Brave New World Blog 3

In Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, I think the character Bernard Marx is not only a hypocrite, but a failure that should have risen in his development that he once yearned for, only to slip back into his depressed, weak stage in the civilized world. For a long time period, I thought Marx was going to change and really be an inspirational, individualist when returning to the civilized world but that is not so. This also goes to show us human nature, and how one's approval with high society members and overall adoration can stall our progress and make us forget our once aimed purpose and feelings. Seen in Mustapha Mond's office, crying and begging to not be sent to an isolated island with others who share an interest with being more than just conditioned and ignorant to almost every aspect of life, he chooses to weep at the World Controller's feet for mercy. I think Bernard will find peace and the best of happiness that is capable for him with being exiled, it is just unfortunate this character could not have been more helpful with John and lost focus of his once intended goal.

Brave New World Blog 2

In The Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, a scene that caught my attention and made me ponder was the event that takes place where Linda and Lenina meet and Linda tells of her perpetual sadness and overall deterioration that happened to her after being left on the reservation with the uncivilized people. Her depression of no longer having her soma, turning to “mescal” making headaches and sickness follow. Her birth control regimen turning ineffective, causing her to give birth to a baby boy whom she had no instinct or knowledge of caring for- not feeding him, mending his ragged clothes, taking care of him while sick, or even playing with him. She would only speak of a time she knew so long before, and when questioned about how this “beautiful, happy world” worked, she could not even comprehend or have any answers. Sleeping with other woman's husbands, in turn getting beaten by them and her son, John, being treated as an outsider and neglected by the community for his mother's ways. She wasted her days away in bed, from “mescal” and holding many men. This type of treatment John experiences from his “mother” is what I think is necessary for his character development, and makes him turn to old books he can get his hands on, reading allowing him an escape and happiness in the world of neglect he lives in. This scene and John's character in general foreshadows the massive role he will play later on in A Brave New World, once he is brought to a completely different, sickening society. 

Brave New World Blog 1

In the novel A Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, a major theme I picked up on and how society and humans are conditioned is to no longer be able to have emotions or any feelings for one another. This is seen numerous times even in the beginning of the novel, an example being no romantic connection between Lenina Crowne and Henry Foster, who have sexual relations and outings together, but share no emotions or commitment. Morals and ethics that society uses in our everyday life have long been forgotten, and the famous quote, “everyone belongs to everyone else,” is taken quite literal in the text. I am truly fascinated by this novel and the amount of conditioning and lack of individualism that the story is following, I am excited to see how the story continues and how humans will take back their right to identify and create themselves.

Macbeth's Reaction to Lady Macbeth's Death

She should have died hereafter;
There would have been a time for such a word.Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,To the last syllable of recorded time;And all our yesterdays have lighted foolsThe way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!Life's but a walking shadow, a poor playerThat struts and frets his hour upon the stageAnd then is heard no more. It is a taleTold by an idiot, full of sound and furySignifying nothing."  (5.5.17-27)


Macbeth's reaction or words that he shares with news being brought fourth of Lady Macbeth's death are despondent but also heartless. "There should have been a time for such word," indicates that Macbeth is too busy with his own matters to even mourn or take on the full actuality of his wife being dead. He has descended so far into evil that he barely feels any emotions at all, especially in this hectic time of battle approaching, Macbeth is more concerned about himself. Macbeth, early in the play, derived tremendous inspiration from and was heavily influenced by his wife, Lady Macbeth. I feel that a part of him is saddened when he says, "creeps in his petty pace from day to day," meaning although he has lost everything, he is also not bothered.

Act IV, Scene 3

            In Act IV, scene 3, Malcolm and Macduff meet in England, where Malcolm tests the loyalty of his new recruit, Macduff. By negatively speaking of himself and declaring himself a greater tyrant than Macbeth, he hopes to bring out Macduff's true colors. His attempt at reverse psychology takes its effect, Macduff is thrown into a fit of anger against the "untitled tyrant" Macbeth, and Malcolm enlists his help in the struggle. Reverse psychology is getting somebody to do something you want by suggesting that they do the opposite. This works better when the other person is worked up and making emotional decisions rather than thinking things through (Straker, 3). A common form of reverse psychology is to forbid an action. When you say 'do not X' you are also implanting the suggestion to do X. If they say they will do something, you can express doubt that they will do this. They then have to assert they will do it (and then actually do it) to prove you wrong. If the other person is likely to believe you will use reverse psychology, you can go for a reverse-reverse effect by suggesting what you want them to do, but perhaps in an oblique and non-obvious way. In this scene of Macbeth, reverse psychology works in favor for Malcolm. 

Straker, Richard. "Reverse Psychology." Reverse Psychology. 4 June 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.

The Three Witches and Greek Mythology's Fates

The Three Witches (also known as the weird sisters) are supernatural characters in William Shakespeare's play Macbeth. They inform Macbeth that he is destined to be king which urges him to carry out the bloody, ambitious act of murder. They also show him visions of his fate, though their guidance ultimately leads to his destruction. Shakespeare’s witches, fascinating and frightening, appeal to our interest in the supernatural, acknowledging the presence of evil in our world and also the knowledge of one's fate. The Three Witches in Macbeth are closely related to and carry a similar purpose to the Fates in Greek mythology. The Moirai, or Fates were three sister gods, incarnations of destiny and life. Their names were Clotho, the one who spins the thread of life; Lachesis, she who draws the lots and determines how long one lives, by measuring the thread of life; and Atropos, the inevitable, she who chose how someone dies by cutting the thread of life with her shears. The Three Weird Sisters and the Fates share the similarities of being both good and evil, sharing the path of life, prophesying, coming in three, and also all being described as very ugly creatures. The Three Witches in Macbeth, although differing in action of an individual's life compared to The Fates- both share the role of prophesying a main character's future. With that being said, the character then takes this foretelling in whatever way they perceive destined for themselves. In Macbeth's situation, he may have wanted to change his motives if he knew his ending destiny.

Mabillard, Amanda. "The Relationship Between Macbeth and the Witches." Shakespeare 

                   Online. Amanda Mabillard, 20 Aug. 2000. Web. 3 Nov. 2015.

Romanova, Anastasia. "The Fates." Citelighter Collections. 15 Apr. 2012. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.

The Theatre's Immoral Reputation

According to the article I read, the thetres and actors developed a low reputation during the era of when Shakespeare was first written and then acted out on stage, mostly due to the actors working in close proximity with the groundings. Groundings were poor patrons, people who frequented the Globe Theatre in the early 17th century who were too poor to pay to be able to sit on one of the three levels of the theatre. By paying one penny, they could stand in "the pit", also called "the yard", just below the stage to watch the play. Shakespeare’s theatre was full of life; with large, rowdy crowds attracting, pick pockets and other rough elements were experienced. People did not sit all the time and it was not quiet during the performance. The audience could walk around, eat and drink during the play. They cheered, booed and sometimes even threw objects at the actors. This was considered an unsafe area with crime and prostitution establishing quickly, the location of these theatres being near taverns and other unsavory establishments gave an immoral reputation.