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Comparing Social Norms In Things Fall Apart 'And Brave New World' By

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The pressure to conform to societal norms is prominent in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. The idealized norm of Things Fall Apart is masculinity, while in Brave New World it one of promiscuity. Being Masculine, in Things Fall Apart means withholding emotions because they are seen as weak and feminine in the village of Umuofia. Promiscuity in Brave New World means having physical relations with as many people as you can. In both novels, people who lack these traits are seen as undesirable to society. The characters Nwoye from Things Fall Apart and Lenina From Brave New World both feel obligated to follow these social norms and ultimately give in to them. In things fall apart a strong man who can take care of his family is seen as powerful and high status in the …show more content…

People in the Brave New World are expected to be promiscuous by having physical relations with as many people as they can. In many ways, Lenina Crowne is conventional and follows the social norm of being “pneumatic”. However, she challenges this idealized norm in her decision to go out with only one person, Henry Foster. Fanny, one of Lenina close friends, reminds her of the social stigma of only dating one man “The D.H.C objects to anything intense or long drawn. Four months with Henry Foster, without having another man, why he would be furious if he knew” ( Aldous Huxley 37). Lenina has learned through observation that to fit in or be normal, she has to be promiscuous. Bernard Marx who, Lenina at one point goes out with believes that you should only have one partner at a time, because of this he seen as an outcast to society. Lenina recognizes that unless she is promiscuous, she will turn out like Bernard Marx, alone and disrespected. Being pneumatic is necessary for Lenina to uphold her social status, and for this reason she won’t ever completely defy the social

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