BNW in a cage fight with US

One of the major similarity I noticed between Brave New World and the US of A was that we both have drugs. Not bad drugs, those are bad. I mean medicine that can get rid of troubles experienced by both worlds. In Brave New World, they mainly have soma and in the United States we have many many drugs. Although none of our drugs can put you on a consequence free vacation, we do have many similar! We have drugs, such as tylenol, that will get rid of your aches and pains temporarily. We have anti depression pills to help those of us that are sad. In BNW, they had to take drugs like pregnancy simulators and adrenaline simulators. We also have pills like that to help with people who have irregular amounts of that...

The next similarity was all the sex. In BNW, 8 year olds were running rampant have sex like it was nobody's business. Sex to them was just something to make them happy. Everybody was doing it with everybody else (in the same caste). Sex isn't exactly the same in the US of A, but it is still there. If you take a look at our advertisements and many of the other things we see in our day to day lives, you will still see sex. Sex is used to attract people and make people buy products. Do you think more people would watch a commercial and feel more compelled to buy something if you had a commercial with a hot sexy lady or a normal Jane just sitting there?

The last similarity that I shall point out is all the consumerism. In BNW, they are conditioned from birth that buy is the way they should do stuff. They should not simply repair it, but should throw it away and buy a completely new one. If somebody wants to make a new game, they have to use twice as many parts as a previous game used. In the United States we are also experiencing similarities. Although we are not drilled when we are in the womb, we still end up paying for stuff. It is much easier simply buying a new thing than taking the time to try and repair it yourself. Other items, such as tires, are you given a limited amount of use before it will break down. I am sure that somebody could make a tire that lasts for many years, but they won't because then once everybody has them, they will stop making money.

Conditioning^2

Lenina versus John. Round Uno!

Lenina has grown up a the "perfect" society all her life. She has grown up to think that everybody is owned by everybody. She was taught this through the use of hypnopaedia. Since she has gone through this as a child and is predestined to think a certain way automatically. Other thoughts that she is predestined to think is to take soma whenever there is a problem and to consume before repairing.

John has grown up being shunned on a reservation. He was taught to read by his mother and then continued teaching himself by reading Shakespeare. He was able to understand and relate with Shakespeare's works because he was in a kinda tragedy himself. His mother would tell him about the perfect world. All the views he learns from his reading conflict with those of told to him by his mother.

Their views about love and relationships conflict with each other. Due to Lenina's conditioning, she is unable to understand what John is talking about. John has learned views from Shakespeare and thinks Lenina's views are crazy.

Brave New World

The major connection between Brave New World and Utopia is that they are both a Utopian society in someway. In both, everybody owns everything and each other. Because of this and other various, both societies are content and do not question their society.

One thing that I like in Brave New World is the ignorance. The people are purposefully made to not question or see anything wrong with the way they live, and they are perfectly content with what they have and what they do. The saying ignorance is bliss certainly holds true here.

That is also one of the things that troubles me with this book. Instead of being naturally made ignorant, they people have automatically made that way without their consent. The government is looking out for the whole and not the individual in this way.

Utopia numero tres

Here it goes again..

They do not take prisoners of war. Only people who are previously criminals are considered as slaves.

I agree with this. Just because you failed at dominating another country, doesn't mean you should be owned by them..

The sick are kept isolated and comfortable. They are allowed to commit suicide.

Keeping them isolated is a good idea in theory..but some of the best treatments are mental and having your family there can really help.

Girls have to be 18 and men have to be 22 before they are allowed to marry. They are not allowed to fall in love before that age, or they will not be allowed to marry at all.

This makes sense. It would help reduce the amount of people who are not ready for a family.

A bride and groom have to see each other naked before they get married.

This is good since you shouldn't get married and then get surprised. They know what they are getting into.

If a divorce occurs, the innocent one is allowed to remarry, while the guilty party and mistress/pimp become slaves

This allows the innocent to not suffer for the other's actions.

Lawyers are liars and therefor not used.

This gives people an opportunity to defend themselves.

They are against war.

This prevents people from being violent and wanting to take things by force.

They kill as little as possible after they get a victory in a war.

Keeping the enemy from getting mad at you is always a good policy.

The Utopians are allowed to believe in whatever they choose to.

Forced religion rarely works..

If they were sad when the died, they will mourn. If they were happy when they died, they will sing and dance.

As long as they are able to do the singing and dancing, it is okay with me