Comparisons between BNW and our society

The biggest comparison I have found between the Brave New World and our modern society is between their drug, soma, and our modern drugs. Many people use drugs as an escape from reality just as the people in BNW do. Although their drug is legal and has no after effects, our society has many people who cherish drugs just as they do. Another comparison I found was between their "orgy-porgy's" and present day cluts and/or religions. As in cults/religious groups, they met in groups and worshiped something. They shared one cup just as Christians share their communion cup. Although the activities were completely different they shared similar qualities. The last similarity I found was the entertaining people do for themselves. People watch movies, play sports, and listen to music just as people in BNW do. At the same time they still maintain order in their society with guidance from the government.

Brave New World: Comparing Conditioning

In Brave New World, John and Lenina are both conditioned through different sources. John's conditioning came from the reading of Shakespeare's works and Lenina's through hypnoeapedia. Both however, do not really understand their conditioning but still follow it.

Lenina is often found quoting her conditioning when something happens that reminds her of it. She can not really understand what she's saying or why it is right, but it is what she has always lived her life by. She believes that sex is something you share with anyone you want to. She also was taught that having one person is wrong and selfish. She was conditioned to be comfortable with death and taught that it is a fun adventure.

John is also always quoting lines from Shakespeare and most of the time he doesn't really understand what he is reading. He applies these quotes to day to day life and believes it is right. He is the exact opposite of Lenina and believes that two people should be together forever and shouldn't have sex until they are married and committed to each other for life. Also, John sees death as horrible. He feels the deep loss of the person and freaks out when Linda dies and all the children think it is no big deal.

Neither one can explain why they believe what they do to each other and this causes problems when they try to understand each other. They can not see life from the others' point of view. They have trouble believing that anything but what they have always been taught can be right and that they may not be completely right themselves.

Brave New World

Brave New World and Utopia are connected through controlling society. They discourage individualism and encourage the sense of community. There is no "self" in any of their actions because they have been conditioned to work towards the good of the whole society.

This fact that they have no control over their own selves bothers me over everything else I have read so far. They have to share themselves with everyone and are often heard quoting their mantra that, "Everyone belongs to everyone else." To me this is rediculous. Your body should be your own and you should have control over what is done with it. I also think the fact that you can't have one love is crazy because there is always one person who you connect with better than everyone else. I think that Lenina should be able to spend as much time as she wants to with Henry and shouldn't have to have any other people.

The good part that I have found in this society is that everyone believes they are happy and seem to be content. In conditioning everyone is taught that their place in life is the best and they wouldn't want to be a part of any other cast. This helps them to feel a purpose in life. This also helps insure that there is someone to fill every job and no one has to be forced to do their set job. Another good thing is that no one physically gets old. This is good because you can work until the day you die and never feel the pain of getting old. The bad part about this is that no one will ever know when you would die and wouldn't expect it when it happens.

Book II of Utopia cont.

In the second half of Book II, Thomas More tells more about his ideas for the perfect society. Those things are as followed along with my ideas on each:

• Thomas More believed that slaves shouldn't be taken unless they are people who have committed crimes. I agree with this because it is a very effective way to punish criminals and at the same time, the community benefits from they work they have to do.
• People that volunteered to work as slaves in More's Utopia were treated with respect and paid money for their services. This is a good thing because these people work hard to make money and are helping others in return.
• More believed that those who are dying from a painful disease should be able to recieve help in dying. I agree because these people are suffering and are going to die soon. If death is inevitable they shouldn't have to suffer towards it.
• In More's perfect society, women weren't married before 18 and men before 22. Also, they were not to have sex before marriage and those who do are punished. This keeps them responsible and gives them time to be able to make a good decision about marriage.
• More believed that divorces shouldn't be allowed unless adultery occurs and the sufferer can remarry but the guilty are punished and can never remarry. This is a good thing because marriage should be forever but if one person is betrayed they shouldn't be punished further for something they didn't do.
• In More's Utopia, there are few laws that are set for the people. He believed that with too many it would be hard to follow. I agree with this because with too many it is hard to even know all the laws let alone follow them.
• More was against war and all his people thought it a practice of beasts. He also believed that there was no greater victory than that of great conduct. I agree with this because war doesn't solve anything but causes death instead. Also, more bloodshed just causes more hatred between societies.
• More believed that it would be best to avoid endangering his own men and leave the action for the ones they hire. I disagree with this because while it is good for their people it sets up their friends to possibly die. I think instead they should fight for each other equally.