Brave New World:Brave New World: I’ve Wished On the I’ve Wished On the Lidded Blue FlamesLidded Blue Flames

FeracoFeraco

Myth to Science Fiction + SDAIEMyth to Science Fiction + SDAIE

23 March 201523 March 2015

As we continue through the third chapter, As we continue through the third chapter, we keep one eye trained on the Lenina / Fanny we keep one eye trained on the Lenina / Fanny and Bernard scenes – even though the bulk of the and Bernard scenes – even though the bulk of the chapter focuses on the conclusion of the DHC’s chapter focuses on the conclusion of the DHC’s “tour.”“tour.”

Once Lenina accepts Fanny’s advice Once Lenina accepts Fanny’s advice regarding promiscuity, she reveals that she’s had regarding promiscuity, she reveals that she’s had her eye on Bernard, who’s seething over a her eye on Bernard, who’s seething over a conversation between two men that treats conversation between two men that treats Lenina like so much meat.Lenina like so much meat.

This is a neat bit of misdirection by Huxley; This is a neat bit of misdirection by Huxley; people who read Chapter 3 and stopped at its people who read Chapter 3 and stopped at its conclusion might believe that Bernard really feels conclusion might believe that Bernard really feels something for Lenina, and that Lenina’s attracted something for Lenina, and that Lenina’s attracted to his eccentricity (as his way of proposing a to his eccentricity (as his way of proposing a date, he suggests visiting a Savage Reservation).date, he suggests visiting a Savage Reservation).

We’ll pretty quickly discover this isn’t the We’ll pretty quickly discover this isn’t the case, but the fact that Huxley pulls the trick off case, but the fact that Huxley pulls the trick off while letting the characters behave authentically while letting the characters behave authentically makes it more impressive.makes it more impressive.

As it turns out, Lenina doesn’t mind being As it turns out, Lenina doesn’t mind being thought of as “meat-like” – no woman does in the thought of as “meat-like” – no woman does in the World State, really. (Nor, we assume, would the World State, really. (Nor, we assume, would the men.)men.)

That odd adjective Henry uses to describe That odd adjective Henry uses to describe her – “pneumatic” – further dehumanizes her, but her – “pneumatic” – further dehumanizes her, but he means it as a sincere compliment; had she he means it as a sincere compliment; had she overheard him saying it, she would have overheard him saying it, she would have accepted it gratefully.accepted it gratefully.

As for Bernard, he’s quite a bit shallower As for Bernard, he’s quite a bit shallower than we’re led to assume; we’re thrown off the than we’re led to assume; we’re thrown off the scent because his reactions mirror our own, were scent because his reactions mirror our own, were we to hear someone we cared about in our world we to hear someone we cared about in our world described as such.described as such.

But this interplay isn’t just about But this interplay isn’t just about misdirection: by employing a little bit of trickery, misdirection: by employing a little bit of trickery, Huxley’s able to flesh out our understanding of Huxley’s able to flesh out our understanding of the World Staters’ attitudes and hierarchies the World Staters’ attitudes and hierarchies much more memorably than he would have been much more memorably than he would have been able to with a straightforward approach (which able to with a straightforward approach (which his narrator wouldn’t have been able to pull his narrator wouldn’t have been able to pull off…).off…).

Meanwhile, the DHC and his young Meanwhile, the DHC and his young charges stumble upon Mustapha Mond, charges stumble upon Mustapha Mond, one of the ten most powerful men in the one of the ten most powerful men in the world (a “World Controller”). world (a “World Controller”).

Mond’s speech remains the most Mond’s speech remains the most compelling material in the chapter, compelling material in the chapter, particularly as it moves from a particularly as it moves from a condemnation of our old social / sexual / condemnation of our old social / sexual / familial ethos into a description of familial ethos into a description of howhow the World State arose.the World State arose.

This gives a chance to evaluate the This gives a chance to evaluate the believability of Huxley’s world – its “origin believability of Huxley’s world – its “origin story,” so to speak – as well as compare it story,” so to speak – as well as compare it to Orwell’s tale of Oceania’s rise.to Orwell’s tale of Oceania’s rise.

Interestingly, we didn’t greet promises of Interestingly, we didn’t greet promises of utopia with open arms, particularly not when it utopia with open arms, particularly not when it came to scientific progress.came to scientific progress.

Mond posits that Christianity kept many Mond posits that Christianity kept many people from following “the first reformers,” and people from following “the first reformers,” and that others irrationally prized their “horrible” that others irrationally prized their “horrible” emotions.emotions.

Sleep teaching was actually prohibited in Sleep teaching was actually prohibited in England. There was something called liberalism. England. There was something called liberalism. Parliament, if you know what that was, passed a Parliament, if you know what that was, passed a law against it. The records survive. Speeches law against it. The records survive. Speeches about liberty of the subject. Liberty to be about liberty of the subject. Liberty to be inefficient and miserable. Freedom to be a round inefficient and miserable. Freedom to be a round peg in a square hole. peg in a square hole.

Or the Caste System. Constantly proposed, Or the Caste System. Constantly proposed, constantly rejected. There was something called constantly rejected. There was something called democracy. As though men were more than democracy. As though men were more than physico-chemically equal.physico-chemically equal.

So what changed?So what changed? Quite simply, the Nine Years’ Quite simply, the Nine Years’

War.War. Let’s look at the fractured Let’s look at the fractured

narrative of the War Mond provides, narrative of the War Mond provides, without the Bernard/Lenina material without the Bernard/Lenina material separating it. separating it.

I’ve gone through the end of the I’ve gone through the end of the third chapter, when everything third chapter, when everything fragments (splintering into three fragments (splintering into three separate stories) and reconstructed separate stories) and reconstructed the Controller’s words without the Controller’s words without interruption.interruption.

The Nine Years’ War began in A.F. 141. The Nine Years’ War began in A.F. 141. Phosgene, chloropicrin, ethyl iodoacetate, Phosgene, chloropicrin, ethyl iodoacetate, diphenylcyanarsine, trichlormethyl, diphenylcyanarsine, trichlormethyl, chloroformate, dichlorethyl sulphide. Not to chloroformate, dichlorethyl sulphide. Not to mention hydrocyanic acid. The noise of fourteen mention hydrocyanic acid. The noise of fourteen thousand aeroplanes advancing in open order. thousand aeroplanes advancing in open order. But in the Kurfurstendamm and the Eighth But in the Kurfurstendamm and the Eighth Arrondissement, the explosion of the anthrax Arrondissement, the explosion of the anthrax bombs is hardly louder than the popping of a bombs is hardly louder than the popping of a paper bag. Ch3C6H2(NO2)3+Hg(CNO)2 = well, paper bag. Ch3C6H2(NO2)3+Hg(CNO)2 = well, what? An enormous hole in the ground, a pile of what? An enormous hole in the ground, a pile of masonry, some bits of flesh and mucus, a foot, masonry, some bits of flesh and mucus, a foot, with the boot still on it, flying through the air with the boot still on it, flying through the air and landing, flop, in the middle of the geraniums and landing, flop, in the middle of the geraniums – the scarlet ones; such a splendid show that – the scarlet ones; such a splendid show that summer! The Russian technique for infecting summer! The Russian technique for infecting water supplies was particularly ingenious.water supplies was particularly ingenious.

The Nine Years’ War, the great Economic The Nine Years’ War, the great Economic Collapse. There was a choice between World Collapse. There was a choice between World Control and destruction. Between stability and…Control and destruction. Between stability and…

Liberalism, of course, was dead of anthrax, Liberalism, of course, was dead of anthrax, but all the same you couldn’t do things by force. but all the same you couldn’t do things by force. Government’s an affair of sitting, not hitting. You Government’s an affair of sitting, not hitting. You rule with the brains and the buttocks, never with rule with the brains and the buttocks, never with the fists. For example, there was the conscription the fists. For example, there was the conscription of consumption. Every man, woman and child of consumption. Every man, woman and child compelled to consume so much a year. In the compelled to consume so much a year. In the interests of industry. The sole result was interests of industry. The sole result was conscientious objection on an enormous scale. conscientious objection on an enormous scale. Anything not to consume. Back to nature. Back to Anything not to consume. Back to nature. Back to culture. Yes, actually to culture. You can’t culture. Yes, actually to culture. You can’t consume much if you sit still and read books.consume much if you sit still and read books.

Eight hundred Simple Lifers were mowed Eight hundred Simple Lifers were mowed down by machine guns at Golders Green. Then down by machine guns at Golders Green. Then came the famous British Museum Massacre. Two came the famous British Museum Massacre. Two thousand culture fans gassed with dichlorethyl thousand culture fans gassed with dichlorethyl sulphide. sulphide.

In the end, the Controllers realized that In the end, the Controllers realized that force was no good. The slower but infinitely surer force was no good. The slower but infinitely surer methods of ectogenesis, neo-Pavlovian methods of ectogenesis, neo-Pavlovian conditioning and hypnopædia…the discoveries of conditioning and hypnopædia…the discoveries of Pfitzner and Kawaguchi were at last made use of. Pfitzner and Kawaguchi were at last made use of. An intensive propaganda against viviparous An intensive propaganda against viviparous reproduction accompanied by a campaign against reproduction accompanied by a campaign against the Past; by the closing of museums, the blowing the Past; by the closing of museums, the blowing up of historical monuments (luckily most of them up of historical monuments (luckily most of them had already been destroyed during the Nine had already been destroyed during the Nine Years’ War); by the suppression of all books Years’ War); by the suppression of all books published before A.F. 15O. There were some published before A.F. 15O. There were some things called the pyramids, for example, and a things called the pyramids, for example, and a man called Shakespeare. You’ve never heard of man called Shakespeare. You’ve never heard of them, of course. Such are the advantages of a them, of course. Such are the advantages of a really scientific education.really scientific education.

The introduction of Our Ford’s first T-The introduction of Our Ford’s first T-Model was chosen as the opening date of the Model was chosen as the opening date of the new era. There was a thing, as I’ve said before, new era. There was a thing, as I’ve said before, called Christianity. The ethics and philosophy of called Christianity. The ethics and philosophy of under-consumption…so essential when there under-consumption…so essential when there was under-production; but in an age of was under-production; but in an age of machines and the fixation of nitrogen – machines and the fixation of nitrogen – positively a crime against society. All crosses positively a crime against society. All crosses had their tops cut and became Ts. There was had their tops cut and became Ts. There was also a thing called God. We have the World also a thing called God. We have the World State now. And Ford's Day celebrations, and State now. And Ford's Day celebrations, and Community Sings, and Solidarity Services.Community Sings, and Solidarity Services.

There was a thing called Heaven; but all There was a thing called Heaven; but all the same they used to drink enormous the same they used to drink enormous quantities of alcohol. There was a thing called quantities of alcohol. There was a thing called the soul and a thing called immortality. But the soul and a thing called immortality. But they used to take morphia and cocaine.they used to take morphia and cocaine.

Two thousand pharmacologists and bio-Two thousand pharmacologists and bio-chemists were subsidized in A.F. 178. Six years chemists were subsidized in A.F. 178. Six years later it was being produced commercially. The later it was being produced commercially. The perfect drug. Euphoric, narcotic, pleasantly perfect drug. Euphoric, narcotic, pleasantly hallucinant. All the advantages of Christianity hallucinant. All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects. Take a and alcohol; none of their defects. Take a holiday from reality whenever you like, and holiday from reality whenever you like, and come back without so much as a headache or a come back without so much as a headache or a mythology.mythology.

Stability was practically assured. It only Stability was practically assured. It only remained to conquer old age. Gonadal remained to conquer old age. Gonadal hormones, transfusion of young blood, hormones, transfusion of young blood, magnesium salts…all the physiological magnesium salts…all the physiological stigmata of old age have been abolished. And stigmata of old age have been abolished. And along with them, of course, all the old man’s along with them, of course, all the old man’s mental peculiarities. Characters remain mental peculiarities. Characters remain constant throughout a whole lifetime.constant throughout a whole lifetime.

Work, play – at sixty our powers and tastes Work, play – at sixty our powers and tastes are what they were at seventeen. Old men in the are what they were at seventeen. Old men in the bad old days used to renounce, retire, take to bad old days used to renounce, retire, take to religion, spend their time reading, thinking – religion, spend their time reading, thinking – thinking!thinking!

Now – such is progress – the old men work, Now – such is progress – the old men work, the old men copulate, the old men have no time, the old men copulate, the old men have no time, no leisure from pleasure, not a moment to sit no leisure from pleasure, not a moment to sit down and think – or if ever by some unlucky down and think – or if ever by some unlucky chance such a crevice of time should yawn in the chance such a crevice of time should yawn in the solid substance of their distractions, there is solid substance of their distractions, there is always always soma,soma, delicious delicious soma,soma, half a gramme for a half a gramme for a half-holiday, a gramme for a week-end, two half-holiday, a gramme for a week-end, two grammes for a trip to the gorgeous East, three grammes for a trip to the gorgeous East, three for a dark eternity on the moon; returning for a dark eternity on the moon; returning whence they find themselves on the other side of whence they find themselves on the other side of the crevice, safe on the solid ground of daily the crevice, safe on the solid ground of daily labour and distraction, scampering from feely to labour and distraction, scampering from feely to feely, from girl to pneumatic girl, from feely, from girl to pneumatic girl, from Electromagnetic Golf course to…Electromagnetic Golf course to…

While it’s interesting, and at least a While it’s interesting, and at least a little disturbing, that both Huxley and little disturbing, that both Huxley and Orwell believed a cataclysmic worldwide Orwell believed a cataclysmic worldwide conflict would be the impetus for our conflict would be the impetus for our descent into dystopia during the descent into dystopia during the twentieth century, it’s also twentieth century, it’s also understandable; that sort of tension isn’t understandable; that sort of tension isn’t as prevalent today, but it certainly was as prevalent today, but it certainly was immediately prior to and following World immediately prior to and following World War II in mainland Europe.War II in mainland Europe.

That said, both men predicted that That said, both men predicted that society would respond to the horrors of society would respond to the horrors of death and destruction on a mass scale by death and destruction on a mass scale by running screaming into the arms of running screaming into the arms of science and technology…only to diverge science and technology…only to diverge completely from one another. completely from one another.

Orwell believed such a move would Orwell believed such a move would allow society to degenerate until it was allow society to degenerate until it was controlled by its darkest elements – fear, controlled by its darkest elements – fear, hatred, jingoism, and ignorant, bigoted hatred, jingoism, and ignorant, bigoted stupidity.stupidity.

Huxley believed we’d flee into the Huxley believed we’d flee into the arms of a different kind of stupidity – the arms of a different kind of stupidity – the ignorance bred from permanent ignorance bred from permanent happiness, retreating into pleasures happiness, retreating into pleasures much like a child searching for comfort much like a child searching for comfort in its mother or blanket upon being in its mother or blanket upon being frightened.frightened.

Which is a more likely response to a Which is a more likely response to a threat, both on an individual and threat, both on an individual and societal basis?societal basis?

Thus Chapter 3 ends with the table set – the Thus Chapter 3 ends with the table set – the world established, the background covered, the world established, the background covered, the characters introduced and propelled on their characters introduced and propelled on their merry way.merry way.

We’ve had plenty of time to recoil from the We’ve had plenty of time to recoil from the things the narrator presents so dryly – from the things the narrator presents so dryly – from the second-grade-aged children running around second-grade-aged children running around naked and playing sexual games with each other naked and playing sexual games with each other to the forceful abolition of family, religion, to the forceful abolition of family, religion, emotion, thought, and politics.emotion, thought, and politics.

Never has happiness looked so…ugly.Never has happiness looked so…ugly. We may have dreamt of a world where We may have dreamt of a world where

everyone could be free of unnecessary misery, everyone could be free of unnecessary misery, but was but was thisthis what we had in mind? what we had in mind?

And is there any way for our pursuit of that And is there any way for our pursuit of that ancient human urge – to see one’s fellow men ancient human urge – to see one’s fellow men and women live happy, un-oppressed lives – to and women live happy, un-oppressed lives – to avoid ending in this sort of world?avoid ending in this sort of world?

We’ve now talked about the past vs. the present We’ve now talked about the past vs. the present (what we left behind, what we gained, and our attitudes (what we left behind, what we gained, and our attitudes towards both), the willful rejection of knowledge (history is towards both), the willful rejection of knowledge (history is bunk! + bunk! + soma soma somasoma soma soma), the pros/cons of social ), the pros/cons of social conditioning (Myron Rolle: Gunner Extraordinaire), and the conditioning (Myron Rolle: Gunner Extraordinaire), and the costs of progress (only happy on our heads!)costs of progress (only happy on our heads!)

What about the rest of the original “bullet list” from What about the rest of the original “bullet list” from Happiness is All the RageHappiness is All the Rage??

Let’s take Class Distinctions and Self-Segregation: Let’s take Class Distinctions and Self-Segregation: the message here is that it’s usually safer, easier, etc., to the message here is that it’s usually safer, easier, etc., to self-segregate, even in our own individualistic society.self-segregate, even in our own individualistic society.

In something like the World State, whose motto In something like the World State, whose motto basically amounts to “fit the mold!”, self-segregation is basically amounts to “fit the mold!”, self-segregation is central to stability – so much so that the class distinctions central to stability – so much so that the class distinctions between citizens are unconsciously acknowledged and between citizens are unconsciously acknowledged and followed thanks to hypnopædia.followed thanks to hypnopædia.

Everyone possesses the “proper prejudices,” in a Everyone possesses the “proper prejudices,” in a way.way.

Bernard Marx doesn’t quite fit the mold of an Alpha-Bernard Marx doesn’t quite fit the mold of an Alpha-plus, and while Lenina may not care, the way others treat plus, and while Lenina may not care, the way others treat Bernard – and the way he invites their mistreatment – Bernard – and the way he invites their mistreatment – speaks volumes.speaks volumes.

We see the flip side of this when we meet John in the We see the flip side of this when we meet John in the Savage Reservation, for he doesn’t seem to belong to his Savage Reservation, for he doesn’t seem to belong to his world either.world either.

When we’re overhearing conversations When we’re overhearing conversations between Bernard and his co-workers in Chapter between Bernard and his co-workers in Chapter 3, or between Lenina and Fanny, we see that 3, or between Lenina and Fanny, we see that there isn’t a lot of cross-pollination between the there isn’t a lot of cross-pollination between the classes, which isn’t that surprising.classes, which isn’t that surprising.

We’re also reminded that class distinctions We’re also reminded that class distinctions are reinforced by everything – clothes, language, are reinforced by everything – clothes, language, physical appearance, profession, and so on; if physical appearance, profession, and so on; if you move across those barriers, you’ll stick out you move across those barriers, you’ll stick out (causing instability!).(causing instability!).

Finally, it’s not respectable to spend much Finally, it’s not respectable to spend much time alone; it’s not a crime here, but it’s another time alone; it’s not a crime here, but it’s another sign that you’re trying to break away from the sign that you’re trying to break away from the social body.social body.

Our society may be individualistic, but Our society may be individualistic, but there’s no virtue to individuality here; it’s a there’s no virtue to individuality here; it’s a destabilizing force in an environment that prizes destabilizing force in an environment that prizes consistency.consistency.

This isn’t just a problem for Bernard or This isn’t just a problem for Bernard or John; even Helmholtz struggles with this (without John; even Helmholtz struggles with this (without knowing he’s doing so).knowing he’s doing so).

Writing Styles and Techniques: We discover Writing Styles and Techniques: We discover that Helmholtz “had realized quite suddenly that that Helmholtz “had realized quite suddenly that sport, women, communal activities were only, so sport, women, communal activities were only, so far as he was concerned, second bests. Really, far as he was concerned, second bests. Really, and at the bottom, he was interested in and at the bottom, he was interested in something else. But in what? In what?”something else. But in what? In what?”

Helmholtz takes that hunger and ends up Helmholtz takes that hunger and ends up repurposing it as a desire to write something repurposing it as a desire to write something that means something.that means something.

After all, he’s quite good at producing After all, he’s quite good at producing aggressively polished tripe – feelies that people aggressively polished tripe – feelies that people enjoy, work that satisfies everyone but himself.enjoy, work that satisfies everyone but himself.

They’re satisfied with trash, words and They’re satisfied with trash, words and ideas that don’t fully interest him, and he’s ideas that don’t fully interest him, and he’s struggling to come up with something that’s struggling to come up with something that’s personally – individually – fulfilling.personally – individually – fulfilling.

This leads to one of my favorite passages in This leads to one of my favorite passages in the book…the book…

““Did you ever feel,” he asked, Did you ever feel,” he asked, “as though you had something inside “as though you had something inside you that was only waiting for you to you that was only waiting for you to give it a chance to come out? Some give it a chance to come out? Some sort of extra power that you aren't sort of extra power that you aren't using – you know, like all the water using – you know, like all the water that goes down the falls instead of that goes down the falls instead of through the turbines?” He looked at through the turbines?” He looked at Bernard questioningly.Bernard questioningly.

““You mean all the emotions one You mean all the emotions one might be feeling if things were might be feeling if things were different?”different?”

Helmholtz shook his head. “Not quite. I’m Helmholtz shook his head. “Not quite. I’m thinking of a queer feeling I sometimes get, a thinking of a queer feeling I sometimes get, a feeling that I’ve got something important to feeling that I’ve got something important to say and the power to say it – only I don’t know say and the power to say it – only I don’t know what it is, and I can't make any use of the what it is, and I can't make any use of the power. If there was some different way of power. If there was some different way of writing…or else something else to write writing…or else something else to write about…” He was silent; then, “You see,” he about…” He was silent; then, “You see,” he went on at last, “I’m pretty good at inventing went on at last, “I’m pretty good at inventing phrases – you know, the sort of words that phrases – you know, the sort of words that suddenly make you jump, almost as though suddenly make you jump, almost as though you’d sat on a pin, they seem so new and you’d sat on a pin, they seem so new and exciting even though they’re about something exciting even though they’re about something hypnopædically obvious. But that doesn’t seem hypnopædically obvious. But that doesn’t seem enough. It’s not enough for the phrases to be enough. It’s not enough for the phrases to be good; what you make with them ought to be good; what you make with them ought to be good too.”good too.”

““But your things are good, Helmholtz.”But your things are good, Helmholtz.”

““Oh, as far as they go.” Helmholtz shrugged Oh, as far as they go.” Helmholtz shrugged his shoulders. “But they go such a little way. his shoulders. “But they go such a little way. They aren’t important enough, somehow. I feel I They aren’t important enough, somehow. I feel I could do something much more important. Yes, could do something much more important. Yes, and more intense, more violent. But what? What and more intense, more violent. But what? What is there more important to say? And how can one is there more important to say? And how can one be violent about the sort of things one’s be violent about the sort of things one’s expected to write about? Words can be like X-expected to write about? Words can be like X-rays, if you use them properly – they’ll go rays, if you use them properly – they’ll go through anything. You read and you’re pierced. through anything. You read and you’re pierced. That’s one of the things I try to teach my That’s one of the things I try to teach my students – how to write piercingly. But what on students – how to write piercingly. But what on earth’s the good of being pierced by an article earth’s the good of being pierced by an article about a Community Sing, or the latest about a Community Sing, or the latest improvement in scent organs? Besides, can you improvement in scent organs? Besides, can you make words really piercing – you know, like the make words really piercing – you know, like the very hardest X-rays – when you’re writing about very hardest X-rays – when you’re writing about that sort of thing? Can you say something about that sort of thing? Can you say something about nothing? That’s what it finally boils down to. I try nothing? That’s what it finally boils down to. I try and I try…”and I try…”

I love the way Huxley concludes Helmholtz’s I love the way Huxley concludes Helmholtz’s arc near the end of the book; as far as “minor” arc near the end of the book; as far as “minor” characters go, I think he’s perfectly realized, and characters go, I think he’s perfectly realized, and I wouldn’t have changed a thing about his I wouldn’t have changed a thing about his portrayal.portrayal.

I also like how Huxley uses him to repurpose I also like how Huxley uses him to repurpose the mysteries of the heart in the language of a the mysteries of the heart in the language of a struggling writer.struggling writer.

When he says, “You read and you’re When he says, “You read and you’re pierced,” he might as well be talking about love – pierced,” he might as well be talking about love – a language as dead as hieroglyphics here, and as a language as dead as hieroglyphics here, and as easy for World Staters to understand.easy for World Staters to understand.

Yet while the World State may no longer Yet while the World State may no longer have any use for museums or galleries, Huxley have any use for museums or galleries, Huxley uses Helmholtz to argue that as long as humans uses Helmholtz to argue that as long as humans retain a piece of…well, humanity, we’ll always retain a piece of…well, humanity, we’ll always need art and expression; we’ll always need need art and expression; we’ll always need outlets.outlets.

The desire for instant gratification in The desire for instant gratification in the World State links with another one of the World State links with another one of our bullets – happiness, substance abuse, our bullets – happiness, substance abuse, and reality.and reality.

One of the reasons One of the reasons somasoma use can be use can be so prevalent – and can be accepted so so prevalent – and can be accepted so easily – is that the World State actively easily – is that the World State actively discourages the formation of discourages the formation of individualindividual identities (the IDENTITY in the central identities (the IDENTITY in the central motto referring to the one determined for motto referring to the one determined for you prior to decanting, the role you’ve you prior to decanting, the role you’ve been assigned that you inevitably perform been assigned that you inevitably perform perfectly).perfectly).

It seems that you don’t lose anything It seems that you don’t lose anything by disengaging from reality when you by disengaging from reality when you never really engaged with it to begin with.never really engaged with it to begin with.

As far as the death of innocence and As far as the death of innocence and permanent childhood are concerned, it’s permanent childhood are concerned, it’s particularly interesting to me that one led particularly interesting to me that one led (paradoxically) to the other – that the Nine (paradoxically) to the other – that the Nine Years’ War led to the formation of this Years’ War led to the formation of this mechanical Neverland.mechanical Neverland.

Innocence requires morality in order Innocence requires morality in order to exist as a state of being, and since to exist as a state of being, and since we’ve chucked one out the window, we’ve we’ve chucked one out the window, we’ve chucked the other along with it.chucked the other along with it.

Thus our adults exist in a state of Thus our adults exist in a state of perma-childhood, never having to face perma-childhood, never having to face insurmountable obstacles and never insurmountable obstacles and never having to form their own moral codes.having to form their own moral codes.

Life for them exists in a state much Life for them exists in a state much like you seem to describe when recalling like you seem to describe when recalling the happiness you felt at the age of five.the happiness you felt at the age of five.

It makes sense; after all, Mond points It makes sense; after all, Mond points out that people don’t develop or out that people don’t develop or experience personality shifts anymore.experience personality shifts anymore.

Meanwhile, the DHC pointed out in Meanwhile, the DHC pointed out in Chapter One that one of the Hatchery’s Chapter One that one of the Hatchery’s main goals was to figure out how to make main goals was to figure out how to make humans more like horses, in the sense humans more like horses, in the sense that the onset of adulthood happens that the onset of adulthood happens extremely early in horses.extremely early in horses.

By applying this ideal to humans, the By applying this ideal to humans, the World State’s technicians are essentially World State’s technicians are essentially pushing adulthood into childhood at the pushing adulthood into childhood at the same time that they’re pushing the same time that they’re pushing the consequence-free pleasures of early youth consequence-free pleasures of early youth into adulthood.into adulthood.

When someone When someone doesdoes face a consequence face a consequence – say, when Linda gives birth to John, or when – say, when Linda gives birth to John, or when Lenina and Bernard end up on an extended Lenina and Bernard end up on an extended stay at the Savage Reservation – he/she stay at the Savage Reservation – he/she invariably deals with it poorly.invariably deals with it poorly.

In a world where no one has to face In a world where no one has to face anything that can’t be beaten, coping skills anything that can’t be beaten, coping skills are vestigial and unwanted.are vestigial and unwanted.

In a later segment of the book, John In a later segment of the book, John points out that the World State has points out that the World State has eliminated tragedy because it’s eliminated eliminated tragedy because it’s eliminated the consequences that usually follow the consequences that usually follow peoples’ actions – that the society in question peoples’ actions – that the society in question has decided it doesn’t wish to play by life’s has decided it doesn’t wish to play by life’s rules anymore.rules anymore.

By doing so, John continues, the World By doing so, John continues, the World State has removed the meaning of life entirely; State has removed the meaning of life entirely; how can you search for meaning when you’re how can you search for meaning when you’re always changing the guidelines?always changing the guidelines?

As much fun as Calvinball can be to play…As much fun as Calvinball can be to play…don’t you have to stop at some point?don’t you have to stop at some point?

Don’t you have to live at least a Don’t you have to live at least a littlelittle dangerously, leave a dangerously, leave a few few things to chance?things to chance?

This is why John finds value in suffering – This is why John finds value in suffering – and why John believes the tears are and why John believes the tears are necessary…necessary…

……For it’s not a gamble if you can’t fail, For it’s not a gamble if you can’t fail, and it’s harder to appreciate something that and it’s harder to appreciate something that can’t be lost than something you had to fight to can’t be lost than something you had to fight to earn, whether it’s your most hoped-for earn, whether it’s your most hoped-for accomplishment…or another’s heart.accomplishment…or another’s heart.