A Brave New World: A Dystopian Society

Improved Essays
This nation is built on innovation. This nation is built on creativity. This nation is built on freedom. The United States is not a utopian society by any means, but it is a society that others long to live in. In comparison, the society found in Brave New World is remarkably innovative technologically; however, the society itself is stagnant. There is no promotion of individualism, creativity, or freedom. Although, most of the citizens do not let that characterize their home as a dystopia because it is all they know. There can be similarities drawn between the Brave New World society and the direction American society is changing; however, the differences are much more prevalent. The dystopian society Aldous Huxley creates in Brave New World …show more content…
In Brave New World it is unfavorable to have one steady sexual partner. In fact, Lenina Crowne receives praise for all the men she has slept with. Their society believes that “everyone belongs to everyone,” therefore to be monogamous is against social normality. As today’s society in the United States drifts further and further from its conservative views on abstinence, it is becoming more and more common for people to have multiple sexual partners in their life time. Nonetheless, American views on intercourse differ greatly from Brave New World. A recent study done in the United States shows that men relate their number of sexual partners to their masculine dominance. They do not want women statistics to say that they are more promiscuous then men because it strips that sense of dominance away. On the other hand, in a study done on college students, results showed that women did not change the number of sexual partners they reported based off of men’s statistics. This is due to the fact that most women reflect on intercourse as a means of intimacy ("Result Filters"). Regardless of whether sex is viewed as a source of dominance or as a source of intimacy and closeness in a relationship, in the United States society it contains more meaning than simply a recreational activity. In fact, many people strive to find one lifelong partner to be monogamous with. To the Brave New World citizens, sex has no deeper meaning. It doesn’t signify intimacy or dominance; it is simply a fun pass time to encourage the societal quality that “everyone belongs to

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    Ruby-Fruit Jungle Thesis

    • 2158 Words
    • 9 Pages

    For much of human history, the practice of monogamy has been tied to childbirth and the structure of heterosexual family units. However, after the FDA approval of the birth control bill, for the first time in human history “the separation between sex and reproduction” became socially acceptable, and progressive politics began to focus on individual bodily autonomy (Bronski, p. 207). In many circles, marriage, or even a monogamous relationship, was no longer a prerequisite to socially condonable sexual activity. In fact, cohabitation among straight couples was on the upswing in a trend that would eventually result in a 1,150 percent rise in cohabitation by the year 2000 (p.…

    • 2158 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The argument goes back and forth never resting on one side. When you compare the 21st century to some of the dystopias that are written it would make it seem that is a utopia especially when compared to Harrison Bergeron. But it also goes the other way, when compared to “Herland” its slacking as a utopia. 21st century American can be seen as a dystopia society for many reasons. Most reason depend how your point of view.…

    • 1444 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A theme shared by Brave New World and the article “Why Republicans Still Reject the Science of Global Warming” is the idea that individuals with a great deal of power will try and deny certain aspects of science in order to promote their opposing ideas. In the novel, Mustapha Mond, a controller, believes that “every discovery in pure science is potentially subversive” and at times must “be treated as a possible enemy.” The most important idea that society believes in is stability, and some aspects of science conflict with its envision of stability. The World State tries to keep this stability by leaving the dangerous part of science unknown to citizens in order for them to be blind to the truth, and keep the concept of anonymity in balance.…

    • 404 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Monogamous Relationships

    • 1674 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Often when people hear of individuals or couples who engage in consensual non-monogamous relationships (CNM) they think of the person as “deviant,” or they think of such relationships as inherently flawed and less valuable than monogamous relationships (Barker & Landridge, 2010; Jenks, 1998). However, evidence thus far refutes these beliefs (Barker & Landridge, 2010). Rather, individuals who engage in CNM have similar qualities to monogamous individuals and view their relationships as normal loving relationships (Barker, 2005). CNM relationships have characteristics that are typically considered healthy traits in monogamous relationships, such as personal confidence of the individuals, open communication, and trust (Kimberly & Hans, 2015).…

    • 1674 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Though these are similar themselves at the same time because both are Freudian theories and both discuss human urges. Freud is right by saying we are sexual and violent beings, and both governments in both dystopias acknowledge that. Neither government wants change but their are still people who dislike these worlds. For example in Brave New World, John the Savage comes in and tells people there is a different way of living, and they reject them. Just like in the Purge movies anti-purge groups form everywhere because they oppose with the way of living.…

    • 1638 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Brave New World Analysis

    • 1578 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Chapters 1-6 Summary The novel opens at the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre in the year 632 A.F. (after ford) with the Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning giving a tour of the factory that produces and conditions human beings for the predetermined lives. The tour includes the fertilization of eggs, the bottling of fetus, and the conditioning of young children. Soon after the tour you are introduced to Bernard Marx, an alpha plus who is not very well respected. Bernard is small for and alpha plus and he does not partake in soma, a calming drug, or the common games as often as one should so he is somewhat frowned upon. Even though Bernard is seen as anti-social, a young woman Lenina Crowne shows interest in him.…

    • 1578 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “One believes things because one has conditioned to believe them,” (Huxley 158). The constant growth of technology and science is prevalent all throughout Brave New World which has caused much destruction for the citizens of World State. Advancement of technology comes off as an amazing scientific achievement but a technology and science based utopia is not a utopia, but rather the opposite. Brave New World is dominated by government with a large amount of power due to science which will later cause destruction for both the citizens living in the World State but also the government itself. In Aldous Huxley’s, Brave New World, science and technology has put an effect on the idea of family, the way religion and art is perceived, and the true…

    • 919 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Today’s government is flawed, it is not perfect and neither are the people under it, but the government situation that we have today is not even close to the troublesome governments that are found in the dystopian novels 1984 and Brave New World. The term utopia describes a world that is filled with peace and happiness. A dystopia, on the other hand is a world filled with manipulation, controlling government, and sadness. In Huxley’s Brave New World he shows the reader his idea of a futuristic dystopia where babies are born in bottles and the citizens are taught their morals through sleep teaching. Bernard is a character who feels like he doesn't fit into the society that he has found himself in.…

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Women and men follow the motto of “everyone belongs to everyone”. Men can attract women with ease and achieve their motives without getting to know their partner. The concept of intimacy and a feeling of being special is removed and it becomes an activity made to satisfy. Sex is mainly a male dominated act. As it becomes less affectionate, it objectifies the women.…

    • 1127 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A Dystopian Society

    • 436 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Utopian Society All civilizations, towns, or societies have problems in them, some too many to count, such as St. Louis or the entire state of California. Is there a “perfect society”, or is it even possible? I for one have no idea, I’m just a 15 year old writing a sub-par report about it. I’d image that a perfect society would be one one where people are generally nice to each other and. That’s just a guess, I have no idea what makes a society functional.…

    • 436 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Promiscuity was satirized in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, and as much as we would like to believe our society is not nearing the vulgar actions of the New World State, we should not believe in such unrealistic concepts. Some of the same struggles that were faced in the book are being seen more and more in our world today. Even though there is some uncertainty and minute resilience in the novel, promiscuity is an ongoing battle in the New World State and on the Reservation; likewise, current society is showing that the intimacy shared between two people could be replaced by a rising acceptance of promiscuity. Though Lenina is an Alpha with the perfect hard working life and freedoms, the promiscuity practiced and pushed upon the people…

    • 1121 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    From a very young age we are taught the “sexual scripts” (pg. 313) that we are expected to follow and this largely dictates how we feel we should conduct our intimate relationships. Sexual scripts in many societies are largely “heteropatriarcical” meaning they are based on a system of heterosexual male dominance (pg. 354). Tight control over what is sexually acceptable can be harmful for the development of healthy intimate relationships especially for those who do not fall within the traditional heterosexual gender binary. A young American female receives mixed messages about her sexuality every day. In her article The Cult of Virginity author Jessica Valenti says that, “present-day American society- whether through pop culture, religion, or institutions –conflates sexuality and morality constantly” (pg. 336).…

    • 704 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Brave New World promotes promiscuous sex and the general attitude toward sex is that one sexual partner is not enough. Promiscuous sex in this society is legal whereas emotional attachment or love is illegal. Sex is dehumanized and made devoid of passion; it is treated casually and publicly rather than as a personal matter. Promiscuous sex is celebrated in different ways; it is presented in the ‘Feelies’ and in ceremonies. There is no real relationship between sex, love, commitment, intimacy and reproduction or any kind of deep emotion; it is used for distraction and pacification.…

    • 1740 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Dystopian Society

    • 1035 Words
    • 5 Pages

    It is not possible for the world like 1984 to exist in the present time period due to the fact that people are more curious and critical of their surroundings, furthermore, they have the ability to speak up against the injustices and possible governmental repressions enforced upon them. Nowadays, people feel more inclined to question the world, and their longing desire to know the whole ‘story’ affects their ability to blindly trust any force without knowing all flaws and perks within the situation. As a whole, the people of today’s society are determined to find all of the answers, and most of the time it results with our emotions getting involved in the process. We develop intellectual and emotional bonds with those who spark a flame in our brains, who bring forth the same questions and those who are just as willing to stand up for what is right.…

    • 1035 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Rollo May describes many topics about how the world functions and operates. One of the most interesting topics he talks about is love versus sex. May states “Love is a delight in the presence of the other, and an affirming of his value and development as much as one’s own” (Ewen, Robert B., 1998). May believes that people in the society have confused the meaning of love with the meaning of sex. He believes that the biggest component of such is the medias portrayal of glorifying sex and suggestion that it is unhealthy to not have sex often.…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays