Shakespeare and Literature
1. How does Shakespeare directly contrast Ford? What do each of these men represent?
2. Go back to the text and find as many Shakespearean lines as you can. Some are imbedded in the text, especially when John the Savage thinks or speaks. Why Shakespeare?
3. Why are art and literature contrasted directly against science in Brave New World?
4. How did Shakespeare give John the Savage power?
5. The title of this novel comes from Shakespeare’s character Miranda, who exclaims, “O brave new world, that has such people in it” upon coming into contact with society after spending her whole life isolated on an island with only her father and his servants (brave meaning splendid in Shakespeare’s day). John the Savage quotes Miranda with excitement and anticipation, but later on his tone changes. How does it change? What does Brave New World come to mean for John?
In response to question 3, science and art are in fact opposites of each other; however, the degree to which the opposition is taken is extreme in Brave New World. During Mustapha Mond’s conversation with Bernard, Helmholtz and John, he says “We don’t want people to be attracted by old things. We want them to like the new ones” (219). Science goes hand in hand with technology which is constantly progressing to give people updated ways to improve the qualities of their lives. Art and literature are not progressive in this sense. We are taught to appreciate Shakespeare and to apply teachings of ancient books like the bible to our own lives. Because this is all the World State goes against, art and literature – creativity and curiosity – are banned, while efficient science represents the ideals of their society.
ReplyDeleteEllie, I completely agree with your response to question 3: art/literature contrast sharply with science in the BNW society. To supplement your response, I would like to address question 1: How does Shakespeare directly contrast Ford? What do each of these men represent? The main difference between Shakespeare and Ford is what they represent. Shakespeare was very emotionally involved which is shown primarily through his highly expressive plays. People always associate Shakespeare with brilliance in the arts. I think the arts are always very abstract and can generate numerous opinions and emotions. Ford, however, was solely focused on mass and efficient production. People always associate Ford with the assembly line. The assembly line is practical, organized, speedy, fiscal, etc. Shakespeare represents emotion and Ford represents efficiency. Emotion and efficiency do not go hand in hand. Usually, one is put to use at the expense of the other. Obviously, there are also many other ways these two significant figures contrast. What is another way these men contrast
ReplyDeleteAnna, I think you are completely right about Shakespeare and Ford. To go a bit more in depth on that, I want to look at question 2. I think that Huxley chose Shakespeare, because he represents everything that is bad in the civilized world. He expresses emotion, encourages love, and questions his world. Shakespeare helps John find a way to express himself, which is seen as something horrible in BNW. As John is the perfect example of everything people are not supposed to be in the civilized world, Shakespeare is the anti-Ford, who encourages emotion and suspicion.
ReplyDeleteJen, I agree with your statement that Shakespeare helps John find a way to express himself. I think what Huxley is trying to demonstrate is the power of language. On page 132, Huxley says of John’s knowledge of language “now he had these words, these words like drums and singing and magic.” We know Shakespeare’s work as art, but to John language is much more than expression. By being associated with drums and singing and magic, Huxley shows the power the words have as almost supernatural. This can also serve as another reason of why BNW is not allowed to have literature. That provides to great a chance for labeling of any emotions citizens could possible be experiencing but might not be able to recognize.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading BNW, I never directly compared Ford and Shakespeare as people, I just compared Shakespeare's ideas to the ideas of the BNW society. But now, I wonder what it would be like if these two men were sitting in a room together, discussing what they do for a living. Shakespeare's plays are based solely on humans individual thoughts, feelings and relationships. His plays are practically a definition of “fine arts”. Ford's life's work was focused on mass-production and keeping everything as controlled and stable as possible. Even Ford's workers were constantly watched to make sure they fit the personality that Ford had in mind for his employees. Anyone with a bad reputation or not fitting his mold was fired. Their whole belief systems and line of work are so far from each other, I wonder in they could agree on anything.
ReplyDeleteJen's post reminded me of the handout we read on the "Tempest". The idea that Huxley uses John as "the perfect example of everything people are not supposed to be in the civilized world" correlates with the fear the English had that the Indians "represented what English men and women in America thought they were not- and, more important, what they must not become" (40). By having this example of "what not to be" the society felt more secure in defining who they were. In a sense, it also creates a collective identity which draws a line between who is one of "us" and who is one of "them". This grouping is frightening because it "delineates the moral requirements" and allows for people to feel justified in their discrimination.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Ellie and Anna B., I agree with what both of them say about Shakespeare representing art, culture, religion, curiosity, and Ford representing science but I wanted to add another layer by saying that I think the author is also commenting on the fact that advancements in science do not necessarily mean that there is no place for human emotion and individuality. I think that he is saying that he is worried that people will abandon all of the things that make us human by believing that happiness or the "answers to life" can be discovered through science. Even John was tempted to find happiness in the BNW, and when he kills himself, he realizes that even Shakespeare didn't have the answers for him. When his feet move around in circles back and forth, like a loose needle on a compass, I think Huxley is saying that society is lost. With advancements in science and psychological theories from Freud, and questions about which religion is "right," we have a society that is searching for an answer that does not exist.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare vs. BNW's Ford
ReplyDeleteIn BNW shakespeare contrasts heavily with the new age themes and idea's of Ford.
Shakespeare is... old english. and ford's ideals is everything must be new. easy connection, but its how Huxley uses Shakespeare to battle the unending hungry of consumption in BNW.
Beauty and truth vs Happiness and stability. Shakespeare preaches passion and to use your emotions, while ford has taken the liberty to remove "dangerous" emotions from peoples lives.
Adding to melissa Ford doesn't just represent science, he represents efficiency. Ford is there to make sure no one is ever unhappy. No one ever gets hurt, but a Biproduct of this protection is no one is ever experiences anything significant. No one ever has to go through the real work and the struggle to achieve something magnificent simply because struggle has been removed from society. Shakespeare embodies the struggle to be something in life. The characters bounce from being on top of the world to the bottom. Giving the characters more depth and reveling who they really are.