All poems (except the original) are made up of quotes from John and Mustapha Mond's conversation about themes regarding freedom versus happiness, science versus religion, and individuality versus the good of society.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Monday, September 26, 2016
Scene Illustration: John's beginning and End
John's Death represented the death of individuality. His impact on the peoples lives was immense, yet no immense enough to spike a revolution. For the people saw his life as free, but as sad and lonely. Their hearts (along with their programming) chose to be happy rather than be free,
Sketchbook Entry: John
Reference Quote: "He had Seen, for the first time in his life, the face of a girl whose cheeks were not the color of chocolate or dog skin, whose hair was golden and beautiful, and who looked at him kindly."
Evidence that John Does Have very Real feelings toward Lenina. Him meeting her was a revolutionary point in his identity, but these feelings are contradictory toward what his views of sexuality are, and in turn he punishes himself for having them.
Evidence that John Does Have very Real feelings toward Lenina. Him meeting her was a revolutionary point in his identity, but these feelings are contradictory toward what his views of sexuality are, and in turn he punishes himself for having them.
Lenina, my Juliet. She is a diamond in the most extraneous of roughness. Our fate has been brought together for some reason, I just know it! Though her society has brainwashed her into believing she is something she's inherently not...I know she isn't. It does discourage me that we could be gazing at the most awing of oaks, seemingly miles high. Having the might most Gods dream of. While she could be thinking of all the ways that tree could fit well in her apartment. Could it be a vanity, a makeup chest, maybe even a couch. This horrid state has played her mind like a fiddle. Molding it into that of a machine. Obeying the commands given, only knowing what is wanted of them, not what they truly want for themselves.
Brave New World: Quote Analysis
One Scene in the Novel that was fascinating to me was when The Director and the group of students were observing a Hypnotherapy Conditioning session with young children. The Hypnotherapy is meant to indoctrinate the children into their selected castes. It is important to analyze what these sessions told the children, and how those messages apply to the children's rolls in society when they get older.
"The More Stitches, the Less Riches..." BNW P.51
This phrase that is told to the children relates to their societies need for consumption. Their economy is an essential part in keeping their scientific achievements up to date, and also provide all castes a way to achieve happiness. The higher castes (Alpha, Beta) achieve happiness through purchasing, while the lower castes achieve happiness by working to produce these consumer goods. It may appear unfair that the Epsilons and so on are treated like slaves in factory work, but one has to remember that factory work and menial labor is all they've ever known, and have been conditioned to enjoy this treatment.
“A really efficient totalitarian state would be one in which the all-powerful executive of political bosses and their army of managers control a population of slaves who do not have to be coerced, because they love their servitude.” Mustapha Mond, BNW
Mond brings up a key point regarding the theme of Totalitarianism. We look back at the two largest totalitarian societies known to man, Hitler's Nazi Germany and Stalin's Soviet Union; and from this we see two individuals gaining their control over the government using fear and misinformation. They gained their public support fair and square, but once in power used their authority to control their citizens using propaganda, secret police, and fear over what would happen if they disagreed with the ideals of their society. The World State is like no other Totalitarian society. They are not keeping their citizens on a leash using fear. In a way they aren't even taking away one's individuality because they weren't really an individual to begin with. The citizens are born, and bread to have one specific role in society. Because of the conditioning they were put through since birth, they not only comply with this order, but prefer it over anything else. This is slavery by definition, because they have no other choice, but is it really immoral if one prefers their enslavement over freedom? The citizens didn't know the answer to this because none of them were presented a choice. None, that is, until John the Savage entered society as a model of freedom. He inspired those like Watson to embrace individuality over freedom. This is why Watson and Helmholtz were forced to leave society, because they posed a threat to the World State's Moral Reasoning for having the caste system in place.
"The More Stitches, the Less Riches..." BNW P.51
This phrase that is told to the children relates to their societies need for consumption. Their economy is an essential part in keeping their scientific achievements up to date, and also provide all castes a way to achieve happiness. The higher castes (Alpha, Beta) achieve happiness through purchasing, while the lower castes achieve happiness by working to produce these consumer goods. It may appear unfair that the Epsilons and so on are treated like slaves in factory work, but one has to remember that factory work and menial labor is all they've ever known, and have been conditioned to enjoy this treatment.
“A really efficient totalitarian state would be one in which the all-powerful executive of political bosses and their army of managers control a population of slaves who do not have to be coerced, because they love their servitude.” Mustapha Mond, BNW
Mond brings up a key point regarding the theme of Totalitarianism. We look back at the two largest totalitarian societies known to man, Hitler's Nazi Germany and Stalin's Soviet Union; and from this we see two individuals gaining their control over the government using fear and misinformation. They gained their public support fair and square, but once in power used their authority to control their citizens using propaganda, secret police, and fear over what would happen if they disagreed with the ideals of their society. The World State is like no other Totalitarian society. They are not keeping their citizens on a leash using fear. In a way they aren't even taking away one's individuality because they weren't really an individual to begin with. The citizens are born, and bread to have one specific role in society. Because of the conditioning they were put through since birth, they not only comply with this order, but prefer it over anything else. This is slavery by definition, because they have no other choice, but is it really immoral if one prefers their enslavement over freedom? The citizens didn't know the answer to this because none of them were presented a choice. None, that is, until John the Savage entered society as a model of freedom. He inspired those like Watson to embrace individuality over freedom. This is why Watson and Helmholtz were forced to leave society, because they posed a threat to the World State's Moral Reasoning for having the caste system in place.
"So They're Having Children all the time - like dogs. It's too revolting...And yet John was a great comfort to me." Linda, BNW p.122
Linda expresses to Bernard and Lenina the unthinkable, that motherhood was a beneficial thing to her. In the Wold State, there is no such thing as motherhood or fatherhood. Children are grown and Raised in Conditioning Centers instead of by parents. Just the words Mother and Father were considered insults in society. Linda, who had grown up in the World state has had this mentality ingrained in her literally since birth, yet, having John had given her a sense of purpose. John had brought out the maternal instinct in her, arguably one of the strongest instincts on the planet. It brings up the question of just how much these conditioning centers could really suppress one's natural instinct. It appears so to be 100 percent effective in the beginning of the novel, but a collapsible system if introduced to an alternative. Linda being introduced to motherhood produced the same reaction that Watson had being introduced to John, they both had experienced freedom from their societal standards.
What is the significance of their discussion of religion? What does John argue religion can give to civilization? Why does Mond argue that it is unnecessary and potentially dangerous?
John and Mond's discussion parallels one that is within our society to a certain degree, the topic of religion and its significance to civilization. For starters, it's amazing that Mond even discusses such material with John. Savages in Brave New World are known for being uneducated and "less superior". Yet, to Mond (who is divergent to society in his own way) sees John as the exception, and is fascinated by his outlook on society. It's like he's never been able to have such a level of conversation like he has with John. Their conversation on Religion in particular is fascinating, because both John and Mond bring convincing arguments to the table to back up their claims. John believes that religion brings a moral code that is needed in society. That, if an available option to the people, would bring true freedom, because the people would have the right to choose. Mond, on the other hand, views religion as "unnecessary" and "potentially dangerous" to society.
"Call it the fault of civilization. God isn't compatible with machinery and scientific medicine and universal happiness. You must make your choice. Our civilization has chosen machinery and medicine and happiness. That's why I have to keep these books locked up in the safe. They're smut. People would be shocked it …"
Mond believes that God has removed himself from society to make room for universal happiness. For God and scientific advances were not compatible. The problem with the arguement he makes above is that the people have chosen happiness over religion. Yes, maybe at one time man chose this, but these descisions effected every generation onward. They werw stripped of their right to choose and didn't even care because they're programmed not to. In the end we come back to this theme of science & technology vs. Religion. Both try and set the guidelines of society. Science is factual and isn't a choice, but just because religion is faith based doesn't mean it should be taken out as a choice. That's one of the more prevalant totalitarian descisions made by the World Controllers in the novel.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
How do the children play together? What is childhood like? Why must games be so complex in this society?
Reading chapter 3 was an experience to say the least. Most components were disturbing to think about, children participating in sexual games with each other as young as 7? "...two children, a little boy of about seven years old, were playing, very gravely and with all the focussed attention of scientists intent on a labour of discovery, a rudiment sexual game" p.44. It was unthinkable. Though all of their games were a little hard to wrap ones brain around, especially as to why their games had to be so complex. "Nowadays the controllers won't approve of a new game at least as much apparatus as the most complicated of existing games" p.43. Though it is found out that this is due to their being a need for consumption of those games. A simple game with a ball and a stick would not generate nearly as much revenue as a game that needed half a million accessories to go with it. This brings up the reoccurring theme in the novel, economic development. The need for consumption is ingrained in the children's minds practically since birth, whether that be through the sleep hypnopedia sessions (to indoctrinate them into their class subconsciously), or by the social class that they are assigned to. This all ties into just how complex the children's childhood is. Without having a family to be apart of, the children are raised by the state. Their entire existence is essentially a science experiment. For example, the delta babies are given their role in society, from there on out it is science's job to make sure that they not only serve under that order, but enjoy doing so. That's when "Neo-Pavlovian" conditioning comes into play. The children are set in front of colorful books and flowers. They are free to observe them for a short while until the nurses begin to shock the babies. "The children started, screamed; their faces were distorted with terror." p.33. This is so the babies, when adults, will have no desire to be around nature and would rather be close to their factory work. Every meticulous detail of these children's lives is planned out to a fault. The combination of the children's games and childhood development presents a scary, yet fascinating look at how any society uses conscious and subconscious ways to better their own agenda. The one thing that I was left with is why the children were expected to participate in these sexual acts usually reserved for adults, and how this bettered the theme Huxley was trying to get across. Though, after thinking about it, the whole picture made sense. Sexuality in our society is still considered a taboo subject, though getting better. In BRAVE NEW WORLD, sexuality is so common people literally could yell "orgy-porgy" and everyone seems to be on a episode of 'guys & girls gone wild'. This is so the idea of sex is not synonymous with family or even just monogamy. Sex is nothing more than pleasure. Adding any emotion to the context other than pleasure would be detrimental to society. If one was to form a strong connection with another, they would feel sad if anything ever happened to them. Also brings to light why children are conditioned to not fear death, but to see it as just a part of life. They a. Don't want people to seek out religion and ruin their societal structure, and b. have a negative emotional response when someone dies. It might sound cruel, but hey. At least everyones happy...right? Is happiness really the ultimate goal in life? Brings up a good question.
Monday, September 19, 2016
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