Brave New World and the American Society Essay

There are many similarities between Aldous Huxley's A Brave New World and society in America today. Babies can be produced in laboratories, as well as being conceived naturally. This technology had led to both good and bad effects on each society. Also, a similarity in both societies is the portrayal of the true spirit of each individual.

In todays world, through the means of technology, scientists have discovered new ways to make conception possible for women who are deemed infertile. Scientists are able to remove an egg from a womans ovary, fertilize the egg with the mans sperm, and place the fertilized egg into the womans uterus, thus being known as a test-tube baby. On July 25, 1978, the world's first successful "test-tube" baby, Louise Joy Brown, was born. This was a successful birth, and it has led to the now-common procedure called in vitro fertilization (IVF) which gives hope to many people who cannot conceive on their own. More than 250,000 babies have been born since then as a result of using the in vitro fertilization technique. IVF offers infertile couples a chance to have a child who is biologically related to them, contrary to the beliefs of A Brave New World.

In A Brave New World, a similar process is performed. Babies are produced by means of the Bokanovsky Process which involves shocking an egg and splitting it so it forms up to ninety-six identical embryos, which transform into ninety-six human beings. This cloning process predestines the caste of each of the babies, thus discharging the freedoms of each individual. This cookie cutter society is similar, but not equal to the in vitro fertilization process, which occurs in todays society. However, there is no such thing as a family, and babies are only produced to meet the economys standards. Children play erotic games in order to view sex as routine. Also, casual sex is promoted in order to denounce attachments. The Controllers want people in conformity and they do not want anyone to be able to think for themselves.

Each individual possesses a unique spirit. In todays society, everyone has their inalienable right to express themselves and be who they are. These rights, which allow us life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, can never be taken away from us. However, people do not utilize these natural rights and often try to suppress their spirit in order to fit in with societies standards. This hedonistic culture conditions people to believe that showing your true emotions or opinions is not cool. People want to associate only with their cliques, such as the Alphas or Jocks. Often times, people become depressed and rely on anti-depressants to keep them sane, when all they have to do is be true to themselves and express themselves in a healthy way.

A Brave New World strips each person of their uniqueness by conditioning babies to hate books and nature, and to be categorized into groups by means of violence and hypnopaedia. This society can represent what our future can be like if people keep suppressing their true selves. Cloning and conditioning are tools that are used in conforming todays society. If people believe in themselves and express their true spirit and their true selves, the world will continue to be the remarkable dwelling that holds an infinite number of spirits that are constantly growing with each day.