BNW vs. America

One of the main comparisons that I see between BNW and America is the amount of consumerism. We in the United States are stereotyped as people who only want something until it's ours. We will go and buy, buy, buy and in the end we only end up with a house full of useless junk. Just as in BNW where they can only create a new game if it has more parts than the one before it. Another comparison that can be made between BNW and America is the amount of technology going on. We in the United States like new technology although not necessarily the research that goes behind it. We want our products to be made faster and easier through the use of technology and are most excited when some new gizmo comes out. Such as the XBOX 360. This ties back into consumerism but on it's own the research part of the development of new machinery is not very glorified in our community. Just as in BNW where figuring things out on your own is prohibited. The third thing comparison that I see between BNW and America is the individual. Most of the students in my school do not really care about anyone but themselves. An example of this would be the interactions between clicks and even between the students in those clicks. No one has much allegiance to anybody. They may be your best buddy bud one minute (yes a literal minute) but the next minute they might be talking trash behind your back. Now, I do not think that the trash talking happens in BNW but "everyone belongs to everyone else." There is no allegiance to anyone as you can read when they make a feely out of John whipping himself: allegiance is given only to the state. Which thank goodness in the US we do not have that problem because as you can see complete allegiance to the state can sometimes end up in a situation that most of us think is horrible.

Lenina vs. John

John and Lenina have a difficult time understanding each other for various reasons but all of them relate to the fact that they were raised in complete different societies with completely differrent mores.

• In Lenina's world they are encouraged to be promiscuious, however, for John this creates tension and makes him feel uncomfortable because in Shakespeares' world, from which John learns, women who paint an inch thick are downcasted in society.
• Also, John has never seen technology. He is absolutely fascinated by this. Unfortunately, this makes Lenina feel awkward because that is what she is used to and when she goes to the reservation she freaks out.
• Lastly, John has figured his beliefs out with thinking and reading. Whereas, Lenina is trained to believe a certain thing. John's knowledge is more useful because he can rationalize it and he understands it deeper than Lenina does her beliefs.

BNW and Utopia

What connections have you seen between Utopia and BNW?

• Both Brave New World and Utopia claim to be, or claim to have perfect societies. Some other similarities about the two books would be the way that they try to give everyone what they need such as food and shelter, whether they be high on the totem pole or not.
• They also both do not have any sort of disease. Or atleast, in Utopia they never talk about having disease and in a Brave New World they have eradicated disease.
• In both societies everyone likes their job and everyone's job likes them.
• They don't have war. Atleast in BNW they don't, and in Utopia they try to not have any war and even if they do they don't ever use any of their people.

What seems good about BNW?

• The technology of BNW is amazing and I would love to be able to "drive" a helicopter. Which back in that day they actually thought was going to be the car of tomorrow.
• Ofcourse, the whole disease eradication thing is pretty cool.
• I find it cool, although alittle creepy, that they can change someone's genes. It fascinates me to think about being able to change who someone will be with just a push of a button.

What one thing troubles you most about it?

• The Zapping of the babies. I can deal with people being brainwashed in their sleep, just so long as they are taught good morals, which for the most part they are. But, I cannot fathom anyone electrically charging a floor to do that to a child, it is so inhuman. I can't stand to even imagine that occuring. It makes me want to vomit and then go on a rampage. That is how much it angers me to think of that.

Utopia

• "They treate their sick with all the cares they can"
• I don't understand why you wouldn't treat sick people with all the care that you can, so I agree with this strongly.
• "Consentual voidances of marriage"
• If two people are married and don't want to be then they should be able to void their marriage.
• "The Senate decides the laws"
• I disagree, from what I understood in the reading, the Senate has too much power, they decide case by case what is right and what is wrong. It seems like they do not have to follow much of a constitution.
• "They create awards for virtue"
• It would be nice to see more rewards for virtues than punishments for crimes in today's society.
• "No one is distinguished"
• No one, not even princes, are made out to be better than any others, in their dress or in their manerisms.
• "They don't think that lots of laws are good because not everyone understands all the laws."
• Agree, So many laws do confuse people. Disagree, but without lawas people go nuts.
• "Leagues are useless."
• agreee, case in point - United Nations, since we all have different ideas about how governments should be run; then the program is deficient. disagree, case in point - The United States of America, since we all have similar ideas on how government should be run it builds the entire system and makes us stronger.
• "War"
• Agree, they train both men and women, but they don't fight unless they are provoked, or they are helping one of their friends. Even if they are at war they usually try to either defeat the opposing side with subterfuge or they hire out for mercenaries.
• "They are very open to different religions"
• Sun, Moon, Christian, Vegan etc.
• "First and last day of every month and year is a festival"
• Parties are good for moral and it's nice ot be excited about something every month.
• "No Sacrifices"
• It should not be necessary to sacrifice animals in religious services.