Brave New World

theme: recreational sex

• Recreational Sex: sex for pleasure rather than reproduction.

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quotes and analyses

“In a little grassy bay between tall clumps of Mediterranean heather, two children, a little boy of about seven and a little girl who might have been a year older, were playing, very gravely and with all the focussed attention of scientists intent on a labour of discovery, a rudimentary sexual game.” (23)

• Based off the reactions we get from society now regarding recreational sex compared to how it was portrayed in Brave New World, it is safe to see that recreational sex is viewed as worse in today’s society. A lot of people look down upon recreational sex in our society, especially if the people aren’t in what is considered “a committed relationship”. In Brave New World,  recreational sex is the norm, and committed relationships, such as marriage, are frowned upon.

“‘I know, dear. But some people are better if they begin earlier. Dr. Wells told me that brunettes with wide pelvises, like me, ought to have their first Pregnancy Substitute at seventeen. So I’m really two years late, not two years early.’ She opened the door of her locker and pointed to the row of boxes and labelled phials on the upper shelf.” (28)

• Birth control is basically enforced in Brave New World whereas in our society, it can be somewhat difficult to obtain birth control, especially at a young age. In Brave New World, since there wasn’t supposed to be live births, birth control was enforced, even at a young age. So Brave New World, once again, has better standards in terms of recreational sex and birth control. 

“On the threshold, in a white acetate-satin sailor suit,and with a round white cap rakishly tilted over her left ear, stood Lenina.” (127)

“The zippers on Lenina’s spare pair of viscose velveteen shorts were at first a puzzle, then solved, a delight. Zip, and then zip; zip, and then zip; he was enchanted. Her green slippers were the most beautiful things he had ever seen.” (97)

• In our society today, we have strictly enforced dress codes in our schools. Especially in middle and high schools. A lot of schools won’t allow students to wear ripped jeans and/or tank tops. Whereas in Brave New World, it was perfectly normal to wear something that would be considered “scandalous” in our society. Because the people in Brave New World were encouraged to participate in recreational sex at a young age, so clothing wasn’t necessarily a priority in their society.

conclusion

Our current society is making progress to become more open about recreational sex, different sexualities, body positivity, and more. We are becoming a Brave New World in the sense that we aren’t as controlling over other peoples’ bodies as much as we used to. Even though we aren’t fully there, we are making a lot of progress and you can already see several similarities between our world and Brave New World.  However, as the world is transitioning into one that is less controlling of those within it, it is unlikely we will adopt the uniform structure of the Brave New World as our own, at least not in the foreseeable future.

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