Brave New World Entry #2

Shimasaki Entry #2 Brave New World

                I think the quote that you chose “the secret of happiness and virtue [is]—Liking what you’ve got to do” (16) is the perfect quote to capture what the people in power want the regular population to think. In our world, we are encouraged to do things that we enjoy and to do things that we are passionate about. In their world, they are designed from conception for a specific job and it is programmed into their brains. I think people work harder and do a better job if they enjoy and love what they are doing, rather than doing something because they have to do it. What I found interesting in the next section was how Lenina describes Bernard. She comments “odd, odd, odd…So odd… and yet so unique also was Bernard’s oddness that she had hesitated” (88). Bernard is not happy with his life or his society. He feels unsettled and Lenina picks up on that. She represents the epitome of their society and the fact that Bernard acts differently, and does not fit into social normality disturbs her. Why do you think Lenina likes Bernard if he is so different?

I agree with you on the style choice. I found it disturbing that the men talk about the women as objects because while this world is a fictional world, the objectification of women happens in our own world as well.  This book is supposed to be about a world that is very different from the world we live in, but there are some similarities and this one is a very difficult and complex one. A phrase that they kept repeating as well is “Everybody is happy now” (75). The fact that it is ingrained into their brains as children reflects the complete frailty of the true meaning. True happiness is not taught, it’s gained through experience and a relationship with God. They have an artificial happiness. It reminds me of the movie Wall-E where everyone thinks they’re happy but then one couple look up from their computer screens and realize that life away from the program is more fulfilling and makes them happier.

I find the caste system to be troublesome because I believe every person should be able to decide, on their own, where they want to go in life. They should be able to work for their rank rather than to be given a rank and have to live with it. The prejudice against the lower castes is terrible but effective for the society leaders because it keeps people isolated and individual, yet contained and manageable. I do not think the “straight from the horse’s mouth” comment is that important. It shows that the people believe and adore everything their leader says and it shows their brainwashed state.

In this section, they talk about Bernard a lot and how he is very different. Why do you think the author creates this character? They also talk about how Bernard goes to the ritual. What does this ritual symbolize and how does Bernard’s reaction to it show how he is different?