Book: Anyone here a fan of Brave New World?

[Mr Blonde]

My Grade 12 English read the novel this term. I've already read it before, so the assignments were very easy.

Am I the only one who thinks that the society the book portrays is really a utopia? Of course you don't have any real free will, but in exchange you have perfect happiness! There is political stability, no relationship troubles because all our 'romantic' contact is just casual sex, and those troublesome emotions can be chased away with soma! And, if you don't fit in like Bernard or Hemholtz, then you get to go live on an island with people like yourself!

I wouldn't even mind if I was an epsilon...you wouldn't know any better, would you? I guess having a shit life in reality makes me wish I could live in a world where there is conditioned happiness.

 

[junctionalfunkie]

You're in 12th grade... you're supposed to have a "shit life!" :D

Seriously, though. I read that in 12th grade, too... 18 years ago. Been meaning to read it again. Since then, I got a degree in English, have taken more than my fair share of "Soma"-like chemicals, and have read Huxley's other works.

If you already (17-ish?) think abdicating free-will is worth the illusion of happiness, you're even more jaded than I was at that age! Bravo!

Give it time. You'll come full circle soon enough.

Then back again. And again. And again...

Welcome to the merry-go-round, kid!

 

[(Wordy)]

^ lol, I hear you! :D

Brave New World is generally considered to be Huxley's dystopia, whereas Island is seen to offer a utopian vision.

That's how they appear on the surface, anyway - in truth it's not so clearcut!

I'd recommend reading Island though, if you haven't already...

 

[colicolo]

I never read the book, but in Melbourne there's a theatre called 'St Martins' that did or maybe still do a show every year called 'Rave New World' based on the book.

its an awesome show where the venue is set up like a rave, crazy light, pumping tunes and off course a bar. the audience is part of the rave, but the show progresses as the music stops, lights hit the actors, they give dialogue and then it moves on. awesome show.

thats really not very helpful i know, but i felt like sharing!