"The Director walked slowly down the long line of cots. Rosy and relaxed with sleep, eight little boys and girls lay softly breathing... At the end of the room a loud speaker projected from the wall."
(Chapter 2, p. 28)
I would like to have a discussion about Huxley's idea of hypnoæpdia.
This certain society grows up learning everything they know in their sleep, unaware- when they are not cognizant of their environment.
"They'll grow up with what psychologists used to call an 'instinctive' hatred of books and flowers... A love of nature keeps no factories busy." (Chapter 2, p 23)
The people learning in their sleep is truly a metaphor for an entire society who is blind not only when they are in slumber, but also when they are awake. They are not allowed to read books- not that they know they exist, anyway- and are not allowed to go into nature for pure enjoyment. Knowledge and Nature are two of the most powerful entities that exist, we know that, and the Director in this novel surely knows that as well. Knowledge and Nature are so powerful because they garner passion and purpose in people- what the Alpha, Bettas, Gammas, et cetera are missing. They garner a religion. These two entities, or the lack there of, are what are keeping the people from their humanity, it is why they are utterly controllable. They stand for nothing, and so they will fall for anything.
Yet, have no fear! As we discussed in class, there are some minute flashes of humanity in the novel, thus far. Especially with those that seem different from the rest; Lennina Crowne, Bernard Marx, and Helmholtz Watson.
" I feel like I could do something more important...Can you say something about nothing," in this passage (p 70) we see Watson struggling to name what he believes is missing from his life. He wants something "piercing", something exciting, and most paramount, something "important." What he is looking for is his own religion, because religion is communal, it makes you feel that you are a part of something bigger.
Thoughts?
I agree with Mr. Garcia, for "his own religion...it makes you feel that you are a part of something bigger." While this is true, I disagree that religion is what he is searching for. His attitude suggest that he wantsto accomplish something meaningful and great. This does not neccesarilly mean religion. I believe he is searching for something to stand for,something to fight for, to suffer for. religion is not the only thing worth standing up for. The basic human rights are a prime example, "life liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" Therfore what he is searching for is as simple as true happiness which can be found in the knowledge that you exist for a purpose to make change.
ReplyDeleteI don't necessarily mean religion as Christianity and or Buddhism. I mean religion as in something to fight for, like you said. Something that makes them feel important.
ReplyDeleteI have a question concerning something that you said at the end, Jose: how is Lenina exactly different from the "social body"? I thought her purpose was to keep providing examples of the norm in society...
ReplyDeleteIn the story, I believe that in his search for words to define his feelings of being an individual and different from others, shows how people naturaly seperate themselves from groups of people when they realize that they don't have that same idealologies or the same thinking proccess as the group has.
ReplyDeleteIn comparison.. people, (even to this day)if they have been brought up in the same place, they eventually want something to be different and seperate themselves because they just have different ideas don't compare to the regular social norm. I agree with jose, that there are some humanistic implications in the story. And i also believe that it is completly natural for some one to actually question things and acctually, to not only want more but to find some way to get some type of satisfaction differently and unique.
do i make sense?
Suzzette,
ReplyDeleteYour comment that people today question things and want more out of life is an idealist viewpoint. I guess it depends on the types of questioning that one does and the things that they want that seperates them from others. Is this what you mean?
Jerusalem,
Lenina does provide an example of the norm in Huxley's society, yet there are moments when she feels completely empty inside, and I think that is the humanity that Jose is referring to.
I meant to respond to this a week ago.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading the passage above of Helmholtz wanting "something important," i cant help but think of Bigger Thomas, from Richard Wright's Native Son. As we all know Bigger wanted to fit into the white society and always felt that he should be doing something much more important; for instance, he had always wanted to fly a plane and always had aspirations to be something greater. Like Helmholtz, Bigger wanted something to believe in, something other than what society has provided for them.
-Esteban