Consider the World State and the Savage Reservation from the following points of view:
Bernard, Lenina, John, Linda, Pope, and an American Indian woman.
What would each say about how people should and shouldn't live? What experiences, observations, and cultural norms would each refer to when answering the question.
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ReplyDeleteBrave New World by Aldous Huxley is a dystopian novel that involves an enormous amount of active reading to understand. Due to prior engagements, I was not able to attend our discussions about this book on Thursday or Friday, so I will add my input about this novel now. Ever since the first page of this novel, I realized this was not an average novel about the future. It involves various elements of dystopia and satire. We all have read up to page 145, and understand that Aldous Huxley is using satire to prove that a technologically-dependent world does not always provide the fullest happiness for all. In Brave New World, the citizens are not born but decanted and “hatched”. They have no family, or emotional attachments and work for the better good of society. Their society is based on a series of principles and laws, the most important being the fact that they must be productive in society, no matter what their caste is. This book involves many difficult concepts to understand, like the fact that self-medicating one's problems with any substance, like soma, can actually wreak more negative effects tan benefits. Soma is supposed to be non-addictive, and only help the people deal with life's complications. Regardless it is a drug, and like many other drugs we see the negative effects when too much of a good thing to lead to negative effects. This is especially true in John's mother, Linda, who is so unsure of herself and her life that once she reaches the New World she becomes reliant on soma to ease her of her pain. Soma does not allow the people to feel emotionally, which helps them from being distracted during work. In contrast, without having to work through their emotions and life's difficulties, they are becoming mentally weak. I expect that if their supply of soma was to ever be depleted they would most likely become so stressed and upset that they'd most like contemplate suicide. This is certainly not positive for the society.
ReplyDeleteSoma is not the only negative aspect in the New World. The people are not allowed to have intimate relationships, and are hypnoaedically trained to believe that they should feel the same about everyone in their sects of humanity. For instance, Alphas are supposed to enjoy the company of all other Alphas and look down upon anyone lower than themselves, like Gammas and especially Epsilons. In addition to this, everyone belong to everyone else. They are all encouraged to participate in intercourse with others from their caste. This removes the sexual urge and helps them fully focus on their work, with no interruptions. The citizens are also conditioned with different chemicals and surrogates so that they can not reproduce. Reproduction leads to relations, which then results in stronger feelings about others. This can only lead to feelings of hurt if these people die or are sick, which the people are also conditioned to think unemotionally about. Death is just another source of production for the people of Brave New World, and they all seem happy to be able to be chemcially productive even after they die. But without relationships, how can anyone be truly happy? Surely they can be satisfied, but I feel true happiness can only be attained by strengthening relations. Many people claim love brings true happiness, but love can lead to broken hearts, so these people never get the chane to truly be happy.
ReplyDeleteIn Brave New World, we are introduced to four main characters, and many minor characters. Arguably, the four main characters are Bernard Marx, Lenina Crowne, The Savage who is also known as John, and his mother Linda. Bernard Marx and Lenina Crowne are both interesting characters in this society. Marx feels very differently than most do about their culture. He does not agree with the fact that everyone should be sexually promiscuous, and he values relationships which is a big “no-no” in this society. In addition to this, he also is often found ridiculing the prized way of conditioning, which is sleep teaching. Based on his social interactions with others, I believe that Marx thinks his peers are ignorant because
of manipulated they are by their own society. He certainly stands out in the book, but not always for admirable causes. For example, I was particularly angered when he did not stand up for Lenina in the locker room. He was obviously angered by the way Henry Ford spoke of her, referring to her like one would refer to meat, but yet he kept his mouth closed, mainly because he understands this is their way of life. Lenina is also different than others in her society, but not as much as Bernard. Her main point of difference is the fact that she too values relationships. Instead of embracing promiscuity, she is often found talking about “having” only one man, which others ridicule her for, like Fanny. This gives her character more depth, and makes it easier for us to relate to her, although many of her actions reflect her manipulative society, like when she repeats some of the hypnoaedic phrases. When Bernard and Lenina visit the reservation, it is as if they are looking in at a zoo. This way of life is very different form theirs, and Lenina often has trouble stomaching it. They meet Linda who used to be a productive member of their society, but was expelled from it when she became pregnant with her son, John. She is incredibly happy to see civilized beings, but Lenina has trouble socializing with her because of her dreadful appearance. This goes back to show how superficial the “New World” is. We also learn that John is particularly intelligent, and has read most works of Shakespeare, which is foreign to the civilized world. He also has trouble fitting in, both in the civilized world and the reservation. He is different because he is not a native, and he is different because he was not decanted. By making all of his main characters have a point of difference from their society, I think Aldous Huxley is trying to show how strict a dystopian world like this one would be to fit into, and how loss and desperate one can feel if they are different. From what I have seen, the new world is productive but not organically happy. These people are emotionally oppressed, and it goes to show that advancements and reliance on technology is not always productive.
ReplyDeleteIn Brave New World, there are four main characters. They are Bernard, Lenina, Linda, and John. Bernard and Lenina come from the "New World". Lenina is more normal than Bernard. Normal meaning the typical programmed Alpha. The New World is made up of different castes. Alphas, Betas, Gammas, and Epsilons. The best ones are the Alphas. Lenina and Bernard are both Alphas. They are programmed to feel a certain way about life. They are trained to take Soma, a side-affect-less drug that produces happiness and relaxation. They are encouraged to have sexual intercourse often so that the urge is gone. The point of the "New World" is to be focused on work only. Lenina and John don't really fit in. Bernard doesn't agree with all of the Soma taking. He is uncomfortable in the New World. I feel like he wants more than what he has. He would rather be angry than take Soma. There is more out there for him. Lenina, tends to get attached to relationships and people. People of the "New World" are not supposed to feel attachments to anyone. Yet when she goes on vacation with Bernard and encounters the people on the Reservation, she is immediately disgusted. She hates how uncleanly it is. John, is a Savage, and Indian. He has grown up only hearing of the "New World." He has a mother, which is forbidden in the new world. He has only been able to read Shakespeare books and his view of life is based on them. A bit dramatic really. John's mother is Linda. Linda used to be part of the New World but has gotten ostracized because she got pregnant which is looked down upon. Lenina is turned against Linda because of her horrid appearance. Linda has a sexual partner, Pope. This is also looked down upon because in the New World such close relationships is looked down upon. Peopole on the reservation are happy with what tey have, and some can't imagain goignto the new world, but some can. As for Lenin and Bernard, they are happy with where they live. Yet, Bernard is yearning for something else.
ReplyDeleteFor each of the worlds that these characters find themselves living in, their views and experiences would certainly create differences in the opinions each may have on how they should live. Bernard does not agree with all of the customs that are involved in the world he lives in. He wants life to be lived not just by being part of a community, but as an individual with everyone’s own thoughts and feelings. However, Bernard still feels the need to be able to fit into his society and has trouble understanding why he can’t exactly do this. The reaction he has to his gain in status in the World State after bringing back John shows him in very different light that only proves that the things his world offers are able to bring him happiness for some amount of time and at this point he may say that people should live life enjoying all the pleasures that are at your disposal. Lenina believes in most of the values and practices that are customary in her world but she is different in the way that she is not able to “lay” with as many different men that is expected of her but tends to stick with a certain individual. However, like Bernard, she also still feels like she should try to fit and do what everyone else is doing. She would want to live by following in the methods that her society has made her think are right but perhaps not have to deal with having multiple men to “lay” with. John has been taught by his mother that the “brave new world” is supposed to be amazing but because he is experiencing it through the eyes and lines of Shakespeare, this has made fitting in or accepting things here very difficult. He would want to live through feelings and emotions that the words he has read are able to express. Growing up on the savage reservation has also given him a very different idea of what you should do in your life. For example, the pain that savages are proud to endure compared to a world where it only focuses on people’s pleasures. He would want life to be lived by having feelings and emotions towards other individuals and not by simply numbing everything by using substances such as soma or the alcohol on the reservation. For Linda, after having been away from the life she was programmed to love, every part of that world seemed amazing to her and she would want to live life by all of the standards that the government has in place. Even though she does confess that having a son was a comfort to her in the reservation, she was ashamed of having him and the ideas he may have gotten from the savages. She would want people to live by all of the guidelines enforced by the World State. Pope shares most of his views with the other people living on the savage reservation but family values do not seems to be important to him because of the unfaithfulness to his wife with Linda. The commitment to a certain individual is not something he values or sees as important. The American Indian woman however, would strongly believe in the values of family and staying with only one person. The punishment she may have assisted in with Linda for sleeping with her husband was brutal and truly demonstrates how strongly she may believe in this way of living life. Each characters opinion varies depending on the way or place in which they were brought up in or learned to behave while living their life.
ReplyDeleteIn the novel, Brave New World, we are introduced to four main characters: Bernard, Lenina, John, and Linda, along with the Indian women who live in the Savage Reservation. Each of them has a unique view of living standard in this universe. Bernard, coming from the World State, believes in the abhorrence of emotional attachment and in sexual promiscuity. He also believes in the superiority of the higher castes (Alphas and Betas) in the society and the perfect world that the World State has created. However, because Bernard does not fit in with in with his own caste (the Alphas), he craves to belong and believes that the ultimate happiness lies in conformity. Because he has not yet been completely accepted by the Alphas, he takes soma in order to cope with his unhappiness.
ReplyDeleteLenina is more “normal” than Bernard is, meaning that she is more conformed to the World State than he is. However, she rebels in her own subtle way by staying with one person longer than what is preferred. Nevertheless, she also believes in the perfect society that exists in the World State and the disgusting aspects of families and mothers.
John, who was raised in the Savage Reservation, is fascinated by this “brave new world” that his mother has always told him about. However, as time progresses and as he experiences more and more of the World State, he becomes disgusted by the mechanical and inhumane aspects of the World State. In the end, he believes that he would rather deal with unhappiness and aging than conform to the World State’s definition of happiness, which, in his eyes, creates monstrous and repulsive human beings.
Linda once lived in the World State as a Beta. However, she became pregnant with the Director’s child, got lost during a storm, suffered a head injury, and was brought to the Savage Reservation. Because she could not get an abortion in the Reservation, she became a mother and as a result, became too ashamed to return to the World State. Having been “raised” as part of the World State, she believes in everything that Bernard and Lenina do. Unfortunately, her beliefs have clashed with the beliefs present in the Reservation. For example, her sexual promiscuity has led to many whippings by the other Indian women, whose husbands she slept with.
The women in the Indian reservation believe in the complete opposite of the World State. They believe in families and sex between one man and one woman. Of course, no one would even try to comprehend these beliefs because, after all, these women are filthy savages who live outside of the perfect world the World State offers.
Bernard, Lenina, John, Linda, Pope, and an American Indian woman. I believe on the issue of how people should and shouldn’t live each character would back up the place they originally came from except maybe Bernard. Lenina would obviously side with the world state as she was physically sickened by the sight of the way the indians lived. I believe there is not much benefit of evaluating her view as she is simply a product of the system and is trained to agree with every decision and idea presented my the leaders of the new world. Linda is similar to Lenina in more ways than originally apparent. I believe she would back up the world state more than Lenina as she has lived in both worlds and is disgusted at herself for becoming a mother. She was very excited just to make contact with outsiders when Bernard and Lenina arrived and was obssessed with the idea of returning to her soma. She romantisized the idea of going on Soma holiday and never returning. The new world is simply easier and easier is the way people should live. Another reason for her resentment of Malpais may be the treatment she received from the locals, driving her further to return. And once she got back she slipped out of life on one long soma holiday. She just couldn’t handle the return from Malpais. Pope and the indian women would present boring one dimensional views about the state that life should take. They would backup the moral correctness of the world they have lived in and the necesity of family and culture. I believe John presents the most interesting opinion out of all these characters. Originally he is excited by the “Brave New World” and is eager to get there. He was rejected and driven away from everyone in the tribe and thought that maybe he would fit in the new world. But upon arriving he is horrified and therefore I believe he would argue that Malpais is a better way of life. He is agianst the use of a human as a mechanical part, and the use of soma as a way to keep the machine running. There is no emotion or individuality in this new place and therefore it is not real life. Bernard is a confusing character to me and it is hard to evaluate which place he would choose as the better one. He pretends to be against the new world, but that is only because he is not accepted. If accepted he would live a happy life just like everyone else, and attempts to when he has a freak to attract attention. He is also fascinated by the savages and im not sure if he envies their way of life. I believe Bernard would argue this point and never reach a conclusion because he desperately wants to be accepted in the new world, but envies the personal connections of the savages.
ReplyDeleteThe characters views on both the World State and the Reservation create differences in opinion on how one should live. Each one of these characters is more or less an outcast in their societies.
ReplyDeleteRumor has it that Bernard received too much alcohol while being produced in the Hatchery. Due to this, he thinks differently than all of the other caste members, Alphas especially. The staggering amount of sexual promiscuity in the World State leaves Bernard feeling detached. The rest of society considers this “normal” by their standards. Bernard develops close relations with people when he is not supposed to; he feels emotionally attached to Lenina. He rejects the ways of the World State but at the same time wants to be part of it. Bernard is aware that he is different and wishes he could participate in the World States common practices without feeling out of place, but his thoughts make it difficult for him to do so. Bernard is also not at home in the Savage Reservation. He does not seem to fit in anywhere. It is obvious that aspects of the Reservation disgust Bernard just as much as they do Lenina, but he tries to act as if it doesn’t faze him. He desperately wants to belong.
Lenina is more “normal” than Bernard, but she does not value all the same things as the people in the World State. Lenina loves the cleanliness, organization, and especially the soma. She heavily depends on soma to maintain happiness. Like Bernard, Lenina is attracted to the idea of polygamy but she is repulsed by the idea of a mother. Like the rest of the World State, she believes that to be a mother is disgusting. Lenina was horrified by the Reservation. The people looked sickly and everything was unclean; living like this is wrong. The one part of the Reservation that fascinates Lenina is John. Not only is she attracted to his physical appearance; she is intrigued by his existence as a white person, with parents, who live on the reservation.
John, who was raised in the Reservation, is fascinated by the idea of the World State. After hearing the wonderful stories from Linda, John believes that in the World State he will belong. He is an outcast in the Reservation and the citizens are not even willing to sacrifice him. Once John experiences the “brave new world” he is quick to realize that it is unnatural. The machine-like ways and the heavy use of soma disturb him. John would rather accept his place in the Reservation than conform to the standards of the World State.
Linda who once lived in the World State, took a trip to the Reservation with the Director. She was lost in a storm and the Director returned to the World State without her. Linda was pregnant and gave birth to John. It would have been unacceptable to be a mother in the World State so Linda never returned. Linda does not always act as a mother should, partially because she doesn’t know how. She was produced in a factory and did not have any concepts of parenting. Linda and John have differences in opinion on how one should live. Linda is accustomed to the World State way of living. She feels as if she can connect with Lenina because they share a lot of the same beliefs. Linda is rejected by the Reservation for sleeping with so many men. John shares more beliefs with Bernard. He wants to be more knowledgeable and he likes having deep connections with people.
The Indian women on the Reservation completely disregard the World State’s way of living. They believe in many of the values we do today, such as polygamy. Their husbands often go see Linda, and she gets whipped for it. The Indian women have families and are faithful to them. They look down upon anyone who does otherwise. According to the World State, these people are savages and their beliefs are incomprehendable.
In Brave New World we can see two competing cultures trying to understand the other and we can see the people inside the culture trying to adapt or change the other groups’ culture to better fit their own culture. For an example, we have Bernard Marx, who grew up in The World State as an Alpha, but was always made fun of because of his size. Because of this, he had a slight grudge toward the society. He seems disillusioned with the society to the point that he thinks that it is ok to be alone and that it is wrong for Lenina to think of herself as meat. But when Bernard brings the “savage” back to “civilization” everything turns around for him. The director, who was threatening to send Bernard to Iceland, is now the one in trouble because it was found out that he got a woman pregnant and his son is John, the savage. And suddenly, Bernard is popular and the system works as well for him as it does for everyone else. It may even work better. And now he does not seem to have any problems with The World State, because he gets to experience everything he couldn’t before. So Bernard has very flexible morals, and he would tell people to take what they can because there are no universal truths, except pleasure. In that respect, he is much like Grendel.
ReplyDeleteJohn sees the world more in terms of black and white. He was treated even worse than Bernard in his society and can’t wait to leave and go to the “brave new world”. But when he gets there he finds so many problems with it that he can’t tolerate what goes on. And it is not like the society was not treating him well, it’s that John has a moral code given to him by his society and by what he reads, and he believes it to the point that he refuses to cave in to what the society expects of its members. So he believes in a right and wrong that is based off of his society and he is willing to stick to it. He would say that the disregard that the people of the World State show towards the dead is disrespectful and unnatural. Also he is clearly disgusted at the amount of twins there are in the society.
Lenina has always been accepting of the culture of the World State, and would point to the science and the cleanliness behind everything as examples as to how her culture is better. She would say things along the lines of everyone belongs to everyone else so that there is peace and happiness. She would talk about soma and how the only effect it has on people is that it makes them happy so, by definition, it must be good.
Popé would be a little bit like Bernard. He knows the rules of society, but he tends to take advantage when he can. After all, he has sex with Linda because it is so ingrained in her society to have sex with everyone, and Bernard stops complaining about the World State after everything works out for him. So Popé’s mantra would be along the lines of “you only live once”.