Every Culture has their own definition of beauty, as Postman told us cultures based around television place an enormous focus on appearance and place little focus on the quality of the message. (Ex. They would rather have an anchorman with no experience but is attractive over one who has a lot of experience but is overweight.)
In Brave New World they place a lot of emphasis on looks. Bernard Marx although he is an Alpha plus is treated like a Delta because he looks like one. The people of the lower caste always have to process his request (ex take out his helicopter) because he's short and they have been conditioned to believe that the tallest are the best.
All of this discrimination against Bernard especially by the Alphas has led him to lead a life of solitude which makes everyone else believe he is a weirdo, which makes him lead a life of solitude, which makes everyone else believe he is a weirdo... a vicious cycle isn't it? "They say someone made a mistake when he was still in the bottle they thought he was a gamma and put alcohol into his blood surrogate. That's why he's so stunted." That is the reoccurring thought people have when they first see Bernard but they've been conditioned like that, if they aren't tall they aren't really an alpha.
"Luckily for him he's pretty good at his job otherwise the Director wouldn't have kept him". Henry Foster said this to Lenina; he was implying that because Bernard looks so different, he shouldn't have such a high position.
(I may not have gotten this far but) How do they choose the World Controllers? Are they pre-chosen? If so what if a World Controller comes out short, ugly or overweight? Would they change his job and choose someone else? In a world based on looks like the Brave New World no one would respect a short, ugly or overweight world controller.
One more question
On page 56 the World Controller says "Suffer little children" what does he mean by this?
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Mark 10:14-16 Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.
ReplyDeleteVerily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
To "suffer the little children" means to accept them even when they are being loud, sticky, squirrely, and spill stuff on your robes.
Thank you Mrs. Fletcher I didn't understand
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, it seems like everything is about looks now. I remember writing an essay about this topic about how Ambercrombie & Fitch would rather hire a good-looking person than a not so good-looking person with experience. I bet everyone has noticed how the clerks in such places look rather...well, they look model status.
ReplyDeletePeople have this thought in their mind that if their workers look good, their company looks good. It's all about image.
And about the "suffer little children" comment, I was a bit stuck on that too. Thank you Mrs. Fletcher for clarifying.
I remember that essay, it is wrong in a sense, but business is a competetion
ReplyDeleteIf there are attractive people working there and you see them looking good in the companys clothes wouldn't you want to buy their clothes?
I know i certainly would.