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Comparing Gattaca And Brave New World

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Comparing Gattaca And Brave New World
Alexis H.
Senior English 4
25 April 2012
Are We the “Brave New World”? Gattaca, a movie released in 1997, is about potential children being selected through preimplantation genetic diagnosis to ensure they carry the best hereditary traits of their parents. A genetic registry database uses biometrics to instantly identify and classify those created as "valids" while those that carry traditional means are known as "in-valids". This movie easily corresponds with the use of science and technology in today’s world. Many probably didn’t think much of this movie, just as they didn’t with the Aldous Huxley’s Novel Brave New World, which is based on a very similar dystopian future. The societies in the novel and movie are considered “perfect” worlds with their genetic engineering, young people and drugs, and human conditioning. This sounds shockingly similar to what America may be becoming. Most
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Teens take drugs for multiple different reasons. According to an article on Drug Info, “Alcohol and other drugs may be used as a means of avoiding problems associated with family life, school or work frustrations, friendship and relationship difficulties, low self esteem and/or depression”(Young People and Drugs). Just as drugs seem to be encouraged for many reasons in America, the novel Brave New World is the exact same. Soma is a drug encouraged by the government in Brave New World to be consumed by the citizens. The main reason is to go into deep numbness and void all feeling and emotions. In the novel, a character that is feeling emotional takes a dose of Soma to rid themselves of any odd sensations. “Glum, Marx, glum.” The clap on the shoulder made him start, look up. It was that brute Henry Foster. “What you need is a gramme of Soma” (Huxley 54). Both societies rely on drug use a little too much, could this also be a sign of a Brave New

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