Both Huxley and Orwell present surprisingly accurate, if not, interesting predictions about the future of society. Connection to Orwell's 1984 can be made: surveillance cameras, Internet databases, microchip implants and other technologies can clearly be seen as a manifestation of Big Brother, and Room 101 can be tied to both torture or even more simply to interrogations. Although Orwell's future is more lauded today, Huxley's vision in Brave New World is more relevant - almost too relevant - leaning more towards eerie than just coincidental.
The life of a World State citizen begins in a bottle. In this bottle, they are conditioned through the appropriate dosage of oxygen, alcohol and other substances to become whatever society needs them to be. Upon being "decanted" - the equivalent of our word "born" - he goes through the appropriate series of hypnopaedic and experimental conditioning that feeds and creates his personality; he never gets the chance to choose his own path; he is conditioned from his birth until his death. Although this method of creating people seems too unnatural, far-fetched and even irrelevant to today's society, it isn't.
Currently we have many "unnatural" means of fertilization such as In Vitro and artificial insemination. Scientists are even going as far as genetic engineering, where they can increase the chances of having a child with a specific eye/hair color. Genetic engineering is one way of conditioning, but how about a pregnant woman playing Mozart to her unborn child, a mother or father forcing their child to use their right instead of their left hand to write/eat/play baseball, or even the vaccinations we get growing up? These are all things people do to try to change their children. Some of the methods are unproven and others don't work 100% of the time, but even merely attempting change is enough proof to connect our society to that of Brave New World. What began with Pavlov's dogs expanded to many other scientific and personal experiments dealing with conditioning; this change can be seen in human conditioning as well. All of this was unheard of in the past, but scientific advancements proved to change the way babies are brought into the world, to change how society works.
Another way the citizens of World State are controlled is psychologically through their superiors and their peers. Although the human body is controlled through conditioning at birth and childhood, human nature in general remains relatively untouched. The characters in Brave New World are still compelled to conform if it gives them the acceptance that they long for. This universal feeling is used to the society's advantage and they create a "surveillance system" based on paranoia. When everyone is watching everyone else the need to conform becomes more important. We see its effect through characters like Bernard and Lenina. Lenina's friend Fanny constantly keeps her on the right path and steers her to accept more dates and advances from men because the Director would be unhappy if she didn't follow "Everyone belongs to everyone else." Even Bernard, the outcast of World State, knows to conform during the meetings and other aspects of life in the eyes of his fellow World Statians. Peers and authority figures constantly keep the citizens in line and following the structure of society.
This type of surveillance through paranoia seems almost more effective then Orwell's Big Brother and even more relevant to the present. In present day society, people are always looking for approval. Social standards are set and spread through the media and this alone keeps our people in line. Whether it be shopping for the latest fashion trend, going "Green," or listening to popular radio stations, presently, people look for ways to conform and to fit in among their peers. Everyone has their social groups and work groups in which they fit perfectly like puzzle pieces. These current groups are Huxley's own Epsilons, Alphas, Betas, etc.
Although Brave New World may seem preposterous to us, it is quite the mirror image of today's society. Keeping in mind the progress that science has made from the Scientific Revolution, to Pavlov, to test tube babies, it would not be an outrageous assumption to say that by connecting personal interest with those of scientists and society in general there is the possibility of achieving a world close to, if not identical to World State.
5 comments:
While I agree they are both relevant, BNW seems to be the opposite direction of where this world is heading. We do have new unnatural means of fertilization but it seems to me that we are closer to the point of complete governmental control by fear than pleasure. Very well written and great supporting quotes.
Great job on the blog. I also feel that BNW is more relevant than 1984and my claim was quite similar to yours. Some of 1984's prophecies have become realities, but overall BNW's similarities are quite accurate and as you put "eerie." I also found interesting and accurate your connection between the caste system of BNW and today. There are still many nations, including our own which have social classes that are very difficult, if not impossible for people to free themselves from.
Shay, I must disagree with you. Although some of us may be fearful of our government, I believe that a lot of us are just, simply, dissatisfied. I believe the future governments will take the path of BNW, perhaps not in the same way, but they will try to not only keep the masses safe, but happy. In BNW safety was achieved by doping the masses with soma and keeping them calm. This also gave them happiness. Perhaps the government will take alternative means to create safety, but the people's happiness seems to be an important focus especially with the current economy.
Zeus,
I do like your idea of peer pressure, or, perhaps more appropriately, “peer paranoia” controlling the masses. It’s a very good conclusion on the functioning of BNW’s society. I missed it when I read the text, and I can easily see how it applies to the real world.
This leads me to an important question. Do you think the world is moving towards or away from conformity? Judging by what you wrote, I assume you think we are becoming or already are conforming individuals. Thus, in order to fulfill the essential need to connect to humanity, we need to be accepted, and to be accepted, we conform to what society wants. Perhaps what I really want to know, after all, is not so much what direction society is moving in, but rather what makes you think society is conforming or non-conforming. You see, from my perspective, I look at modern art and poetry classes, thriving, and I see growing creativity, not stifling conformity to conventions. What do you think?
I like, too, that you show how BNW’s technological pursuits are quite similar to those of our own. I must admit that Huxley was startlingly accurate in this respect. But what interests me is not so much the technology, but rather how technology influences our lives and values. For example, in BNW, the people surrender their individuality to technology, perhaps because the superficial desires of man, such as sex and indulgence, have been completely satisfied, leading to a contentedness that distracts most people from their profound insecurity. What effects do you think technology have on the individual and society? Of such effects, which do you see present in the world, and what evidence do you have of them?
Monk,
I'd like to think that society values the individual more than acceptance and technological advancements, but - and perhaps this is the cynic in me - I believe that most people conform because it is the easy way out. Of course there are those who stand out and stand up for what they, personally, believe is right or true to their individuality (the poetry and art that you mentioned), but I don't think I can say this about the majority. The whole world is not full of artist and poets.
As for your questions about technology, I think for not technology is still quite the experiment. We are given simple things such as the internet, iPods, etc, both to benefit us and to test our reactions to these new advancements. We get a taste of science in spoonfuls, slowly, to ease us into the more life-altering and moral-changing things. That way we can't really see the change happening, it is subtle. I'm not saying it's always a bad thing, but that's what I think is happening. This is the kind of distraction I see in the world today, but who knows if technology an science will not be used to distract us further like in BNW.
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