Similarities between BNW and 1984

Well, the first similarity i thought about had to do with family. It sucks to have a family in both worlds. In BNW, its bad to have a family because it's just totally looked down upon and then people would be disgusted at you. In 1984, its bad to have a family because all your kids are sent from the devil that snitch on you and lead you to your death. of course the latter is worse.

the next similarity is about the government. in both worlds, they hide a lot information to the public. in BNW, they hide all the great literature such as the bible, shakespeare, etc. in 1984, they simply hide everything that doesnt favor the government.

umm i guess another similarity is the single head figure. in BNW, there is henry ford while in 1984 there is Big Brother who sounds very creepy because of the constant staring pictures.

similarities between modern world and brave new world

The actions and behaviors of the people is the first similarity that i thought about. The last portion of BNW had many people pester poor john because of his strange actions. The behavior of the people in BNW reflects some people, which would include me, in the modern world today. By seeing something different and crazy such as someone whipping them self is actually kind of peculiar and interesting. Then the chanting, "Use the Whip!", that was done by the people in BNW is like watching a fight between some guys and the crowd who wants action cheers, "Fight! Fight!". Despite the people in BNW are brainwashed and stuff, doesnt effect the natural tendencies of excitement.

The next similarity was the sex. Everyone from 1st graders to unpopular people such as Bernard wanted sex. Even though they were conditioned that "everyone is for everyone" and encouraged since they were little to fool around doesnt mean they dont like or want to have sex. This desire isnt too different from the people in the modern world. im pretty sure no one was conditioned or encouraged as a little kid to do it, but from all the X- rated and R-rated videos and whatever that was accidentally seen as a child may had an effect on kids. you can hear it on the news about some 6th graders fooling around and even see proof that teenagers have their fun by the looks of their bellies. Also seeing the decline in nuns may have some interest. The desire to have sex is similar in both worlds.

The last similarity is drugs. In BNW, soma is the only drug that a person will ever need. i really dont know the effects myself, but yea i would take some too because there are no negative effects if you ignore the life loss problem. The people are so hooked on this drug that it makes the wild and crazy. This can be seen when john begins throwing away all the gammas' soma supply and when lenina is in the reservation and she forgets to bring her soma. she begins to freak out without her soma. the need for soma is extremely high even though the people really dont need it, but just want their high and hallucination. in the modern world, the people use drugs pretty much for the same reasons of feeling good and getting high. even for cigarettes, if people cant get ahold of one, they begin whining or freaking out. this one can be easily agreed upon when i say that people need their drugs.

John and Lenina Compare/ Contrast

The similarity between John's conditioning and Lenina's conditioning is that both of them say and think phrases without realizing their reason because it is embedded into their mind. When lenina was in the helicopter with Henry, she looks down at the at the green gamma girls and sees khaki dressed people and just randomly states that she hates khaki and is pretty disgusted without any reason. then through the chapters she randomly states quotes such as cleanliness is next to fordliness and civilization is sterilization that society has placed on her and everyone else. it is the same with john. there was a moment where john recited a phrases from shakespeare about his anger towards pope, and he didnt even have a clue to what it meant but it just felt right to him.

the main difference between the two's conditioning is that one helps advocate society's system of rule and the other goes against it. lenina's conditioning was done to make her think everything that is goin on in this society is right and normal while john's has his which leads him to feel disgusted, disappointed, and confused. it was made apparent especially when lenina and john went on a date to a feely movie and after it was over, both had different reactions and couldnt understand why the other was thinking the way they were. because of the two's different conditioning, they are just unable to fully understand and communicate to each other without confusion.

Brave New World

The connection that i made between Utopia and Brave New World is that both has a specific organization to it. In both books, there are rules and a certain way of life that civilized people have to follow. People don't question it and just live their lives. Another connection is that the citizens in both books have productive lives. Everyone has their own part in society and keep themselves busy doing something.

Some positive aspects of Brave New World is the new medicines that they invented. They prevent people from having diseases, signs of aging, and drugs that produce pleasurable effects yet having no side effects. Even though the person has to be a test tube baby to prevent getting diseases and have signs of aging, its pretty remarkable. One of the other cool things in this world would definitely have to be the "feely" TV. it would definitely be pretty interesting.

One thing that troubles me about this world is that everyone is okay with how they were born. How in the beginning babies were purposely deprived of oxygen and given alcohol to be made lesser of others. Then how they gone through hypnopaedia causing certain things such as them hating certain people without knowing why they hate them. It's just strange that no one challenges this operation.

Utopia book 3

• The people only take slaves from those in battle. They do not take them for prisoners of war, nor sons of slaves, or those from other nations. They only condemn slaves from their own people for committing some sort of crime. Foreigners can willingly become slaves to our people. They always have the option to leave and usually something is given so they do not leave empty handed.

I agree with this set up. Just because they call them slaves doesn’t really mean they’re slaves. It seems to me that the only people that become slaves are criminals and poor people. Criminals become slaves as a punishment and the poor people become slaves so they live a better life as more of a servant.

• When an authority such as the priests or the Senate advises a person to choose death and the person agrees, it is known to be very honorable. If any person chooses death without the authority’s approval then there are no honors of a decent funeral for the person and the person’s body is thrown in a ditch.

I disagree with this. Everyone should have a respectful funeral. A person no doubt has done something in his life that is commendable whether it is barely significant or outstanding and deserves a decent funeral.

• Polygamy and divorces are not allowed except in the case of adultery and insufferable perverseness. Then in the case of adultery, the victim can marry again while the adulterer is not allowed a second marriage and is criticized by the public.

I can agree with this idea. It’s wrong to cheat on your spouse so there has to be some kind of punishment.

• The Prince himself has no distinction either of garments or of a crown but is only distinguished by a sheaf of corn carried before him.

I agree with this idea of no crown. It makes me feel that the Prince isn’t power hungry and isn’t condescending towards others, but rather gives off the feeling that says, “Hey I’m just an average joe like you guys” and a feeling of equality.

• Utopians hate war and will not go to war unless it is for defense or to assist their friends. They find no glory in it. They will not accept the spoils of war despite that they assisted their friends.

I like this idea but one thing that bothers me is that it makes the Utopians look passive and weak. Then there is a possibility that other nations will walk all over them, demand things or else war.

• Reward is given to anyone even to enemies if they kill a specific person such as the enemy’s prince. Taking account for the risk and danger, land is also given.

I agree with this idea. To take out the most vital people out of your enemies can win wars. This would also make a poor person possibly rich in the process. There are several religions all over the island. That’s pretty good that they have a choice in what religion to believe in.

Utopia Book 2

• Only natives know about the dangerous channel which leads to the entry of the bay. Without one of the natives as a navigator, there will be a shipwreck.

This set up is pretty good in my opinion. It provides great protection from enemy and if they need to trade with other countries, then the natives themselves can go out and trade with them and return to their country with the goods.

• There are fifty-four cities on the island all with the same laws. Every city sends three of its wisest Senators once a year to Amaurot to consult about their common concerns.

I agree with this set up as long as the three senators keep the concerns of the people in mind. It’s also good they have these assemblies to keep each cities connected and not isolated from each other.

• “Every man may freely enter into any house whatsoever”. Every ten years they change houses by lots.

This is totally ridiculous. I would hate this idea because I would say I’m materialistic and I might really like the house that I live in and I wouldn’t give it up. Also I don’t like how anyone can walk into some random person’s house. There might be things that I might want to keep a secret and that would be pretty hard to do so if anyone can walk in.

• Votes for the Prince are voiced secretly. Then once chosen as a prince, the person is prince for life unless there are suspicions of enslaving people.

I disagree with this idea. I mean I like it because it is democratic by having the people choose their prince but once the person becomes prince, the person is prince for life. What if the person turns out to be some fascists?

• On the island they wear the same sort of clothes without any distinction except what is necessary to distinguish two sexes and the married and unmarried.

I think this idea is ridiculous. This would totally go against the freedom of expression through what a person can wear, but I guess it could warn some guy from hitting on a girl that is already married

• When the person has learned more than one trade, he can choose which trade he likes best and follow it unless the public has more need for a certain one.

I would disagree again based on the fact that is limits the freedom of choice.

• There are timed living schedules. Work for six hours which are 3 before dinner and 3 after dinner. Than from 8pm to noon is basically free time. 8 hours of it go for sleeping and the rest for something that isn’t being idle.

I disagree with this. I just don’t really like this idea because it is too controlling. I mean 6 hours isn’t a lot for me to complain, but I still would like the choose how much I really work. Maybe if this happened to me, I can become the guy off of Into the Wild but for different reasons.

• No family may have less than ten or more than sixteen persons in it; but there can be no determined number for children under age. By removing some of the children of a more fruitful couple to any other family that does not abound so much in them.

I would never give up my children. I disagree with this as well. This society is like a control freak.

• If someone wants to travel, the person must receive permission from his boss to see if he is needed for work. If not the person then goes to the Prince to get a passport that states if the person is allowed to leave town and when the person must return. If the person leaves without a passport, the person is considered a fugitive and if caught the person is sent home in disgrace. If caught twice as a fugitive, the person becomes a slave.

I can agree with this idea. This sounds pretty similar to what we have to do in our world as in if we want to go to a different country except I don’t really know about the whole slave thing. But I guess there has to be a punishment of some sort if we don’t follow the rules. I would say slavery is a little too much though.

book 1 utopia

Thomas More's Major points:

• People with great wisdom should help serve the king and the people
• Don't have many idle men because it will disturb time of peace
• Banish plagues such expensive clothing, drinking, gambling
• Set up agriculture and manufacturing so the idle men can work and not become thieves
  
• don't give death penalty to thieves but rather have them work to improve the community
  

Well, I pretty much agree with all those points. Smart people should help guide the king so they can make life good for everyone. Along with that, they can also have the opportunity to sorta control the king to have benefits coming to themselves. There shouldn't be many idle men because if they have nothing else to do, they might cause trouble. Furthermore, they might become theives in More's belief. The next point on banishing the plagues, it would be nice i guess to banish all the bad stuff, but i dont think it would be that great of an idea. The people need things to relax and just have some fun. Then setting up agriculture and manufacturing is a good idea so men can work. its good to have a productive community so the community can eventually expand. the last point is a good one too because its like a win win situation. thieves win because they are granted life with a chance of freedom and the community wins because things that no one wants to do gets done.