' "The optimum population," said Mustapha Mond, "is modeled on the iceberg - eight-ninths below the water line, one-ninth above." ' (Page 223)
I really enjoyed this analogy. It was well placed, and quite effective. I had the stereotypical reaction to any mention of iceberg's: I immediately thought of the Titanic. That, in turn, made me think of the movie made about the horrific sinking ship. All of the passengers on that ship were much like the citizens in the brave new world Huxley created. They were all categorized into a specific cast of society, and they were not allowed to venture out of the lines of their social status. Of course, two people break free of their bonds, and they were the central characters of the movie. Jack and Rose each left their social bonds behind and challenged society. The former climbed the social ladder while the latter stooped to a lower level for the man she loved. However, she still maintained her ties to her original ranking in the pyramid of society. Much like all of that, the people in Huxley's story are bound to a specific walk of life, and they rarely challenge the system.
Huxley's analogy served its purpose in that it gave me a clear image of how the civilization he created works. I can only be grateful that the world I live in is not as strict. A hard-working lower class person can climb up in the world and make a better life for himself. That whole mentality of hope and potential is what drives our culture.
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