Okay, so Brave New World, beyond disturbing right?! But if you think about it, it's possible to see how this insane idea could come about...
Aldous Huxley, the author, was born in 1894 and the book was written in the thirties. The thirties! At this time, Henry Ford's automobiles were crawling through the cities and towns. Previous to this, people got around on horse and buggy, or walked! Far cry from the driving they were doing in the thirties. Along with these cars, came the assembly line. Perhaps one of the most ingenious ideas that hit the industrial world. I believe these happenings are what the novel revolves around...
So how? Well, perhaps Huxley saw the assembly line as a massive change for the worse. In the novel, the assembly line controls all of humanity. It literally creates life! Maybe Huxley is exaggerating on his idea of what Ford's revolution will do to the world. I don't think he thought that people will stop procreating, but it seems a big mataphor. A metaphor for how technology can be damaging to society as much as it can be beneficial. I think that the novel is a sort of ficticious warning...
When change comes around, there is a majority of people that are scared of it. People do not want to forget their past, especially if they have grown up doing things a certain way and now it all changes in a flash? I see this in the novel because Huxley makes a point of "writing out history". There are some parts in the novel when the characters give little hints of their knowledge of the past, "Human beings used to be... vivaporous... These are unpleasant facts; I know it. But then most historical facts are unpleasant," (pg. 24). It is obvious that, in the novel, the way humans are is very different from how they use to be. It is also obvious that the people of their world know nothing of their past. All they know is how things are now. Nothing but the assembly line and the "good" of technology. These little moment show that Huxley is trying to say something about history being important. I think he was afraid of people forgetting their past. Of only seeing change and forgetting everything else. Perhaps he wasn't totally opposed to the changes of his time, but I do think he was afraid that people would get carried away with them.
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Yeah so basically I agree with you about how Huxley uses a metaphor to compare the damaging effects of the assembly line and in a way looking to the future. I also rather enjoyed how you gave a little insight of the history of where this book was coming from. It really helps explain what is going on in the book because this book is quite a dousey when it comes to following what is going on.
ReplyDeleteYou also helped me see how Huxley may have been trying to say something about how people forget their past. I mean, often times we all become so focused on the latest technology and the next thing to come out to make life easier, and we forget the more simple days of having to actually write a letter or dial a 7 digit phone number and talk to a person using our voice. Of course, some of these things weren't around when this book was written, but I am sure it has the same effect.
All in all, you made some good points that i probably wouldnt have thought about and now can ponder some of these things when i continue reading.
Hey Jessie! You made some really good points. I never would have thought of how during Henry Ford's time the reliance on industry ,all the way back in the 30's, could have foreshadowed the corruption of humanity. I agree with you that Huxley has scared readers to warn us. In the same way that being codependant on a person is self- destructive, being self- reliant on technology could dehumanize people into being robotic. Is efficency worth the sacricfy of knowledge from the past? If we cannot learn from our past mistakes,we will never make progress.
ReplyDeleteJessie!! thanks for chatting with me in class. really made me feel better. well, lets get going on with your blog. like what Katie C. said, you made some good points. hey good job pointing out Henry Ford. it was very nice how you made it come out into words. i agree with you that he was scaring us. both i was a good thing too. it made us watch our choices in life to make it better for our future children. that's the goal. keep it up. :D
ReplyDeleteyour buddy
Jim