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Huxley the use of technology to control society
Brave new world character development
Aldous huxley conformity
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Loss of identity is the catalyst to change. Whether positive or negative, it begets a new lifestyle. This nonexistent disposition leaves a gaping deprivation of uniqueness and originality. The critical need for an identity spawns the discovery of new ideals and morals. Finding a new personality entails conforming to an entirely new state of mind. Within the novel, Brave New World, Aldous Huxley brings to light many controversial topics, including the loss of identity. The technologically advanced world, created by Huxley, allows for little opportunity to be anything but a Utopia. The mass production of similar personalities within the World State can be held accountable for the loss and creation of identities. Conforming to this society
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is genetically engineered into all its citizens. The destructive absence of individuality emphasizes social conformity, applying imagery and metaphors, to propose discarded personal identity in a technological illusionary utopia. Huxleys imagery proposes a societal identity crisis that focuses on forced conformity masking individuality.
A worm, a grub, a cockroach- all are bugs detested by most. On the other hand, a maggot elicits, even in the most hardened of citizens, an image of a feeding frenzy within the flesh of decomposing meat- the dead body covered with crawling critters. His first distinct image of a maggot compared to a synthetically derived twin represents this personality conflict the society compels. The maggots in this case depict Johns dehumanization of the World State citizens. His mental image of the twins depicts them dismantling his own grief at Lindas death. This is evident in chapter 15 when John speaks of them. “Like maggots they had swarmed defilingly over the mystery of Linda's death. Maggots again, but larger, full grown, they now crawled across his grief and his repentance.” The image Huxley portrays in this quote not only dehumanizes the twins but also creates a psychological fear in which Huxley questions the forced conformity versus the individuality he …show more content…
seeks. The second mental illustration is of Rams. This display of an almost reverse- anthropomorphism correlates to the signs of the Zodiac. This Ram is one of several animal references. Like a kit, necessitating proper care for its survival in order to reach the status of Ram, humans similarly require precision rearing in consideration to reaching adulthood. Huxley describes it as,” Rams wrapped in theremogene beget no lambs.” The meticulousness, ever so delicate, contributes to the structural components of the World State demonstrating that a human’s survival is dependant on community. If not thoroughly followed, the entire societal structure breaks down. This nonexistence of personal identity is shown through Huxley's use of animal imagery. Through imagery one’s understanding of Huxley’s message is solidified by both the grotesque--maggots--and the more palatable images of animals; furthermore, Huxley uses metaphors to convey his thematic premise about conformity. Huxley’s foreboding metaphors help to prove technology’s supremacy over humankind.
The thematic comparison of human power versus technology can be viewed as a foreshadowing event foretelling of a dismal future. To allege this metaphorical prophecy, the conceptualization of wheels turning through the physical help of humans is generated by Mustapha Mond, the book’s main antagonist; the metaphor distinctly portrays the suggestive dependency on individuals in the society, yet the dependency is without individuality as the simple task of turning a wheel-rather archaic-requires little, if none, of the unique qualities possessed by individuals. The following analogy proves this. “Wheels must turn steadily, but cannot turn untended. There must be men to tend to them, men as steady as the wheels upon their axles, sane men, obedient men, stable in contentment.” Though the metaphorical wheel runs steadily, it must be operated by a human, hence it keeps the individual captive with the need for an overseer. Technology annihilates an opportunity for individuality. This easy- access allegorical commodity dispensed by the World State, allows its citizens to be content without providing their own work input. The resulting non-existent emotions afford stability in the workplace. If one is unstable, it could lead to destruction, seen in this metaphorical verse. “Impulse spills over, and the flood is feeling, the flood is passion, the flood is even madness: It depends on the fore of the
current, the height and strength of the barrier. The unchecked stream flows smoothly down its appointed channels into a calm well-being.” This personified technology control aids in the assurance of stable citizens and community. Once again, Huxley masters the foresight, much like the prophets within his text, of a future laden with the lack of individualism. The submission of citizens and their acquiescence in this conformed World State produces an exponential downfall of human potential. The progression from complete dominance to utter embarrassment simply proves how identity is at the crux of the novel. This identity, this defining characteristic, creates the natural urge to reject conformity and the oppressors who so cruelly force its implementation. The problematic dependency on executive orders forms separation between citizens of the World State. Inferiority of individuality accentuates conformity to social standards, proved through imagery and metaphors, to display technological control hidden by the fallacy of a perfect world. The delusion of equality is engineered to never be solicited. This appearance of a Utopia conceals the commanding presence of technology within the World State. Shown in this book, Huxley relates topics of conformity and industrial control alluding to potential future problems with todays society. As a futuristical advanced piece of literature, Brave New World foreshadows many issues that are to thrive in the present time period. This forewarning never halted the sovereignty that technology holds in this society today.
The famous Milgram experiment focused on the conflict between blind obedience to authority and personal conscience. It turned out that 65% of ordinary people blindly follow orders given by an authority figure, and only 30% are able to follow their personal conscience (McLeod). Considering that the vast majority acquire blind obedience to authority just in the process of nurturing, imagine what would it be like if blind obedience is built into one’s nature? In the novel Brave New World, Aldous Huxley illustrates ways in which government and advanced science control society by conditioning embryos to blindly follow desirable social norms. Every conditioned individual would have merited instincts
Aldous Huxley once wrote, “If one's different, one's bound to be lonely.” This is clearly a statement about public acceptance and tolerance of dissimilar people. Aldous’ beliefs can be seen in his book, Brave New World by two outcast characters, John Savage and Bernard Marx. Bernard and John are both outspoken about their ideas on society, but differ in their actions when faced with temptations.
When we are first introduced to bernard we think of him as a rebel and a protester. Bernard isn't like the rest he wants to be different and stands up for his rights, He tries and succeeds in battling against the order of things. We find out later on that bernard questions his willingness of living in the Word State and the beliefs it teaches, but he than realizes that his frustration seems to be from him not feeling accepted. Until Bernards visit to the reservation (the Savage Reservation is the complete opposite of the controlled and sterile society of Brave New World Most of the aspects of each society contradicts another, the savage reservation is seen as a dystopia but it is home to many people and even people that are caught in the middle
There were quite a few changes made from Aldous Huxley’s, Brave New World to turn it into a “made for TV” movie. The first major change most people noticed was Bernard Marx’s attitude. In the book he was very shy and timid toward the opposite sex, he was also very cynical about their utopian lifestyle. In the movie Bernard was a regular Casanova. He had no shyness towards anyone. A second major deviation the movie made form the book was when Bernard exposed the existing director of Hatcheries and Conditioning, Bernard himself was moved up to this position. In the book the author doesn’t even mention who takes over the position. The biggest change between the two was Lenina, Bernard’s girlfriend becomes pregnant and has the baby. The screenwriters must have made this up because the author doesn’t even mention it. The differences between the book and the movie both helped it and hurt it.
Today, in 21st century United States, people are concerned with the fast pace of new and growing technology, and how these advances should be used. In the last decade alone we have seen major advancements in technology; in science, cloning has become a reality, newer, more powerful drugs have been invented and, in communications, the Internet has dominated society. There is a cultural lag due to the fast rate of increasing technology, and while the governments of the world are trying to keep up their role as censors and lawmakers, we as individuals are trying to comprehend the effects it has on our lives. Will these advances enhance our lives to an unprecedented level of comfort, or lead to the loss of actual happiness? In the early 1930's, when Aldous Huxley wrote Brave New World, this was a question he felt was worth asking.
The love of Power and its grasp on humanity is exemplified in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. In Huxley’s dystopian society, access to power is limited; it is allowed only to those who have been conditioned to gain it. "We also predestine and condition. We decant our babies as socialized human beings, as Alphas or Epsilons, as future sewage workers or […] future Directors of Hatcheries." Power in Brave New World initiates from eliminating choice but also from giving the illusion of choice, thus, erasing any conception of choice. In other words, it allows people to miss the freedom they don't have; in this case, such control is exerted through pre-conditioning. The struggle for power in Brave New World clarifies how one can forget their principles while losing any sense of individualism they may have once had. With the reaffirmation and the deconstruction of gender roles in Brave New World, Huxley explains how the temptation of power can manipulate one to discard all semblance of individuality. This is done through the characters of Bernard Marx, Mustapha Mond, and John the Savage. The desire for power has the ability to corrupt the mind and cause one’s moral ground to crumble. It strips one of their ethics and individuality because in the pursuit of power they lose themselves.
Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” highlights the theme of society and individualism. Huxley uses the future world and its inhabitants to represents conflict of how the replacement of stability in place of individualism produces adverse side effects. Each society has individuals ranging from various jobs and occupations and diverse personalities and thoughts. Every member contributes to society in his or her own way. However, when people’s individuality is repressed, the whole concept of humanity is destroyed. In Huxley’s “Brave New World”, the concept of individualism is lost through hyperbolized physical and physiological training, the artificial birth and caste system, and the censorship of religion and literature by a suppressing government.
In Brave New World, Aldous Huxley deftly creates a society that is indeed quite stable. Although they are being mentally manipulated, the members of this world are content with their lives, and the presence of serious conflict is minimal, if not nonexistent. For the most part, the members of this society have complete respect and trust in their superiors, and those who don’t are dealt with in a peaceful manner as to keep both society and the heretic happy. Maintained by cultural values, mental conditioning, and segregation, the idea of social stability as demonstrated in Brave New World is, in my opinion, both insightful and intriguing.
The characters in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World represent certain political and social ideas. Huxley used what he saw in the world in which he lived to form his book. From what he saw, he imagined that life was heading in a direction of utopian government control. Huxley did not imagine this as a good thing. He uses the characters of Brave New World to express his view that utopia is impossible and detrimental.
Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World portrays a society in which science has clearly taken over. This was an idea of what the future could hold for humankind. Is it true that Huxley’s prediction may be correct? Although there are many examples of Huxley’s theories in our society, there is reason to believe that his predictions will not hold true for the future of society.
Many people in the world today are suppressed and have freedoms taken away from them everyday, but everyone has the right to feel any emotion they want to. Imagine even having that freedom taken away, and so many more natural rights, all in the name of constant happiness. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is a science fiction novel that could also be classified as a piece of dystopian literature. It is set in a futuristic London, where there is a new government that has come into control called the World State. This new form of government came into power due to a Nine Years War that caused destruction unlike anyone had ever seen. This war forced the world to go to extreme measures in order to ensure nothing like that would ever happen again.
Every individual in society has desires that they want to chase after. However, one may have to conform to societal rules, which can diminish one’s chances of fulfilling their desires. Aldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World emulates this idea using one of the main characters, John, and the society he remains in, which is known as the World State. John grew up in a Native reserve where the values are completely foreign to the World State. The novel explores the idea of the effects of social expectations, the conflicts between individuals with different values, and the effects of peer pressure.
Literature is both shaped by our culture and shapes it. Because of this it is an effective representation of the culture of a time. One can tell how people were affected by the events of the times by how it comes through in their writing. Aldous Huxley's Brave New World is a prime example of this. The work was targeted at people in a post WWI world. This is a time between WWI and WWII where the world is still shocked by how rapidly the science of war had advanced. People also continue to be appalled with the mass death of a World War caused by such technology and therefore yearn for a more stable world. Because of this yearning, they attempt to create a more stable environment for themselves. Most people had lost faith in the institutions they came to know because those institutions caused the War. Therefore the League of Nations was founded in 1919 only 13 years before “Brave New World” was published in 1932.
Identity, in today’s society, is often taken for granted. We have the ability to be anything we wish to be and act in any way we wish to act, but in the novel 1984 by George Orwell, identity is not taken for granted because it does not exist at all. Winston Smith, the narrator, lives in a dystopian society based on the idea of totalitarian government rule. This government is known as Big Brother. In order for Big Brother to stay in power, a few things are necessary: identity cannot exist; everything and everyone must be uniform; the past must be controlled in order to regulate the present; and the people must constantly be practicing the ideas of Newspeak and Doublethink, a form of control the government holds over the people. By enforcing these simple laws and regulations, the government is able to keep a tight grip on its people, with few ever releasing themselves from its grasp. Winston Smith on the other hand, seeks to know the truth behind the government, he is constantly questioning everything and repressing all the ideas forced upon him. Winston “seeks truth and sanity, his only resources being the long denied and repressed processes of selfhood” (Feder 398). All identity is gone in this place called Oceania, and for the sake of Big Brother and its continuous control of the people, it will never exist again. In 1984, the absence of identity strips the people of all creativity and diversity, as well as takes away any chance the society has to advance as a people or in the area of technology.
In Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, the author depicts a collective society in which everyone has the same values and beliefs. From a young age, the people in the World State’s civilization are conditioned to believe in their motto of “Community, Identity, Stability.” Through hypnopaedia, the citizens of the World State learn their morals, values, and beliefs, which stay with them as they age. However, like any society, there are outsiders who alienate themselves from the rest of the population because they have different values and beliefs. Unfortunately, being an outsider in the World State is not ideal, and therefore there are consequences as a result. One such outsider is John. Brought from the Savage Reservation, John is lead to conform to the beliefs of the World State, thus losing his individuality, which ultimately leads him to commit suicide. Through John and the World State populace as an example, Huxley uses his novel to emphasize his disapproval of conformity over individuality.