Patience is a virtue, or at least this is what we are taught from a young age, but is it only a virtue because in our world we are required to wait for certain things? What if we did not have to?
Thinking about all the positive sides of the society shown in Brave New World, I started focusing on instant gratification. The definition is self-explanatory. Immediate satisfaction. Another point that was brought to my attention was a sentence on the dictionary site. One of the example sentences was “Children always seek instant gratification.” Two questions here. Do we not all seek instant gratification? Does this mean that even though the characters in Brave New World have fully mature brains, they still think like children? There are plenty of ways they still think like children. For example, the fact that they repeat the things that they learnt in conditioning is a clear sign because we all did this when we were young. Our parents would say something and we would later hear ourselves repeating this newfound wisdom, of course, feeling smart. I believe that the death situation is another way. It was so easy for them to dissuade the fear of death with candy and comforts, and they carry this throughout their lives rather than developing their own thoughts as they mature.
We have to be patient when we are hungry and our food is not ready, but in their society they have automated systems providing food. Instant gratification whenever they want it.
Soma is the more obvious example of instant gratification. I could see it on a commercial nowadays. Are you feeling down? Take soma! Is your boyfriend Bernard annoying and confusing you with his weird thoughts? Take soma! Do you just feel like taking a holiday from working once in a while? Take soma NOW!
They seek instant gratification sexually as well. Being raised to think that sex is a trivial matter, when they want it, they have it. I cannot speak for everyone, but it is customary in our society to wait before someone is to have sexual intercourse with another. John could represent the people in our society, and Lenina is part of Brave New World. She saw no point in waiting if they wanted each other because they are accustomed to this instant gratification.
Mark Strand said, “As far as show business, it's the gratification of doing something that pleases the fans.” So let us bring Postman into the equation. Reading these books, we acknowledge the possibility of this happening, of us amusing ourselves to death, but it was brought to my attention even more. I am realizing that Brave New World would give us everything we want today. The majority of people would say that easy work, no stress, sex whenever, and instant gratification would be a great life.
Is our impatience going to be yet another reason our society hits it downfall?
It is true, most of us do seek instant gratification. Who would not want immediate satisfaction when desired? I believe that impatience is what drives many of our actions. Citlalli, I like the point that you made with food because it takes place daily. Instant gratification is exactly why microwaves and microwaveable food was such a success. When someone is hungry and does not have the patience to cook, they just pop something in the microwave. It makes life easier and more satisfactory. Impatience is capable of anything and it can definitely take our society to its downfall.
ReplyDeleteYou brought up a couple of good points that I had not yet thought of. One trait that all humans have young and old is instant gratification. That is what brings out the child in us. The want of everything now. We act like children because we forget the difference between need and want. Children do not realize that whatever they want they do not need now. This flaw will be where our society goes wrong. Unless we stop this, Postman and Huxley's prediction will come true.
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