The World of Brave New World
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is an extremely good book which follows the story of Bernard Marx and other people that he meets as you the reader are introduced to an interesting and eerily plausible world where people are created in factories. One of the most interesting chapters in Brave New World is the first as you are shown the world that Bernard Marx and many others live in, and all the fascinating things you discover about the world. From the rigid caste system created to the creating of a religion around Henry Ford.
"If one is different, one's bound to be lonely." When people are made in factories they are created alongside up 81 identical twins. These twins are in the same caste and will world the same jobs. Being one of many twins isn't the only way people are the same as those who do not fit within the ideals of the World State, the government in charge of almost the entire planet, they are either sent to an isolated island or suppressed by their peers into never showing that they do not fit in.
“One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them.” One of the more interesting aspects of Brave New World is the conditioning that occurs when babies are in the factories. Brave New World shows that all citizens listen to a recording in their sleep as children that conditions them into not wanting to talk to those of lower castes and being glad they are not higher up as those in a higher caste have to work so much harder. Another interesting form of conditioning is that those of the lowest caste are conditioned to hate books and nature but read state newspapers and visit the countryside all the same.
"Christianity without tears that's what soma is." Soma is a drug that is rationed out to every citizen of the world state that they take whenever anything mildly unpleasant happens. By taking a gram or two of soma people will become happy and if taken in larger doses it causes them to fall asleep. Soma is used throughout Brave New World as a way of keeping those who are unhappy with the way the world is from ever doing anything about it as they can and will always forget about by just taking a tablet or two. Soma ensures stability throughout the entire world as any conflict that does start is forgotten about.
The concept of the book in how a religion is created around a real-life figure is creative and intriguing. Although the settings of this fictional world seemingly sets the reality apart from itself, the books might share deep congruence with the modern world. For example, as we have recently read in our history class, our minds are prominently impacted by the society that we are born into. Also, people are divided up into diverse class levels, and the boarder between each society is strict, especially in the quality of education people get. I think this book could drive me to reflect on myself and the world that I live in, and to reconsider the deeper meaning of life. Thanks for the interesting book review!
ReplyDeleteConcerning the "religion" around Henry Ford, it's not at all implausible that a religion could exist based on that. Consider North Korea or Imperial Japan. Those are the most common examples of a nation held together by an almost religious reverence for what we know as worldly people. I find it interesting that it connects to A Brave New World.
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that the author decided to include both a fictional aspect of the story and a non-fiction aspect, like the existence of Henry Ford makes the story seem somewhat possible. The concept of the world being trapped into this society through the use of a drug is also very intriguing. I am definitely curious about whether the main character Bernard Marx finds a way to escape the trap of this unequal and disturbing society and I would love to read this book in my free time!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds intriguing! The problem of soma and brain washing citizens so they have no desire to move up the caste system or recognize what is wrong with it sounds fascinating. It seems like this book would be frustrating to read, but I might read it anyway because I am curious how or if the main character gets out of his situation. Also, adding that you thought the world sounds "eerily plausible" adds an extra element.
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