Consumerism in America and Huxley's World State
In Huxley's Brave New World, consumerism is considered second nature in society. Economic stability is key to the efficiency of the World State. The people within the World State constantly consume because of the conditioning they received while they were young. They are taught that when a good is in need of repair, they must do away with it, "Ending is better than mending. The more stitches, the less riches..." (52). By not owning the latest and greatest good, the people within the World State are considered lowly and lesser beings. Similarly in America, most people view material possessions as easily dispensable and replaceable. People identify themselves by what they own, rather than by something less superficial. What you own ends up owning you in a sense. Consumerism is due to the perpetuated idea that you cannot be happy unless you surround yourself with things, which is an idea created to ensure consumption for maximum financial benefit for corporations. This is evident in both Huxley's World State and in America.
At first glance, the society within Brave New World bares a striking resemblance to the world of America today but what differentiates the two is access to knowledge. The people within Brave New World have no choice in what they do. They are taught to never question and constantly consume. That is not the same in America today. People simply refuse to educate themselves on topics like consumerism and why this current economic state exists. Autonomy of the people is essentially the difference between Huxley's World State and America. The government in Brave New World does not allow any books or any other access to knowledge that would cause someone to question the world they live in because "You can't consume much if you sit still and read books" (60). But in today's world, it's a choice to become aware and it's also a choice to remain in the dark.
At first glance, the society within Brave New World bares a striking resemblance to the world of America today but what differentiates the two is access to knowledge. The people within Brave New World have no choice in what they do. They are taught to never question and constantly consume. That is not the same in America today. People simply refuse to educate themselves on topics like consumerism and why this current economic state exists. Autonomy of the people is essentially the difference between Huxley's World State and America. The government in Brave New World does not allow any books or any other access to knowledge that would cause someone to question the world they live in because "You can't consume much if you sit still and read books" (60). But in today's world, it's a choice to become aware and it's also a choice to remain in the dark.