"'Of course,' Dr. Shaw went on, 'you can't allow people to go popping off into eternity if they've got any serious work to do. But as she hasn't go any serious work...'
'All the same,' John persisted, 'I don't believe it's right...'
The doctor shrugged his shoulders. 'Well, of course, if you prefer to have her screaming mad all the time...'
(Brave New World, page 155)
John is introduced to this "brave new world" but is actually appalled. John sees this new world as a inhumane and immoral place (I thought the same thing, John!). It doesn't help that John is viewed and regarded as a savage rather than an actual human being. However, most people in this "new world" have a different outlook on life.This simple fact becomes more evident in this chapter when John is the only person who is against his mother, Linda, taking an excessive amount of soma. The doctors are perfectly fine with this even though they know it will kill her within a month or two. Then the doctor explains to John that human beings are things that should be “used up until they wear out.”. This is sort of the epitome of what this "utopian" world is like. There isn't really a point to their life. They live their daily lives, pleasure themselves, and then eventually die. There is no regard or value in life. This concept is similar to Bernard calling Lenina "a piece of meat". People, and especially non-working people, are viewed as a type of material. People become unimportant and disposable when they cannot contribute to society any longer.
Ironically, I see a similarity with this in today's world. Although it isn't as extreme, the value of human life is somewhat taken for granted. Unless you can make a name for yourself, you aren't seen as good enough. We live in a society that is so media influenced that being yourself and being an individual isn't even valued anymore. People are so consumed with themselves and so focused on making sure that they have a good life that they forget to live their own lives. People forget the value of life and the purpose as to why we are living in the first place. Instead we focus on trivial, unimportant things. Unfortunately, this is similar to the "brave new world" that John is discovering.
Ironically, I see a similarity with this in today's world. Although it isn't as extreme, the value of human life is somewhat taken for granted. Unless you can make a name for yourself, you aren't seen as good enough. We live in a society that is so media influenced that being yourself and being an individual isn't even valued anymore. People are so consumed with themselves and so focused on making sure that they have a good life that they forget to live their own lives. People forget the value of life and the purpose as to why we are living in the first place. Instead we focus on trivial, unimportant things. Unfortunately, this is similar to the "brave new world" that John is discovering.
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