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Sunday, August 15, 2010
Savagery or True Civilation?
Reading Brave New World for the second time I have rattled in my mind the idea of savagery as portrayed in this most thought provocking novel. In this so-called utopian world it is considered civil and right to sleep around with every one, yet it is considered savage and backward to remain faithful to one person and have children with this one person. Is it truly savage to remain to one person? I think not. Not saying marriage is a great dream, but more that true love is worth all of the pain that this society refuses to go through. Now when Lenina and Bernard take their holiday to the savage reservation it is seen that this visit is a privilige given to high positioned people in this perfect society. Why is it considered a privilege to see people who are considered less than socialy exceptable? With this is it easy to say that perhaphs the true savages are the ones who ignorantly consume their lives with pleasure versus the people who live their day to day lives with pain, love and real happiness. So tell me bloggers which is a truly civilized society: a utopian world with no morals and no self respect, or a society that struggles to achieve even an once of bliss?
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BHarper:
ReplyDeleteI would definitely say a society that struggles but feels pain is more civilized than the so-called 'perfect' world. Like you, I also found it rather bizarre how Huxley's predetermined world considers sleeping with more than one person to be civilized... hmm, I don't agree. How does that in anyway show classy or sophisticated behavior? Also, in chapter 17 or 18 (I don't remember which one it was), Mustapha Mond tells John that in a perfect world, you don't need God or Shakespearian and poetic literature. What? That is an outrage! People need to keep educated , and what better way is that possible than books? Also, many people need God to give them moral support. *** That's my own opinion, though.
Harper, if you are asking which society is truly civilized, with civilized meaning a stage of social, cultural, and moral development, then I have to disagree with both you and Thompson by saying that the more civilized society is the utopia.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes down to the facts represented in the text, Huxley's world is both socially and culturally more advanced then the society that struggles. First off, they have a universal culture, one that crosses the land and one that is rich in emotion and traditions that they follow every single day, such as taking soma or watching feely shows or playing a game of Centrifugal Bumble-puppy. Socially, there is stratification, but not any that causes violence. They all interact with each other, and they all do so peacefully.
When it comes to the question of morality, I must say I do not know which society is more civilized. Is it the society that follows morals that are engraved in them, or is it the one that fights everyday with the morals that are installed in their minds? The answer seems to me to be in the question.
I thought about this topic, thinking how on earth can one consider this world civilized. My thoughts along the way was that Huxley's idea of civil is savage because it is not a society we are used to. Religion and personal morales can factor into this. I, myself, would not like to live that way.
ReplyDeleteIt's just basically another culture. We think its savage because it is not a way of life we would choose to live by.