Hi, start of Isabel trying to sound smart / We are currently reading Brave New World in English..Yup, another sci-fi, definitely won't find that on my bookshelf at home but the in-depth discussion last class was actually quite interesting
What is happiness in their society? Each caste member take a "perfect" drug called Soma, something that is said to be risk-free which will result in zero side effects. They are conditioned to like their job and status in the society..the lowest caste, Epsilon, is also referred to as "Semi-morons"..(the workers pour alcohol when they were still in the fetus therefore their IQ is significantly lower than the upper castes.) However, they are cleverly manipulated at a young age to believe that the upper class (Betas and Alphas) work too hard, think too much, etc.
Free and open sexuality is another part of what they consider happiness.. I find it weird how they are open to having sex with multiple partners and they are encouraged to be promiscuous rather than being chaste (of course no babies are made in the process since the words "mother" and "father" = disgrace). For entertainment, they watch "feelies", movies that have the sensation of touch.
Gottta say, the author is a witty writer in not mentioning anything related to Shakespeare, since all of his plays end in tragedy while in bnw, everyone is supposedly in a "happy, perfect state"
Although it seems like an ideal place to live, keep in mind that there is no diversity and no individualism..the lower castes are all clones of one another.There is no power of choice as one is destined to belong in a specific caste.
I wouldn't live in this so called utopia, would you? / End of Isabel trying to sound smart, bye
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