As I look back at Brave New World, and as I have tried to read most of the blog entries, I have seen that there has been a constant worry that we may soon digress into the world that Huxley has created. I have good news for all of you: It is not going to happen.
Do you know why? Violence! Yes, this is one instance in which violence should give a sense of relief. We see in our world that violence is inevitable, even if we all hope to stop it. Various religions endorse it, along with people in general. They want revenge, they want closure, and they want it their way. We have come to a point where nuclear war may actually happen, and that we may have to choose between the lesser of the two evils. You may find these statements laughable, but violence can ward off a frightening future.
In Brave New World, violence is not practiced. No one dies from violence, except other than those in the Savage Reservation, but that is not where the majority of the population exists, so it should be discarded from this point of view. Even when the police attack John, those that are hurt are knocked out with soma, not a bullet, and they are easily conditioned after the incidence into living their life as if nothing happened. Could you imagine the world we live in without violence? Everyone would be happy...sound familiar?
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Well Warren, you make a good point. We, as humans will never be able to get past our violent behavior. Religions actually tell people to do the opposite and stay away from violence.It's not that religions endorse it per say, but it is that people interpret religion in an irrational way that results in violence. However, I don't think that violence will ward off the future Huxley describes. Instead, I think that it will just add onto it. Think about it. We are more reliant and obsessed with new technology. Example A; the iPad, which is basically a giant iTouch. We are growing more and more addicted to drugs. Example B; Proposition 19 (legalization of marijuana). We are unable to avoid violence as stated above. Because of these factors, I think we have even more reason to fret. But only time will tell what will happen in the future.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kylie. Although you are right, Warren, that violence is probably one thing that would stop us from morphing into the society in Brave New World EXACTLY, it does not mean our future can't be very very similar to theirs. We are already CLEARLY not far from their society. They have soma, we have drugs. They have hypnopaedia , we have lucid dreaming. And on and on. Violence is just an extra factor that will add on to a similar future.
ReplyDeleteGood point Warren,but there's a future that you haven't considered, the one offered by Orwell. Both societies had different extreme policies of control that still led to devious thoughts. But, what if society today evolved into a combination of both. Not only would there be uncontrolled pleasure through sexual gratification and hypnotic drugs, but there would be an aspect of isolation like in 1984. Our culture is already geared to a selfish and conceited view, so the next logical step would be a physical manifestation of that "superiority". A forced isolation from the world that is supplemented by lies, pleasure and drugs. This is the society that could happen.
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