is looked down upon or not thought of as necessary. If born into a lower caste, I would be indifferent about it since I know no other lifestyle and have been brainwashed into knowing that this is my caste and to know my place in society. I would blindly accept these ideas and not even think of questioning them because I wouldn't know any other way. This reminds me of the sheep in Animal Farm in that they know that the reign of Napoleon was not working as they had hoped when Animal Farm was starting out, but they had forgotten what life was like under the reign of Jones. They didn't know which was worst, but assumed that the reign of Napoleon had to be better, because of the lies told to them by the pigs, assuring them that they were better off without Jones. The sheep and other animals did not question their life under the rule of Napoleon because it was the only life they could remember. This brainwashing maintains the stability that keeps this system working and allows the government to maintain such power.
I really liked how you personalized your entry by trying to picture yourself as a member of this dystopia. Its interesting to read earlier responses after progressing further in the novel. In the beginning, we tended to focus on the mindset of the people. As the novel progresses, as well as discussing whether or not the oblivious masses are happier under this style of government, we see how the Alphas are affected. In the brief scene where Mustapha Mond is writing that an innovatory biology book cannot be published, he seems much more human. Despite the fact that he is preventing innovation, the spread of knowledge and discovery, he expresses genuine interest in the new theory, describing it as ingenious. “”What fun it would be,” he thought, “If one did not have to worry about happiness!”(177) This shows a side of Mond that believes his actions are in the best actions of the people.
DeleteMichelle Perez
ReplyDeleteEntry #2- Identity
In the world in Brave New World, it is difficult to form one's own identity in a world where humans are made like machines in an assembly line. The government creates social restrictions that its people have no choice than to live by. It is impossible to ignore the social divisions in this society because from birth, children are brainwashed subconsciously to be proud of their caste and look down upon those in lower castes. Certain statements the government feeds to them while they sleep become second nature to them and rules that these people live and abide by without any thought. The government ensures that these castes stay clearly defined by the colors each caste must wear to be identified by their caste and not by their personalities or values. Right away people are judged based on their class from just the color of their clothing. Assumptions are made based on the lines fed to them by the government to keep each person in line and where the government decides they belong. People are just thought of as castes and not individuals. People like Lenina try to make an identity for themselves based on these restrictions. This is shown through the way that even though her caste is only permitted to wear green, she tries to accessorize herself and find her own identity through her clothes, as there are even average features that people in each caste have. Like any thing made in an assembly line, there are bound to be mistakes or mishaps that occur. In a society such as this, these people are immediately picked out of the crowd and from then on are known for that one particular defect. All of the children of the same caste are fed the same caste appropriate messages subconsciously and, depending on the caste, are deliberately limited physically and mentally to prepare them for the predetermined plans for their futures. The members of the lower castes are created to be alike, as they are treated as worker drones in society. These people create their identities around the guidelines that someone else has deemed appropriate for them and that decide their place in society. To be an individual is to be saved for the higher classes whereas the lower classes are thought of as just that: inferior and to be thought of as all the same.
Tristen Lee
ReplyDeleteDecember 25th – Utopia
Reading this book has made me wonder if there is truly a utopian society. I have come to believe so because as long as certain requirements are met, the society would be considered such a thing. If there was an organized system in which the citizens were happy, there was peace and economic stability (comment if you believe I’m missing something), what makes that society anything less from perfect. And it seems like the society in Brave New World captures that essence. We, as outsiders and “all-knowers”, as readers from a narrator’s perspective, see the evils that exist in the system. But what, honestly, is the difference between happy and brainwashed-happy.
Its hard to imagine because we have never actually been brainwashed, but for the most part, aren’t the people in the story happy? Now, Bernard has had rumors spread that during the process of his creation, he was given alcohol, which stunted his growth and makes him different from the rest and he is unhappy. Helmholtz is too great for society; he is above the rest and therefore is unhappy. But these two men are the flaws in the system, created by human error, but flaws, if had not existed, leave a rather perfect society.
This book has truly set evil, manipulating connotations about the society that the people live in, but what is the problem with that as long as the people or happy. It might seem like a “commie” remark, but the most longed feeling people have on this earth is happiness, and if the World Society is giving them this feeling, even if by drugging them, what’s so wrong with that?
Oliver Stein
ReplyDeleteEntry 2
Happiness is bliss
After re-reading the scene with Helmholtz and Bernard, I have come to a conclusion: There is no problem with Hypnopaedia as long as you accept that the thought suppression is an acceptable cost for world happiness. (Note that I am referring to the genetics and brainwashing system, rather than the World State as a whole. I have not missed their abuses of those on the reserves.)
Rather, the issue lies with overly-large margins of error in regards to the formation of the Alphas, Betas, etc. As seen with Bernard and Helmholtz, the system is not perfect. While there is a problem, as Michelle has pointed to in her second post, it is in the execution, rather than the system itself. If people like Bernard and Helmholtz could have been correctly assembled, they would be happy.
Michelle says that propaganda used in Animal Farm is the same as that used in Brave New World, but I would raise a point: they are telling the truth when they say that people are happier now. That’s not the case in Animal Farm, where they are starved, abused and scared; but in Brave New World each caste is given food, shelter, and bliss. (In the form of Soma)
As the book continues, I am going to move forward under the assumption that the World State has achieved something positive. Unless the events of the book change my mind, I will look at the (Admittedly strange) utopia as a net positive, rather than a negative. In particular, I believe that the happiness engendered by the World State outweighs the eradication of thought. This is important because if the World State is bad because of the Hypnopaedia and Freemartins, than the actions on the reserves are a further condemnation of the World State, rather than a dark side of something good.
PS: Merry Christmas.