The Effects of Established Norms on Society

Finding Relationships Between Brave New World and The American Society of Today
By Jeff Raymond

Finding a deeper meaning to Aldous Huxleys Brave New World may seem a bit
challenging at first. But once one starts to delve into the book and get a taste of whats
really going on, they start to wonder how the author conveyed so many controversial
subjects in such a short book. Comparing the outlook of Brave New World to todays
society brings a whole new sense of realization to our current problems. There are
topics written within these pages that are prevalent even today; theres false
propaganda by the government, social brainwashing, discrimination, and the abuse of
our most basic human rights. Brave New World can serve as a reminder, as guidelines,
to the American people that no matter what social norms are established, you must
always be able to think for yourselves and be independant in your ways and actions.
Brave New World is a grim outlook of a Utopian-Dystopian future, where the year
is 632 A.F. (after Ford). The world is being controlled by the ten world leaders using
substances and pleasure to keep everybody in line. From the perspective of many
characters throughout the book, we learn that long ago there was a war followed by the
Nine Year War. With its chaos and destruction, society decided to give up their
freedoms, liberties, and individualities for universal stability. We also learn that the
humans, or caste members of society, are all programmed from birth;, this programming
teaches each child how society works, what to like, who to like, and even what to wear
from the moment they are born till they take their last breath. This kind of conditioning
eliminates all free will and individuality within society.

There are required bi-weekly sessions where a group of people from around the
city gather and pray to their God, Ford. These sessions enforced by the government
makes sure everybody conforms to the same way of life and the same way of thinking.
One of the main characters of the book who defies this trend is Bernard Marx. Hes a
very intelligent higher caste individual that has been shunned by society. Throughout the
novel we meet another out of place character by the name of Helmholtz Watson.
Together they outline the norms of the new world and the way society runs, andthey
also describe how differently they are treated than the others and how they are
discriminated against for thinking and acting out of place in comparison to the rest of
society.
Occasionally during the book, different characters converse with one of the ten
world leaders named Mustapha Mond. He explains, rather grimly to John, a so called
savage from a reservation of Indians, that society has abolished literature, passion,
emotion, suffering, and God; all for the sake of stability and happiness. In doing so, the
government has created a world void of crime, pain, and suffering; they have created a
world where everybody loves everybody. John concludes that he doesnt want a life
where people are always happyhe wants the freedom to be unhappy, the freedom to
suffer. And so, he leaves to an abandoned lighthouse to live out the rest of his days in
solitude and confinement. Unfortunately, John cannot hide forever and society finally
catches up to him and drives him insane. After a rather grotesque incident of flogging
himself until he bled, and sleeping with someone before marriage, a sin of his religion,
John wakes up to the feeling of guilt and depression. Unable to live with the pain and
shame, John decides to take his own life to atone for his sins.

Imagine that, since the day you were born you wereare programmed, to talk a
certain way, to walk a certain way. Every decision in your life was predetermined before
you could even lift your head. Using a method called hypnopedia, the government
could shape a person's life without them even knowing. In some ways, you are
experiencing this now. Everywhere in our world, from our televisions, to our
smartphones, to the simple billboards you see driving down the highway; you are being
programmed slowly but surely to be attracted to certain things. Social media has
wonderfully displayed this on multiple occasions where they will take average everyday
items and pare it with beautiful people or exciting activities. The ad insinuates that if
someone were to obtain the product they are selling or follow their instructions, they will
achieve the same benefits as the people in the ad.
This programming can clearly be seen in high school. If a student didnt have the
newest clothes or the coolest shoes they would be assumed as unpopular and
unimportant. These social norms dictate what you should be wearing, what you should
be doing, and with whom you should be surrounding yourself. But, it begins even earlier
than that. Starting from as young as toddlers, toys set the tone for how government
wants you to be. Every single one of the Barbie dolls, and action figures on T.V. model
to a child what he or she should look like and what you should wear. These kids are
unknowingly being persuaded to be as beautiful as a Barbie doll or as strong as a
wrestler, even when they are still in diapers. It continues through adulthood, as an adult
may be too tired to fight against the social norms and the theory of hypnopedia starts
becoming a reality.

One thing that Brave New World does well is show how powerful propaganda
can be. Bernard Marx one, attends a bi-weekly gathering to display their loyalties and
beliefs in Fordship. Even though Marx has no interest or belief in Ford, he still
participates because thats what society has dictated him to do. The government in this
case has abolished all individual religion and replaced it with a more appropriate one,
according to them, taking away the citizens ability to have their own beliefs. All choices
the citizens make are because of the governments influences over them and their
inability to think for themselves..
Today, this propaganda can be seen through media outlets. The government
controls what information is released and how much truth is behind that informations.
The difference between Brave New World and today's world is the strength and
dedication of the human will. Citizens dont always conform to what society wants them
to which makes us unique. Each and every person has a mind of their own and are free
to make any decision that they so choose. Our ability to think for ourselves and question
what is given to us helps decide whether or not we buy into the propaganda of the
social norms.
Social norms arent backing down and neither should we. There will always be
the man behind the curtain trying to control us and tell us what we should and should
not do, say, or buy. But we can learn from Brave New World and how to combat against
dictators and situations if they arise. One mustnt lose yourself in the ability to see
reason, or see the difference between right and wrong. Don't blindly believe what others
say just because they claim they are telling the truth. In Brave New World, if John or
Bernard had questioned just a little further as to why society is like the way it is, they

might have had a better chance at changing the way the government ran and would
have created a better future as a result. Question everything that sounds off and make
educated decisions based on the information that you find out. Open your eyes to the
programming and propaganda of society and decide for yourself what you really want
for your life.
Each and every person on this planet has the ability to do something great. It is
easy to be persuaded to take the wrong path if you fall prey to the propaganda. But free
will allows you to make your own decisions based on the information and facts.
However you cant make decisions unless you question society. Society as a whole
must push past the oppression of conformity and single mindedness. Society must be
set free so that we dont repeat the mistakes of the past, but instead move toward a
better future. To ensure the survival of the human race, we need to break free from the
hypnopedia and propaganda. So that we may not fall prey to the same fate and
conformity that Brave New World did. Challenge those telling us to conform to social
norms. Raise our children to be thinkers, and doers; not just followers and conformers.
Its great to be part of a group, but following the right group can be difficult. If more
people keep thinking for themselves, we will have a diverse and unique country to live
in.

WALKER: Great job Jeff! This is a very good paper. Clearly written and argued, with
solid info on the book as well as analysis and reflection on the meaning and
connections to today. Definitely on track to do well with college writing!

SCORE: 10/10