Following the American Psychological Association’s Guidelines
- In Chapter 6, when Lenina asks what time is for, she thinks it is for wasting. This is relatively speaking. She offers that she and Bernard should participate in several different activities such as Electromagnetic Golf or swimming, but Bernard deems them all a waste of time, which is when Lenina asks, exasperatedly, what time is supposed to be used for. This is as if to say, if you are not wasting it, why are you using it at all? In my opinion, time is, technically speaking, for wasting. We will all die one day. Though some of our names are left behind in books or on the sides of buildings, much of what we do does not matter to those around us. With the obvious exceptions of individuals who create influenza vaccines or cancer cures, we all look like we’re wasting time if the right person is looking. Bernard’s idea of peacefully looking at the sea is meaningful to him, while it seems uninteresting and somewhat terrifying to Lenina. Lenina’s suggestions for how to spend their time together seem brainless and idiotic to Bernard. Likewise, many of the things I consider my time to be used for are meaningful to me, while others may deem it pointless. The same could be said of them and their activities. At the end of the time, time is for wasting, technically. But the activities themselves are meaningful, depending on the individual.
- In the Brand New World, the conditioning centers conditioned individuals from the time of conception. Mixtures were added to test tubes, depending on the individuals rank from Alpha to Epsilon. Those who would be instructed to perform duties like repairing space stations had their test tubes rotated a certain amount of times every hour in order to condition them to hate stability but be comfortable with chaotic, zero-gravity conditions. Individuals were also subliminally conditioned at night with certain phrases that would illicit appropriate behaviors in society. I believe I was formerly conditioned by society to accept a specific standard of beauty. This standard of beauty was obviously not the truth because there is not only one type of beautiful, just like there is not only one shade of the color blue. There are many forms of beautiful. Though it sounds complicated, because I realized this conditioning I was able to really look at other forms of beauty and appreciate them for what they are, undergoing a different form of conditioning. While the first part of the conditioning was subliminal and somewhat destructive, the result is not something I would want to give up. I enjoy appreciating all people.
- I do not believe I would enjoy a world like that of Brand New World, where the inhabitants experience no pain, obstacles, or passion. Succumbing to every impulse would also be incredibly dull. The rush, joy, and excitement of succumbing to impulses is that you finally succumb, meaning that you have resisted for a time and are now allowing yourself to do something that you have wanted. I do not even understand how they succumbed to impulses without passion; I have never been able to experience one without the other. Presently I deal with pain, passion, obstacles, and impulse control like any growing adult would. I try my best to balance work and play. I understand that obstacles, such as this assignment for example, are a necessity for certain things in life. I need an education in order to achieve many of my goals. One such goal is to have a job that allows me enough money to live comfortable and retire without having to worry about supporting myself. These thoughts keep my impulse control in check. If I gave in to my impulse right now, I would tear up this assignment, sell all of my belongings, and begin backpacking across Europe. It would certainly arouse my passion for life if I did so, but what would await me when I returned? Pain and obstacles, I suspect. I would have to return to my education and resume what I had been doing. Impulse control is kept in check by thinking of my goals. Obstacles are overcome in the same fashion. I understand that pain does not last forever. Passion is something I try to put toward everything I do, whether I am fleeing to Europe or not.
