Brave New World Reading Journal Part I

There is an illusion of equality more so than the actual existence of conformity. The social class system puts some over others completely by random selection when the people are being brought into being. However, all classes are glad to be who they are because they have been conditioned to think this way, having been told repeatedly as children that it is best to be who they are. For instance, young Betas are trained to think about how "Alpha children wear grey. They work much harder than we do, because they're so frightfully clever. I'm really awfully glad I'm a Beta, because I don't want to work so hard. And then we are much better than the Gammas and Deltas. Gammas are 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. They're too stupid to be able to read or write. Because they wear black, which is such a beastly color. I'm so glad I'm a Beta." Even grown people express these sentiments, such as when Lenina says, "My word...I'm glad I'm not a Gamma." The illusion of equality is created through the entire concept of all of the classes being who they are because it is meant to be that way.

The entire concept of choice is eradicated through this caste system and the strict schedule that is observed by all even when one is unaware of it. Lower classes work to make the world a pleasant place for those of higher status; the higher classes have fun and go out with other people constantly, without being allowed to fall in love or make real life decisions, such as marriage. This reduces conflict completely, because no one thinks to have a religion, to try to have a real relationship with someone, etc. The entire idea is simply against the entire code of the society.

Happiness is forced through the conditioning of children and the steady, constant routine. People are trained to think that they are happy and that they have a beautiful life, and most believe it without question; they do little with their life besides what the society tells them to. Most are perfectly content to follow routine, to go out on a date with someone they hardly know, to be who the society wants them to be. Bernard Marx, however, is an exception; he has feelings and emotions unusual for the society, and values people based on their personalities, not their bodies.

This currently is a utopia because everything is under control, and no one is rebelling or unhappy (or so they think). It seems, however, that it could potentially become a dystopia because of the overwhelming control that the government has over the people. Choice of almost any sort has been completely wiped out, which provides room for people to begin to think and thus to rebel; the chance that people would begin to consider they live is much greater when everything is gone.