Hypnopedia In Brave New World

In Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley the role of race shows that segregation is not born within the subconscious of our minds. It is rather a concept that is bestowed upon our minds. This can be seen in the need to implement hypnopedia in order to create continuous judgment, the need to separate Savages from World State, and the need to physically and mentally lower a portion of the population so that the feeling of superiority manifests among its leaders.

To begin with, all the citizens of World State are manipulated through the process of hypnopedia and its mind-controlling messages. Each carefully crafted idea is forced into the minds of young children so that they grow up condemned to follow the words exactly. This kindles a chain reaction
to the point where there can be no individual personality trait found in any of the World State’s citizens. However, Huxley relates this confinement of opinion to the existence of racism when he states, “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. Besides they wear black, which is such a beastly colour. I’m so glad I’m a Beta” (Huxley 22). These lines are repeated many times so that it becomes a guideline for how Beta’s should feel about other castes compared to themselves. Betas continuously grimace when they see hardworking-ugly Gammas and Epsilons and the different lifestyle they are compelled to live.
Though this feeling of hatred towards the lower castes are not authentic, but is rather artificially evoked. Most importantly, World State needs to drill these segregational thoughts thousands of times into the citizen’s minds; rather than let the thoughts come naturally. This indicates that seclusion is not a natural human instinct, but rather an enforced phenomenon that is taught by the primitive world. Subsequently, egocentric self-glorification that drives these exclusive actions are adapted than rather inherited; as a result, Alphas and Betas are programmed and are not naturally cruel. This is stated in, “In this strange world, there is no space for freedom; all the people’s actions are guided and controlled. Brave New World is a community without freedom. Freedom, in fact, has been sacrificed for happiness and stability” (Farag). Consequently, this critique expresses how World State offers an environment where citizens are restricted to operate in only one way. It also highlights the sacrifice of freedom not only physically, but rather mentally as well. Aldous Huxley’s formation of the higher castes are to exemplify the superior classes of the 20th century, and to clarify their arrogant behaviour. Alphas were conditioned and brought
up to act in a pretentious way; in contrast, the wealthy and rich in Huxley’s time were influenced by society to behave in this same exact way. In both scenarios, racist attitudes were taught to higher classes and not developed on their own. Overall, the actions and reasonings of the Alphas and Betas were to segregate anyone lower than them. However, these same reasonings were not created by Alphas and Betas, but instituted into their minds through hypnopedia.

Furthermore, the existence of another group that does not concede to the terms of World State imposes a threat to the structure and purpose of its society. In order to encompass this issue, civilization is completely detached from any communication with people and discriminated firmly. Since World State only functions in a way that benefits themselves, it disregards the feelings of the savages and completely segregates them to a place called Malpais Reservation. The isolation aids the production of civilians so that they act accordingly to their caste. If exposition to the barbaric ways of the savages occurs,