Ignorance In Brave New World

Introduction

Ignorance is bliss is most case but not in all as I came to realize reading these two vastly different books. In all societies, past, present and future there are fundamental variables that effect our needs. Having those needs met great determines the effects of one’s happiness. As you will find governments in all societies has a tremendous influence when dealing with physical, emotional and intellectual stability. The level of control and freedom allowed shapes the population and future communities. Are all the needs met as mentioned above in these two societies and from whose perspective are we determining that? For if you were exposed to only what you are allowed than how or why would you question anything different. Happiness

A capitalists’ society with a motto, “Community, Identity, and Stability” (Huxley, 1932, p. 3). The significance of an all-powerful state is the ability to control the behaviors and actions of its people in order to preserve its own stability and power. But a major difference between the two is that, Brave New World is maintained through technological interventions that start before birth and last until death, and that actually changes what people want. Whereas utopia is interactive and transparent with the people. The government of Brave New World retains control by making its citizens so happy and superficially fulfilled that they don’t care about their personal freedom. The World State’s control of its population is a direct result of hypnopedia and its rigid control reproductive rights. Reproductive rights are controlled through an authoritarian system that sterilizes some women, requires the rest to use contraceptives, and surgically removes ovaries when it needs to produce new humans. This is all done at the hatcheries where they condition the children into five castes. Maintaining population control at all times for the great good of the World

The act of sex is controlled by a system of social rewards for promiscuity and lack of commitment. Children are conditioned from an early age to participate in erotic play where they are naked in the outdoor garden and taking soma at an early age. Adults participate in a “Solidarity day” which occurs bi-weekly. The participants sit twelve to a table, alternating men and women. While a rousing hymn plays, the participants pass a cup of strawberry ice cream soma and take a soma tablet with it. They work themselves into a rage of happiness and the ceremony ends in a sex orgy. (Huxley, 1932, pp. 80-81) These orgy party are conducted to help suppress any emotional distress, individually and promote unity among themselves. As a result of these orgy parties’ men and women have open and commitment free relationships with each other, hence no marriages are