Brave New World Post #2

1.  How did the state unify the entire planet?

The actual process of unification that occurred isn't really outlined for us, however we are given a glimpse at how the single state is maintained. It appears that the world is divided into 10 regions or districts ruled by controllers. "Mustafa Mond! The Resident Controller of Western Europe! One of the Ten World Controllers" (Huxley 47). This shows what I have outlined above, but it also gives us a little insight into how their system of rule works, or at least the status of its 10 rulers. They are highly admired by the citizens of the state, and it would appear that subjects aren't often exposed to these rulers considering the shock.
"Alpha children wear grey. They work much harder than we do because they are so frightfully clever. I'm really awfully glad I'm a beta because we don't work so hard. And then we are much better than the Gammas and Deltas. Gammas are all stupid, they all wear green and Delta children wear khaki. Oh no I don't want to play with Delta children. And Epsilons are still worse" (Huxley 40). Control is maintained through organization. The strict caste system illustrated above organizes everyone keeping all peoples in line even within their own minds making for an easily unified whole.

2. Why is everyone so interested in John when they are appalled by anything else that is different?

It makes sense for people to be naturally interested by things that are different, but this society has tried so very hard to eliminate difference and ostracize it in every way. So it seems peculiar and makes little sense for them to be obsessed with something so foreign to them in every way. " The poor man had resigned and never set foot in the Centre again-  had flopped down and called him my father!" (Huxley 160). The fact that viviparous relationships were some strange facet of the past and considered almost barbaric by this society should have made John something to fear or at least avoid, but rather even though he violates this norm he is admired and fascinates the people.  " 'And they say he spends all his time alone.' There was horror in Fanny's voice " (Huxley 57). If something as simple as Bernard spending time alone were enough to appall his fellow citizen it seems very strange and almost impossible that John would be so accepted. There is almost no logical reason for the obsession leaving the only conclusion that it happened because it was necessary to Huxley's message.

3. Why is it that a society so based on control and sameness allows individuals that are so different to act almost completely unchecked other than the threat of relocation?

 "But his reputation?" (Huxley 57). This quote illustrates that people were very much aware that Bernard was an outsider, but it would appear that action was never taken against him because of it. His difference while observed was tolerated even by his supervisors.  "I've been cutting all my committees and all my girls. You can't believe what a big hullabaloo they've been making about it at the college" (Huxley 80). Helmholtz is violating a major part of life in this society one by not going to committees and being alone, but also in not "having" any women.  He is basically in opposition of two of the largest social norms that exist within the one state and yet only a hullabaloo is being made about it. In 1984 similar violations would be met with harsh repercussions, but Helmholtz is allowed to continue almost unchecked. It is likely that the strict conditioning of this society allows its leaders to feel less concerned about a select few outsiders since all those pertaining to the norms would never violate them.

Brave New World Chapter 1-6

1. Equality and conformity have been created through breeding. They produce large amounts of identical embryo's which differ from class to class and are controlled in every and then designed to fit the societal roles that correspond to their class. Conformity and equality have been created through careful control. Huxley points out that the Bokanovsky process that has been developed is one of the major tools for social stability (21). In only one way has equality not been completely established and that is across class lines, but within class things are as equal as possible.

2. Conflict has been eliminated through the elimination of choice. Religion has been basically eliminated other than the deification of Henry Ford. Relationships are confined within social classes and since offspring comes through cloning almost all sexual conflict is eliminated. The once "mad and wicked and miserable" people have been conditioned and breed to be what their class ordains and experience no strong emotion.

3. Everyone within a class is almost identical and performs identical roles. Within these roles freedom of thought has been suppressed and  very effectively contained. In addition the drug soma which eerily resembles the Victory Gin of 1984 we are all so familiar with controls happiness and keeps the masses happy.

4. To the American raised and breed on free thinking individualism the label dystopia is quick to thought, but in actuality it is a utopia. Happiness and equality are prevalent and exist in most facets. It may seem awful to the outsider, but the societal system works and seems to effectively produce happiness and equality forming a utopia.

1984 Part 3

I would say that Big Brother has lost. Has he retained control of his state? Yes. Has he put down those who oppose him? Yes, but he has also destroyed that which he rules.  He has complete control, but what is to be gained from ruling something without purpose, progress, or though? He rules, but he rules something that in no way matters.

I think that Winston lives on much like those around him engulfed by Big Brother and loyal to him through the things he endured. The "long-hoped for bullet" that is entering his brain is release. It is figurative and symbolic of his will ending. Big Brother has ended the free thinking Winston, thus his brain has been "shot". He has simply lost his free will and his ability to think for himself as the human being he once was, but he lives on in the physical sense of the word at least for now.

Soapstone#2

Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out SOAPSTone

Jared Shely

Subject

             The subject of Dave Barry’s “Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out” is the distinct difference between the male and the female is exemplified by his choice of stories and the humor he uses in telling them. He tells a funny story that shows the difference in him and his wife in cleanliness, and again he uses another funny story to show how during the World Series a night the women used for stimulating conversation the men snuck off to watch the game.

Occasion

            The time of Dave Barry’s “Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out” is the 1980’s or 1990’s. This time period is illustrated in the article based on the mention of television, Windex, and other fairly modern things. This is also exemplified because the 1980’s and 1990’s were the height of Dave Barry’s writing career.

            The location of Dave Barry’s “Batting Clean-up and Striking Out” is in the United States, specifically the state of Florida. This is evident through Barry’s mention of the World Series as well as the fact that Barry lives in Florida.

Audience

            Dave Barry’s specific audience for “Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out” is married men and women who are puzzled by the differences between themselves and their spouses. This is exemplified through the humor he uses in his explanation on the differences between males and females, and the centralization his stories have on married life.

            The author’s general audience was the general American public seeing as this was his usual audience. This is also expressed by the subject manner and its application. He uses a fairly standard version of American English, uses humor to compare men and women, and the mention of the World Series exemplifies an American audience.

Purpose

            David Barry’s purpose in “Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out” was to entertain readers while sharing some insight on the inherent differences between men and women. This

entertaining comparison of males and females is illustrated by the author’s use of humor, and his pointing out of the differences between men and women involving both sports and cleaning.

Speaker

            Dave Barry, a columnist for the Miami Post, believes there are many large differences between man and women especially in the realms of sports and cleanliness. This value is illustrated by the fact that Barry discusses how men and women differ when it comes to cleaning and visualizing dirt as well as in their sensitivity to sports.

            Dave Barry’s use of structure is evident in his telling of stories in which he uses quotes and specific examples paired with humor to further his point and keep the reader’s attention. This influences the purpose by keeping readers interested and intent on the article allowing him to entertain and get his point across.

Tone

            David Barry exhibits a humorous and insightful attitude about the obvious gaps in the attitudes and behaviors in men and women. These attitudes are expressed by his jokes such as using words and phrases like molecule and hormonal secretions to establish an intellectual and insightful tone and using jargon to play into the humor he chooses to use. This serves the purpose by keeping readers interested with humor and educating them with his insightfulness. I know this because I know understand the difference he was portraying, and his humor made the article hard to put down.