Brave New World
In Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World, Mustapha Mond believes that every person lives their life "inside of a bottle" (223). Plato used a similar line of thinking as Mustapha Mond in his "Simile of the Cave." The cave in this case is considered the "bottle." Mond's statement is valid for the rest of the citizens in the Brave New World's World State, as well. One of the main themes in Brave New World is how human conditioning creates a bottle, or glass box, and although some bottles are, as Mond says, "...relatively speaking, enormous..." (223), all people do live in some sort of a metaphorical "bottle." This bottle controls what they believe and how they react to different situations in life. By "bottle," Mond means certain surroundings as well as personal thoughts that remain somewhat constant. Constants can be broad, such as weather conditions that we are used to, or much more introverted like what time of day a person always goes to sleep. In a sense the bottle is our own individual culture that determines how one acts or thinks.Constants within the bottle can be sociological, such as what is considered acceptable, and what aspects of life in the society are considered normal. What is considered "normal" and "acceptable"
Even her response to Bernard's question is a quote from hypnopaedic teachings proving that she has little control over her own actions inside her bottle. is learned since birth, from observing and obeying parents, friends, and the rest of a given society. As Professor Erchak wrote in his essay on culture, "Culture is also shared, although it is important to note that no two people in any society possess identical versions of their culture, but they nonetheless need to interact in relatively appropriate and predictable ways (45). It is human nature to mimic behavior that one observes. She enjoys all the aspects of conditioned life, soma, feelies, solidarity service, and sex with multiple partners. These differences can sometimes be completely opposite and sometimes result in conflicts of racism, murder and sometimes even as extreme as war. Some do not know any different and live their lives in ignorance that there is even another world, but then some like Bernard who are ready to be shown another way. Most people in Plato's world live life inside an unenlightened bottle. As for Lenina in BNW, being taken out of the bottle is not always pleasant and often people want to return to what is comfortable for them. " As they grow older they dress similarly, have similar views on politics, as well as similar ideas for recreational amusement. She responded by saying, "I don't know what you mean. It means acting and recreating as everyone else in your class does. Free to have the most wonderful time. After some time, though, they will adjust to the "light" (Plato 21), and usually be happier enlightened.
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Acceptance Essays
