Huxley focuses on characters of Alpha or Beta status. Why do we get so little insight into the lives of lower castes? If Epsilons really are happy with their lives, what's wrong (morally) with making them that way?

7/11/2013

Luke Higgins

11/17/2013 10:20:35 pm

The upper castes have been bred with a greater level of intelligence than the lower castes. This allows Huxley more flexibility in his writing. He also wanted to focus on the members of society that were implementing the policies of the world government. Since the epsilons are programmed to be happy where they are, their desire to protest inequality is vanquished. They not only don't have freedoms, they are inhumanely brainwashed to have no desire for freedom.

Rachel Bonek

11/26/2013 06:31:22 am

It would be extremely boring if the whole novel was written in an Epsilon's point of view, wouldn't it? I think it's interesting that the World State managed to get away with the way they condition Epsilons. The leaders really have all the power, don't they? It is good that we get to see their point of view.

Luke Higgins

11/29/2013 11:46:28 pm

At one point in the novel, it is said that one of the lower castes can only speak in one-syllable words. I think that this would make for dry, monotonous reading. I don't think that we would have had the perspective on the new world if it was only uttered in a single syllable from the view of a nobody.

Devin Trost

12/6/2013 10:52:32 pm

It is truly sad that they have done that to these people. They as you said "have no desire for freedom". It leaves the Alphas and Betas to rule the World State. It is wrong that people do not have the freedoms that they so rightfully deserve. It is also so far gone that there is almost no hope for any change in the furture.

Roxie Elliott

12/20/2013 04:55:46 am

Those are really good points you made Luke. I guess you could say the government is genius for coming up with that, since they'll never have to worry about the lower castes rebelling. But even though the Epsilons are programmed so that they never actually know they're discrimination, I still just feel like it's really sad

Rachel Bonek

11/26/2013 06:23:02 am

Huxley focuses on the higher castes to prove a point- if the citizens with the most "freedom" and best conditions in the society are not really happy, than is the society successful? All of the main characters are a part of the higher castes, and they all feel unfulfilled. If we saw Epsilons that somehow overcame conditioning and were unhappy, no one would find it surprising. The World State claims that they have the perfectly happy society, but they really don’t because some of the highest citizens are not content. It is wrong to condition people to be Epsilons because they do not have a chance in life. They are stunted physically and mentally, and they will never be able to know anything other than their work. This whole process goes against our belief that all people are created equal.

Luke Higgins

11/29/2013 11:52:34 pm

In the novel, innovation is sharply opposed by the government. Huxley means to show a world without individuality and freedom of thought. I find it so ridiculous that he criticizes Henry Ford for the invention of mass production. Mass production only leads to greater innovation. And the lack of freedom opens the plot for the upper castes' characters to be discontent.

Rachel Bonek

12/3/2013 09:00:51 pm

This new world doesn't allow much freedom to any of its citizens, even if they are perfectly capable of handling it, like the Alpha's and Beta's. I agree that this allows for more compelling events to occur in the novel.

Devin Trost

12/6/2013 10:41:11 pm

We get little insight to the lower castes because they really aren't that important. That are the "workers". There duty is to do the jobs that no one whats to do, but anyone can do. So they just aren't seen as imortant as the Alphas and the Betas. The Alphas and the Betas have much more responsible duties to take care of in there lives. This is why they are more focused on. It's immoral that it is like this because people should be able to choose the lives they want. It shouldn't be chosen for them.

Cassandra Carpenter

12/19/2013 11:36:18 am

I agree that it is immoral, but I also think that was a part of Huxley's point. He wanted to show how wrong it is for one person to dictate the life of another.

Drew Kilgore

12/15/2013 09:24:43 pm

At the beginning of the book the caste system was explained. The Alphas and betas lead a much more interesting life than the Deltas or Epsilons, making a more interesting story to be told. The low castes were the worker, meaning they were the ones who had the meaningless jobs that no-one else even today wants. But that idea doesn't mean they're not happy. As explained in the book the lower castes were conditioned to love there job! Isn't that what we still look for today, to go into a job that we love doing? From a moral stand point it's completely wrong to not let them choose, but someone has to do the grunt work.

Devin Trost

12/16/2013 07:32:57 am

You make a great point Drew. I actually agree with you. It sounds immoral to make the lower castes to the "grunt work". Just like you said though; "the lower castes were conditioned to love there jobs". So in a way it is immoral and in a way it is immoral. It gives the reader something to think about.

Drew

12/19/2013 12:18:01 pm

Thank you Devin. I agree with your statement saying that "it gives the reader something to think about." I believe it is to prey on the readers morals and imgination causing one to question was he/she believes in and boraden his/her way of thinking.

Evelyn LM

12/16/2013 12:32:41 pm

Huxley didn't mention them much, because there's not much to say. With all due respect, he he portrays them as airheads. They dont have lot of knowledge, so itll be like talking to a broken record. All they'll ever say is the stuff they were told to repeat. The brainwashing sentences were said throughout the novel. He wrote more about the Alphas and Betas, because they have a mind. Some were able to pick out more flaws than others. These people had the ability to speak for themselves and truly see that the system they have is terrible. This goes the book more depth. We see things through their eyes, because they have the opportunity to see life outside their own. Deltas would never be allowed to do that, because they couldn't handle it nor understand it. It's morally wrong to make Epsilons that way. No one has a say in the outcome of their life. They fant even deal with the choices they made in life, because there's nothing that the upper caste would want them to have. They are "stupid" just because the people of power are afraid of them learning. How can anyone be happy if they were taken away from having feelings. If they learned something, then they could have potential to change the dynamics of their world. No one should be oppressed from getting an education.

Brittany Schmidt

12/17/2013 10:41:39 am

I see where you are going with it would be a waste of time to write more about the lower caste. The lower castes are not educated, so they would be doing the same exact thing in the novel. The lower castes are "programmed" to say and do certain things. The Alphas and Betas are more liberated. They are able to take different actions, which make the novel more interesting .

Evelyn LM

12/17/2013 11:52:03 am

No one likes to talk to a wall or machine. The reason why we read or watch a movie is for the twist and action in the story. The lower castes don't have the complexity in the brains.

Brittany Schmidt

12/17/2013 10:49:09 am

Huxley focuses mostly on the Alphas and Betas because they are more diverse than the lower caste. The Alphas and Betas are the ones preforming the more interesting and important jobs. If Huxley were to write more about the lower caste then the readers would lose interest. In society everyone wants to hear an artists' new song they released, they don't want to know about the person who wrote the song or produced it . The same thing goes in Brave New World. As a reader, I am more interested in what the Alphas and Betas are doing. Huxley all ready explained the roles the lower castes portray, so I don't need to be reminded throughout the novel over and over again. It is morally wrong to plan out someone's future. One's future should be made by how hard they work in order to achieve their goals, not by a caste system.

Evelyn LM

12/17/2013 11:48:51 am

I loved your metaphor! That is true. Everyone focuses on the main act. Usually the singer gets all the attention, but not the whole team. They forget the other musicians, the producers, and lighting. I agree with the last part too. I'd rather struggle with life, because of the choices I've made in life. No one can tell us where our life is headed, but us.

Brittany Schmidt

12/17/2013 12:03:05 pm

Thanks I knew you would enjoy that metaphor. I know struggling is a sign that you are human. Just like in order to learn, you must make mistakes. How were these kids supposively learning when they do no wrong?

Evelyn LM

12/19/2013 08:27:32 am

You are on a roll Brit! We can't learn anything if we don't make mistakes. Having the information already in our heads isn't learning either.

Siphathisile Dube

12/18/2013 09:13:02 am

I feel as thought Huxley focuses on the upper caste system because there is not much to say about the lower caste systems. The Alphas and Betas have a greater impact on the society of Mond's world.

Everyone is entitled to not feel happy. If you are instilling the emotion of only happiness in a person, they are not free to be an individual. I wouldn't say that the Epsilons are happy because they know nothing about being sad/mad/anxious/scared.

Mackenzie Orphanidis

12/18/2013 12:09:33 pm

I agree completely with what you said. Huxley like everyone else in this society didn't care about the lower castes they don't matter. They aren't important.

Mackenzie Orphanidis

12/18/2013 12:12:04 pm

Huxley focuses mainly on the higher castes because they are more interesting, and do more jobs that readers would be interested in. The Epsilons really didn't do much at all, and that is why they weren't emphasized very much throughout the book. But, I don't think they were happy, but I'm not sure anyone in the book was truly happy.

Siphathisile Dube

12/19/2013 12:18:23 pm

Exactly! If the author would have gone on and on about what how the lower caste system did nothing, the purpose of the author's story would not be fulfilled.

Drew Kilgore

12/19/2013 12:22:31 pm

I agree! Could you imagine a book that followed an Epsilon? It would be the same thing over and over and over and over! Its not interesting at all!

Cassandra Carpenter

12/19/2013 11:34:36 am

Since the higher castes were bred with higher intelligence, Huxley could go into deeper issues because the lower castes may not even comprehend the issues with their society.

Evelyn LM

12/19/2013 04:30:06 pm

Issues like running them the way they want, have a "good time" with a "friend", and keep away from the dangers of their happiness. Creating people was also brought up, because the alphas and betas knew stuff about that.

AJ Reed

1/4/2014 01:38:54 am

Yeah I think we all pretty much agree with you there. The whole caste system really is a terrible thing.

Evelyn LM

12/19/2013 04:31:46 pm

*running, Having a good time, and keeping away.

Roxie Elliott

12/20/2013 04:53:10 am

I don't even know if I could say the Epsilons are or aren't happy with their lives because I feel like they're made to not even know any other way. But it still bothered me that they even made a caste just to be the "lower caste". They're still humans and it's sad that they're just born with that destiny

AJ Reed

1/4/2014 01:34:13 am

The fact that the government is putting limits on certain people is completely and utterly immoral. The governments are putting caps on their people's futures. Purposely depriving these infants of oxygen to slow brain functioning. "Reducing the number of revolutions per minute," Mr. Foster explained. "The surrogate goes round slower; therefore passes through the lung at longer intervals; therefore gives the embryo less oxygen. Nothing like oxygen-shortage for keeping an embryo below par." To me that quote is just horrendous.

AJ Reed

1/4/2014 01:35:44 am

Replace "are" with "is" in the second sentence! Haha

Huxley focuses on characters of Alpha or Beta status. Why do we get so little insight into the lives of lower castes? If Epsilons really are happy with their lives, what's wrong (morally) with making them that way?

Leave a Reply.

Blogs

Archives

Categories