I'm trying to think of what to write and there are only two things from the first four chapters of Brave New World that remain in my mind: morality and the conditioning children go through.
Huxley imagined a world were today's values were exchanged for their "sinful" counterparts in the name of "Community, Identity, Stability" (1), and abiding by the now outdated morals was "abnormal". For example, monogamy for any length of time was a horrendous thought, and today (for most of us) anything but monogamy is frowned upon. The reasoning behind the switch of morals defines this new world: "Family, monogamy, romance...[are] narrow channel[s] 0f impulse and energy" (40) with only "a single outlet" (41), but when "every one belongs to every one else" (40), a community gains stability. No more strive over loved ones, or feeling strongly about anything, but stability in society with "sane men, obedient men" (42) to tend the wheels and cogs of society's machine. By exchanging today's morals for their more unconventional standards, life in general is all about pleasure and zero strife. This lack of strife is also important in society's working machine--without full concentration on a job, mistakes can be made, and without strife more focus is devoted to a singular job. But without monogamy and families and homes, there is nothing to cause problems in a person's life. Even when things get frustrating, soma, the drug of choice, is always available for a short "vacation". Life is perfect for the majority of the population, and it is all due to the switch in morality and the special conditioning given to each caste.
The conditioning that children undergo through embryonic development and childhood firmly plant the new age philosophy and morals, and "pre-destines" them to a certain class. During fetal development, most female fetuses are given "a dose of male-sex hormone" and "Guaranteed sterile" (13); others may be deprived of oxygen ("the lower the caste, the lower the oxygen level" (14)) or "slacken off circulation when they're right side up...[so] they're only truly happy when they're standing on their heads" (17); however this system of pre-destining children does not allow for growth in the mind-it caps the amount of potential even before a baby is "decanted". When set in a caste or class, children are taught "moral" lessons during sleep-hate the lower classes because they "are too stupid to read or write" and "I'm so glad to be a Beta" (27). This sleep teaching forces the classes to stay apart, preventing class conflict and making life so much easier for the controller. When the "child's mind is these suggestions" (28) they no longer learn from others; they stick to what they subconsciously learn over their childhood. Alpha-pluses do not socialize with Deltas, because they wear a "beastly colour" (27) , and believe they are too lowly for their intelligence. But why are they so stupid? Because they are pre-destined to be stupid, and sleep teaching enforces the stereotype. The new world system does not give freedom to develop normally or a chance of a different life; instead it limits human capacity. This new society is no better than Orwell's 1984; its evil lies in taking away awareness of life quality and making you happy with drugs and unlimited sex partners. The "stability" provided can only last until some one falls in love, or when conditioning fails.
That's enough....
Good insight. I don't think anyone can really agree with what you said. Also, you are very good with embedding quotes. However, I think you might use a little too much, I would love to see more commentary. The end setences beginning with "This new society is no better than..." is where it started to get really interesting! That's where your opinions started coming, but then you stopped!
ReplyDeleteI really like your insight, and I hope you continue with it next week.
Andi-Love
EDIT: I meant no one can DISagree with what you said. Oops.
ReplyDeleteFor you see, Krissie, you said it yourself, without conflict, how could people not be happy? These people, that have abandoned monogamy, the nuclear family, all things we accept as the norm in our society. But that is precisely my point, if OUR society, not there's. They have not robbed what makes humans human, they have only created new humans in an image different from our own. Who are we to say that's wrong? Every person sees the world a little differently, I like to compare this viewpoint to glasses. Everyone needs a different prescription to see the world clearly; if we look through some other's lens, would the world not be stretched and disfigured? And to have the children pre-conditioned before they are born is simply a manner of helping them along. How would you like it if you knew what you wanted, nay, were destined to do from the day you were born without any conflicting emotions? That would be somewhat alluring, you must admit.
ReplyDeleteI have one final point; the people in Brave New World seem happy enough, with the exception of Bernard of course, who are you to say they are not happy when they simply have not experienced our type of happiness?
One of the things that bothered me most in the book was the childhood conditioning- that was absolutely disgusting. I couldn’t believe that they would sink so low as to precondition the children through electro-shock therapies and mind-controlling tapes. They ensure that only a certain type of people can exist, and therefore control the kind of populations they will have. They limit the expansion of the mind before anyone can even articulate an original thought or action. It is a perfect way to shape the society in the way that the government wants it. They take all the societal variations such as prejudices, loves, and intelligence and manipulate in such a way that they create what they see as the most efficient society. However, they loose all aspects of what we consider humanity in the process, becoming no better than the machines that they worship. Efficiency is not the apex of humanity, as we see in Brave New World, but it can be the downfall.
ReplyDeleteLove your post :)
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that occurred to me while reading this- I wonder if some of the babies suffer brain damage while undergoing conditioning. And if they do suffer mentally, will they still be held in the same caste (if, say, they were in a high caste to begin with)? Anyway, back to the blog..
Sadly, I think I need to disagree with you on your last few sentences. I do not believe that the clones in Brave New World are worse off (or equal to) than the slaves in 1984. I think that through the series of conditioning, conformity, and regulation under which the clones of Brave New World endure is for the better. Well, that may be an over-statement. While it is clear that while shocking babies is not what we would consider 'humane' today, it is certain (at least within the first few chapters of this novel) that it is for the best intention of all people. I have seen many other people agree with you and argue in their blogs that they are basically being tortured, however since the clones know no better and have a generally positive outcome I cannot agree that this world (as twisted as it may seem) can be equally compared to that of 1984. 1984 was entirely about control through fear of imminent death and pain, while in Brave New World the only people who are truly suffering emotionally are mistakes- genetically created mutants (through their deformities, ex. too small) and therefore must be considered an exception. In 1984 it wasn't the off-cast people who suffered, (although they did too) even some of the most devout believers of Big Brother, such as Syme, were vaporized for no apparent reason other than their 'threat' to the party. No, these two worlds (though very different from our own) are not comparable through their use of control in the least. At least they are not comparable in that manner within the first 7 chapters of the novel, we'll see how it turns out I suppose. :)
I'm sorry for my horrible use of grammar mistakes and countless carry-on sentences. I really enjoyed your blog, it was extremely thorough and (I felt) covered all of the important points of the beginning sequence of this novel. I look forward to seeing what you have to write in the future :)