Brave New World Post #2

1. What were to happen if Soma disappeared?
I think that chaos would happen. It seems like the entire society is revolves around Soma because without it everyone would be angry and upset, like Bernard feels when he is not on the drug. This new anger could cause uprisings and revolts or change the way of life in this society. This probably would mean that war would eventually breakout, resulting in death and destruction. Soma would have ghastly effects on the society if it were to disappear. 

2. Why are people fascinated by John, when they call the rest of the people like him savages?
I think that people are interested in him because he was accepted by and related to higher class people. I believe there is also the chance that people are curious because he actually has a mother and father, where as others were created in a factory. John has no twin, which is very different from norm, making him stand out even more.

3. Why wasn't Bernard punished for exposing the Director?
It seems like a mystery to me why Bernard was left unpunished. The Ford State seems very organized and wants specific things, so when something went out of order, it was puzzling why they didn't react harshly. I honestly don't know why Bernard wasn't punished, maybe his punishment is on the way? I have no clue at all.

Brave New World Post #1

In Brave New World, equality is created by producing almost identical people. Up to 96 offspring can be produced from one embryo. After the offspring are physically identical, they are then conditioned during gestation to become a member of a certain caste or social class. They mentally and physically modify the children to be perfects fits in their own castes. They also use a method called Hypnopedia to subconsciously "train" or condition the children to teach them their morals and values which then also leads to equality. To reduce conflict the government provides a drug called Soma, which creates a feeling of happiness and helps suppress the thoughts of trouble that could affect the mental equality of the caste. The usage of Soma is one of the ways they have creates happiness, but the usage of erotic behavior, especially in kids, is also a factor. They also supply expensive toys and games in order to boost the economy and keep the citizens satisfied. This society is very much like a utopia. Although it might not seem like it to us, but to the people of the book, this is their way of life and are very content with it. In fact, in chapter 6 Lenina states that, "..Everbody is happy nowadays." If everyone is happy, isn't it a utopia?

Journal Entry #3 1984 Post

I think that Big Brother really did win in the end. I think this because Winston succumbs to O'Brien which I think is symbolic to that Winston is succumbing to the power of Big Brother and the party. Also in the end of the story, Winston "without a pause...wrote two plus two equals five" (287). This defiantly shows that Big Brother won because the entire story line was about Winston trying to not believe everything the government told him. The One State is very powerful, so it would would be difficult to bring it down. The rebellion would have to start off then escalate into something much bigger, for the party would be able to stop anything small. I think that in the end Winston is completely brainwashed and will remain like that forever. He accepts everything the party says and does, he doesn't even acknowledge Julia anymore. I believe that Big Brother defiantly won.