In the eyes of the World State, everyone belongs to another. Having a father, mother, brother, or sister causes a person to blush and think it is profane. Religion is frowned upon; types of literature are not allowed. At a young age, Deltas are conditioned to hate books and flowers. Everything old is thrown away and forgotten to make room for the new, which is why people do not study their history. In the midst of this controlled "utopia", there is a community in New Mexico that allows marriages, diseases, aging, and gods. If the World Controllers wanted to stop all knowledge of history, the arts, and religion, why would they allow people to visit the Reservation? Although no danger would come to the civilized people when they witness the way of life in the savage reservation, why would the World Controllers allow them to be exposed to a mother breastfeeding, or a dying dog, or an aging old man? In Bernard's case, visiting the reservation only sparked his curiosity to gain more knowledge about the history there. In the end, he was sent to one of the islands due to the unorthodox beliefs. Why does the World State allow the Reservation to prosper if they don't consume or make new for room, but instead they mend and try to fix old things?
I feel that the reason they let people visit the reservation is so they can see how much of a challenge it is to live on their own, and without soma to make everything okay. It seems that they just want a couple people to understand and see the everyday struggles some people go through, and how much of a so called "unperfect" life some people must have. After visiting the reservation, those couple of people can go back to the world state, and appreciate what they have, and be happy that they live in their perfect world.
ReplyDeleteIt serves as an example to those who visit; Lenina's reactions to people growing old, the squalid environment, and the whipping could've easily been drawn out of any other visitors to the Reservation. When taking into consideration the subjects of history, art, or religion, the conditioning ingrained into all citizens of the World State prevents any of these subjects from taking hold in their mind; at best, they'll simply dismiss these ideas as "uncivilized", or think themselves above such concepts.
ReplyDeleteThe World State probably wanted to see if they can make it out on their own. In chapter 16, when Mustapha Mond was speaking to Bernard, the Savage ,and Helmholtz. The Savage asked why don't you make everyone be alphas and Mustapha Mond said " Because we have no wish to have our throats cut" ( Huxley 222). From what I understand the World State wants the people to see what it is like on the other side. Lenina's thoughts about the reservation was that she was disgusted and seeing the boy getting whipped, and the elderly sick people, didn't make it any better and all she wanted was soma, to make it all go away.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe they're technically allowing them to "prosper", more or less it seems like just a civilization that is out of their hands and can't really control. Just like in the chapters where John is introduced to Bernard and Lenina's style of living, its hard for him to comprehend why they do this or why they do that. How would the controllers be able to condition the children from the reservation to do as they are told when they have had a completely different form of upbringing compared to those already conditioned as toddlers? I agree with Ashley, they probably do allow the people to visit the reservation to see the challenges the people at the reservation have to go through, but i dont think it would affect them or uncondition them like they believe books, arts and religion would. It sort of makes them grateful that they don't have to go through life like them, and in a sense discourages anarchy within the World State....not that theres much to begin with :)
ReplyDeleteI think that the Reservation is an alternative that people were able to pick at one point in time. Eventually it got to the point where a person was born into one society that was picked based upon their ancestors’ decision. The main contributing factor in the World State’s choice to not destroy reservations which did not follow their doctrine was because there wasn’t a reason to eliminate them. As much as the World State is portrayed as a group of bad people, they are merely doing what they were made to do. The only reason that the World State separates the two societies is for the best interests of both; the World State is kept peaceful while the Reservation is kept knowledgeable. Even when Bernard and Helmholtz are banished outside to the islands, they are allowed to live comfortably, but most importantly separate, from the World State.
ReplyDeleteI believe the World Controllers allow visiting the Reservations to intimidate but also make sure the people they control are aware of their gifted lives. The World Controllers expect a reaction like Lenina's in which she is greatful for how she lives and fears the Reservation life. These reactions keep Lenina from rebelling the World Controllers and their way of forcinga certain way of living on Alphas, Deltas and etc. Bernard is unique because of his reaction to visiting the Reservation. Unlike most he is suppose to be greatful for his life as a Alpha-Plus but instead his visit triggers more questions and his need for knowledge. He knows there is more to learn and live than the life style given or forced upon him.
ReplyDeleteI wondered the same thing as I read Brave New World. After thinking about it though, I feel like the Reservation is used as a way to make the World State seem even more like a "utopia." Everyone in the World State is extremely pampered and used to technology, wealth, and hygiene; so, when they explore the Reservation and everything is the opposite, they become even more attracted to their luxurious city lifestyles. For example, Lenina was disgusted and almost immediately wanted to leave. Bernard thinks very different from most people in society, so the World Controllers probably do not think about the people like Bernard who are actually interested in the Reservation.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kelly, Rachel and Ashley in that the Reservation remains the same to serve as an example of what civilization would be like if the World State was not created. I believe the World Controllers allow citizens to visit the Reservation in order to maintain a sense of fear and disregard to the outside world. Most people, like Lenina, were conditioned to be absolutely appalled and disgusted by the subject of families and love, and blush at the slightest mention of the word mother, so visiting the reservation would only make them more grateful they are a citizen of the World State.
ReplyDeleteI think the reservation was used to show life which in our world is considered right. The way that people in the World State even got embarrassed by the mentioning of a mother or father shows how differently they thought of life considered to the people living on the reservation. I also viewed the reservation as similar to reservations that Native Americans live in today, because they belong in their own little society, with ideas different with ours. I think that this reservation shows also how they too also have outcasts in society, like John, who never was accepted into their society.
ReplyDeleteI think the World State allows people to visit the reservation to emphasize the contrast between the "old world" and "new world". In Brave New World when Lenina first witnesses the cruelty of the reservation, she is horrified. The first thing Lenina wants is soma; this shows the feeling of disgust when one from the "utopia" visits the reservation. The hatred visitors get after visiting the reservation would make them appreciate the World State, and abide to its rule. This would overall help create a stable society in the World State.
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