Brave New World Chapter 17 and 18: Mustapha Mond and John

"God isn't compatible with machinery and scientific medicine and universal happiness. You must make your choice. Our civilization has chosen machinery and medicine and happiness. That's why I have to keep these books locked up in the safe. They're smut. People would be shocked if..." (Huxley 234). 

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancements benefit society. 

In Chapter 17, Mustapha Mond and John discuss God and how civilization has chosen science and technology over religion and truth. Mustapha Mond tells John that people cannot naturally believe in God, that they must be conditioned to believe in God. Because everyone in the Brave New World works together to ensure the happiness and tranquility of everyone, no one ever has the time to be alone to think, to ponder about what is really going on. People in the Brave New World are conditioned to hate solitude and their lives are arranged so that they have no alone time at all. Therefore, I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancements benefit society, because although in the Brave New World it has a great impact on the people, it does not allow them to truly understand reality and creates for them a new world "Brave New World" where science and technology dominates.

Brave New World Chapter 15 and 16: The Savage and Helmholtz Go Mad...

"Science? The Savage frowned. He knew the word. But what it exactly signified he could not say. Shakespeare and the old men of the pueblo had never mentioned science, and from Linda he had only gathered the vaguest hints: science was something you made helicopters with, something that caused you to laugh at the Corn Dances, something that prevented you from being wrinkled and losing your teeth. He made a desperate effort to take the Controller's meaning" (Huxley 225). 

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancements benefit society. 

In Chapter 15, John is upset about his mother's death and decides to do something to change the mindset of the people in the Brave New World. He begins to toss the soma that is being distributed out the window which creates a stir in the crowd. When Bernard and Helmholtz arrive, Helmholtz joins John in his strike. The police then come and subside the crowd and the three (Bernard, Helmholtz, and John) are taken away to see Mustapha Mond. In Chapter 16, the three men meet Mustapha Mond and he informs him about his similar beliefs but gives examples of how the world would not work if people were equal, and so on. Mustapha Mond then tells the three men that they will be taken away to islands with people who have similar beliefs as them. Bernard is upset and has to be taken away. The men continue to discuss science and its meaning. John understands science as being drugs, aging prevention, and advancements in technology. These being true, are advancements that are seen as good to the people of Brave New World but not good to people like John and individuals who subside in the islands that Mustapha Mond refers to. Therefore, I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancements benefit society, because although the examples that John lists are beneficial to the people of the Brave New World, they do not appear to be beneficial to individuals like John and Helmholtz. 

Brave New World Chapter 13 and 14: Lenina's a Whore and Linda's Dead

"They had never seen a face like hers before- had never seen a face that was not youthful and taut-skinned, a body that had ceased to be slim and upright. All these moribund sexagenarians had the appearance of childish girls. At fourty-four, Linda seemed, by contrast, a monster of flaccid and distorted senility" (Huxley 202).

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancements benefit society.

In Chapter 13, Lenina and John converse about their feelings, but Lenina shocks John when she takes off her clothes instead of actually discussing their emotions. John immediately labels her a whore and goes insane, he even goes as far as slapping her on the back which leaves a mark and terrifies Lenina. In Chapter 14, John hears that his mother (Linda) was sent to the Park Lane Hospital for the Dying and immediately goes to see her. While he is with her, some children approach her bed and question her physical appearance. Because of the scientific advancements in the Brave New World, everyone looks similar and perfect. They do not live very long, unlike Linda who was 44. Therefore, they are shocked when they see her imperfect teeth and unusual weight. Therefore, I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancements benefit society, because although it makes the people of Brave New World look younger and better, it ostracizes everyone that is considered "unlike the norm".  

Brave New World Chapter 12: Bye Bye Popular Bernard

"Punctured, utterly deflated, he dropped into a chair and, covering his face with his hands, began to weep. A few minutes later, however, he thought better of it and took four tablets of soma" (Huxley 176).

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancements benefit society. 

In Chapter 12, Bernard's fame suddenly disappears as his main attraction (John the Savage) refuses to come out for Bernard's audience. Everyone is incredibly upset and Bernard's reputation diminishes tremendously. After this embarrassing scene, Bernard is upset and decides to take four tablets of soma. Throughout the novel, soma is constantly used to overshadow the characters feelings. "Soma" is similar to alcohol and drugs, it is a scientific advancement that resembles modern drugs and alcohol. Therefore, I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancements benefit society, because although it makes the characters (like Bernard) forget about their problems and bring them a sense of ease, it can be detrimental to their view of reality and hurt them long-term whereas soma is beneficial only short-term.

Brave New World Chapter 11: Bernard the Great, Lenina and John?

"In one sense, yes," Dr. Shaw admitted. "But in another we're actually lengthening it." The young man stared, uncomprehending. "Soma may make you lose a few years in time," the doctor went on. "But think of the enormous, immeasurable durations it can give you out of time. Every some-holiday is a bit of what our ancestors used to call eternity" (Huxley 154). 

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancements benefit society. 

In Chapter 11, Bernard is held with high-esteem after uncovering the savage. Unlike before, he is well-known and treated with more respect (which helps him with the ladies tremendously). The Director resigns from his duty but Linda is still seen as repulsive due to her old age and behavior. Dr. Shaw (Linda's doctor) allows her to have as much soma as she desires. John (her son) questions whether this is a good idea because it could shorten her life-span. Dr. Shaw replies that although it may make her lose a few years, the pleasure she gains from it is priceless. Therefore, I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancements benefit society because although Linda remains in a "holiday" while she is taking soma, it can be detrimental to her view of reality. In the Brave New World they focus on happiness vs. reality. Whereas in Linda's case they need to focus on reality because of the circumstances she has faced. 

Brave New World Chapter 2: The Director Tells All...

"The principle of sleep-teaching, or hypnopaedia, had been discovered." The D.H.C. made an impressive pause. The principle had been discovered; but many, many years were to elapse before that prinicple was usefully applied" (Huxley 25). 

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancements benefit society. 

In Chapter 2, the Director discusses with his students the different castes and the techniques used to put each caste in their place. For example, Deltas are electrically shocked to hate books and flowers. They are placed in front of books and flowers so they can visually see them while they are being shocked. This correlation will make them hate books and flowers in the future because when they see them they will be reminded of the shocks they were given. The Director then discusses hypnopaedia (sleep-teaching), where children are taught things while they are asleep. This is also another way of giving each caste a sense of their role/importance in society. Therefore, I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancements benefit society because although in the Brave New World, these psychological techniques are "beneficial" in their society, they forcibly place people into castes which is something we find an abomination in our modern day society. 

Brave New World Chapter 9-10: Who's John's Father?

"Murder kills only the individual- and, after all, what is an individual?" With a sweeping gesture he indicated the rows of microscopes, the test-tubes, the incubators. "We can make a new on with the greatest ease- as many as we like. Unorthodoxy threatens more than the life of a mere individual; it strikes at Society itself. Yes, at Society itself," he repeated" (Huxley 148). 

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancements benefit society. 

In Chapter 9, Bernard basically travels to Santa Fe in order to get the papers necessary to bring Linda and John back to London with him. Bernard is on a very strict time limit but makes it back in time. In Chapter 10, the Director discusses with Mr. Foster how an individual is not as important because more people can be made, but unorthodoxy can damage more than just an individual, it can damage society as well. This statement by the Director goes to show how in the Brave New World, people are not as important. In our society, every individual is important and the crimes against them matter. But in the Brave New World, they focus more on how unorthodoxy can shake up society. Therefore, I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancements benefit society, because although the scientific advancement of bokanovskify has created double the amount of embryos, it has decreased the importance of each individual embryo because of the vast supply of embryos as a whole.