Both of the quotes from Brave New World refer not just to society in the novel but also to all societies that fall under totalitarian rule.
1. First quote: When one observes the leaders of totalitarian regimes such as Hitler's Germany, Stalin's Soviet Union, and Kim Jung Il's North Korea, he will see that the leaders (dictators) of these nations are often referred to as madmen or insane. But Huxley's point (as seen in the quote) is that instead of the dictators being mad and out of control, they actually create their harsh rules and incomprehensible doctrines to establish sane stability instead of chaos. Stability develops into normalcy, and if totalitarian leaders can convince their subjects that normalcy is having every aspect of their life controlled, and if they can manipulate the people into thinking that stability is more important than any of their individual desires or goals, then they gain and maintain ultimate power.
2. Second quote: Almost all dystopian novels and societies rely on propaganda--a tool which many mistakenly believe always manipulates people into doing something. However, in Huxley's London, propaganda has actually convinced people to keep quiet about the truth. Just as Winston Smith's 1984 society makes him control his thoughts and words because he is being monitored, Huxley's regime in Brave New World recognizes that some people know the truth (they can never completely eradicate the truth), but that those people must be manipulated into thinking it is normal to withhold the truth.
No comments:
Post a Comment