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Student 5 Ms. Verenkoff English 2 H A/EHAP A Block Period 4 9 September 2010 An Amusement Park of Pain: Compassion or the Lack Thereof in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World One morning at the Savage’s lighthouse, “civilized” people begin to gather and ask for the Savage to perform, to whip himself. He grows angered at the simplicity of the people and turns his wrath upon Lenina, whipping her to the delight of the crowd. “With a whoop of delighted excitement the line broke; there was a convergent stampede towards that magnetic center of attraction. Pain was a fascinating horror” (258). In his novel Brave New World, Aldous Huxley writes about society’s lack of compassion and selfishness. He creates a fictional dystopia, in which the people care for everyone equally, and thus care deeply for no one. They observe with the eyes of an outsider, being conditioned early on that “they get chocolate cream on death days” (164). Because of this apathetic view of life and death, as the Savage whips Lenina, they do not help this woman from within their numbers, nor do they flee for their own safety, having been taught that they exist to serve the greater purpose. Instead they crowd toward the pain, happy to be lucky enough to see agony in its morbid fascination. It doesn’t matter to them that the woman is hurting, because she is simply another limb of society. Huxley’s message also applies throughout history. In ancient Rome, men and beasts fought to the death in packed stadiums. In medieval Europe, hangings were considered great entertainment. Even today, tabloids linger on celebrities’ problems with drink and partner. People read these voraciously, drinking in magazines full of scandals and other problems, failures and sufferings. They then share it with friends and laugh. Above all, they always want more. Such was the case with Tiger Woods, whose face filled grocery store shelves. At the checkout counter, the barcode zips over the scanner as one more person buys a slice of the never ending pie of tragedy and gossip. Truly, then, this is a brave new world; for none flinch at another’s pain. |
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