Brave New World Post #2

Compare:

Obviously, there is more differences between Lenina and John than similarities. However, there are some things that seem similar with their social conditioning or the behavior as a result of the conditioning. Both Lenina and John are attracted to each other in a some what deep and passionate way. It surprised me when Lenina talked about John. She spoke as if she had a deep affection for him, very intimate and personal. Compared to the way that she spoke and acted around other men she seemed to take to John in an uncivilized manner. John also had the same affection for her. The similarities between them was that no matter their social conditioning they still felt the same way about each other, yet the differences came when they found the limitations of their conditioning.

Contrast:

Lenina has been conditioned through hypnopedia which allows her to make an impersonal mechanical response to social situations. She seems too mechanical and has no thought process behind her reactions to others. She can not apply her conditioning to virtually anything. Everything seems to have the same response. Her conditioning allows her to only make unopinionated responses that have no trace of her own values and morals. However, John's conditioning seems to be more versatile and compatible with our civilization. It is deep, passionate and allows him to connect himself to others through deep meaning in literature and poems. He is allowed to form his own opinions within his conditioning which makes him seem more personable. John seems much more spontaneous and risky than Lenina. The only bad thing about his conditioning is that he doesn't know how to control himself or react when people have different opinions than himself. He gets angry with Lenina when she forces herself on him, but instead of simply disagreeing he pushes her (so NOT cool). He responds in all the wrong ways, makes mistakes, and is afraid to expose himself. All of this happens because his social conditioning is not as rigid as Leninas. He has social conditioning that simply establishes morals and values instead of rigid responses. Lenina's type is completely mindless and only teaches ways and things to say in all situations, not specific. John's type allows him to make mistakes and learn and only gives him a general direction to move in.