Division In Frankenstein

The division in social class, handicapped vs. able-bodied, and monster vs. humans between people are created for a sense of equality; but the consequences of these divisions are that a sense of self is lost and thus, the basis of what makes someone a human is absent. The reason equality is sought for is that it is a way for the people in power to stay in power. These elements of equality and forms of division show in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron.” They show the dichotomy affects and dismantles human character and forms negative repercussions in multiple ways such as psychological and socioeconomic. All of these texts will show different types of separation, the common

Bernard states this problem to Lenina when he proclaims. “How can I?’ he repeated meditatively. ‘No, the real problem is: How is it that I can’t?’ ” (Huxley, 91). Bernard has very little control over what he wants to do. He is forced to either follow social norms or be shunned as a black sheep. He notices how the government does not give people a choice in what they do. All the people do is take soma and have sex. They all take equal actions, like having sex and taking soma, within their class. They create this sense of equality by having everyone do a little something so they contribute to society. Although the people do not choose what class they are in and they do not choose not to take the drug, to them, taking soma and having sex is a set of rules that must be followed. The rigid rules leave no room for people to learn or discover new things about themselves. The government assigns jobs to people based on their class, and no one can move from class to class. This coaching at a very young age instructs children on the set way of life, which takes away children’s imagination and dream, because they are taught about their expected way of life. Without imagination and dream, children are basically slaves being prepped to work and have

This is shown when the woman states, “It’s just that this little boy seems rather reluctant to join in on erotic play.” (Huxley, 31-32). This quote shows that children of both genders are met with certain expectations. In general, children are expected to run around, explore new things, and at times, get hurt. The children in Huxley’s dystopian society are not allowed to do explore and learn. In fact, they are taught at an early age how to be profligate. This is something that is expected of adults. This indicates that not even children have a say in what they can do. The leaders emphasis control and separation and a very young age, regardless of their genders. They do this so that both genders act the same and follow the same rules, but if everyone is the same then there is no individualism. Huxley emphasises this through satirizing that the by does not want to engage in sexual games. This is interesting because we think about guys as being the initiators of sex. This switching of gender roles is used to emphasize the lack of control people in this society have. We think of men as the people in power and in charge of households This reaffirms that the government has complete control and no one gender has power over another. They are all equal in how pernicious the act and social standing within their class. As a