Freedom and the Shadow It Casts

Freedom and the Shadow it Casts

Freedom Versus Control

According to the Webster dictionary, freedom is defined as: "The quality or state of being free, as the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action". Considering this definition and looking at the book, A Brave New World, it is easy to see there was no real freedom for the characters. However, it is the illusion of freedom that is used to control the society. Freedom is, in fact, one of the several constraints used to create conformity and unity. Consumerism and instant gratification are also tools used to control. The characters are almost blind to the control, and their lives are lived on an invisible line between it and freedom.


Once again looking toward the definition of freedom, to have freedom, it is said that there needs to be the absence of necessity in choice or action. It is by this, that freedom can be measured in the lives of the characters. First, a careful look needs to be had on their lifestyles. All of the members of the World State live under the motto, "Community, Identity, Stability". To create a community, people are never alone for too long. They are encouraged to go out and be amongst other members. Even when at home, they live in very close quarters. To create a single identity, people are cloned in mass numbers and they are created to serve only a single purpose. The World State gives people their identity and they are brainwashed to love their position in the society, even if they are part of a lower class. In turn, each person makes the sacrifice of their personal identity and wear the identity of their class. To maintain stability, the World State controls everything in the member's lives including: their thoughts, emotions, actions, clothing, and religion. Stability is also achieved by the use of a totalitarian government. The World State uses the motto "Community, Identity, Stability", and carefully intertwines it into it's members lives in order to exert control.

The necessity lies here, for it is absolutely necessary to live by the motto and those who don't suffer dire consequence. When Bernard, a skilled clone in a higher rank, is caught going against the lifestyle he is given a warning. Soon, though, after not changing his ways, he's called in front of the director for a public dismissal. Before this can happen, the director is engaged in a conversation with a coworker of Bernard. When the coworker mentions Bernard's skill level, the director is forced to defend his decision. He say, "His intellectual eminence carries with it corresponding moral responsibilities. The greater a man's talents, the greater his power to lead astray. It is better that one should suffer than that many should be corrupted"(page 148). The preservation of the World State's motto is clearly a high priority. By stating that it is better for one individual to suffer than for many to be corrupted, the director