BNW Dystopian Themes & Specific Scenes

Vocabulary flashcards related to the themes and characters in 'Brave New World', focusing on concepts of individuality, freedom, surveillance, and more.

Individuality

The quality or state of being an individual; the treatment of citizens as uniform and conditioned in the W.S.

Hypnopaedic Teaching

A method of conditioning citizens to accept societal norms blindly, using repeated phrases.

Soma

A drug used in the W.S to suppress negative emotions and encourage conformity.

Caste System

The hierarchy in the W.S that predetermines social roles and limits individuality.

Bernard Marx

A character who yearns for deeper emotional connections and challenges societal norms.

Helmholtz Watson

An ideal Alpha who feels creatively stifled and craves intellectual freedom.

John the Savage

A character who embodies true freedom and rejects W.S values, leading to his tragic end.

Surveillance

The act of monitoring citizens in the W.S to ensure compliance and control.

Psychological Surveillance

Internal monitoring where individuals self-police their behavior based on conditioning.

Peer Pressure

Social influence that encourages conformity and discourages deviation in behavior.

Freedom

The perceived liberty in the W.S, which is actually an illusion of choice and self-expression.

Control of Emotions

The mechanism by which the W.S ensures citizens avoid expressing true feelings through soma.

Censorship

The suppression of books, religion, and history in the W.S to maintain ignorance and control.

Propaganda

The information and messaging used by the W.S to ensure societal compliance and stability.

Superficial Pleasure

A focus on instant gratification promoted by the W.S to distract from genuine emotional fulfillment.

Fear

An underlying control mechanism in the W.S that instills fear of discomfort and rebellion.

Fear of Emotional Discomfort

Conditioning citizens to avoid feelings of unhappiness or anxiety at all costs.

Exile

A punishment for those who challenge W.S norms, reinforcing fear of rebellion.

Linda’s Death

A pivotal scene that illustrates the dehumanizing effects of W.S control and spurs John’s rebellion.

John’s Visit to the Factory

A scene that exposes W.S societal structures and reinforces John's moral opposition.

John’s Rebellion

A critical turning point that highlights the conflict between individual values and W.S oppression.

The Illusion of Freedom

The false belief of freedom conditioned into citizens, masking their actual lack of choice.

Conditioning

The process of shaping citizen behavior and beliefs from birth to ensure compliance with W.S norms.

Caste System’s Impact

The restriction of personal growth and identity due to predefined societal roles.

Creative Frustration

Feelings of unfulfillment experienced by Helmholtz due to societal limitations on expression.

Social Reinforcement

The mechanism through which societal norms and behaviors are upheld through peer pressure.

Therapeutic Soma

The portrayal of soma as a cure for discomfort, reinforcing societal messages of compliance.

Anxiety in the Savage Reservation

A key example of how the conditioning leads to fear and the instinct to suppress true emotions.

Dependence on Soma

The reliance on soma to manage discomfort, highlighting the loss of emotional depth.

Loss of Individuality

The result of constant conditioning and suppression of authentic self-expression.

Tragic Cost of Conditioning

The consequences faced by individuals like John, revealing the price of societal control.

Illusion of Stability

The deceptive appearance of harmony in the W.S that masks underlying fear and control.

Rejection of Societal Norms

The act of defying the expected behaviors in the W.S, leading to isolation or punishment.

Emotional Suppression

The enforced avoidance of genuine feelings within W.S society to maintain conformity.

Depth of Emotional Experience

The authentic understanding of feelings that John craves, contrasting societal shallow norms.

Consequences of Rebellion

The resulting punishments and isolation faced by those like Bernard in an oppressive system.

Conditioned Beliefs

The systematic influence on citizen thoughts and perceptions that uphold the W.S.

Diminished Self-Reflection

The reduced ability of citizens to engage in personal growth or critical thinking.

Artificial Stability

The superficial sense of order maintained by the W.S through control and conformity.

Societal Control Mechanisms

Various strategies the W.S employs to enforce obedience and prevent dissent.

Dehumanization

The process by which the W.S's influence strips individuals of their unique identities.

W.S Values

The collective beliefs and principles that dictate behavior and societal structure.

Crisis of Identity

The struggle faced by characters like Bernard and Helmholtz in reconciling societal roles with personal desires.

Empathy and Emotional Turmoil

John's experiences that evoke feelings from the audience, highlighting his conflicts.