.. continuing our conversation from my other post regarding Brave New World and totalitarianism research paper :)

Question

my response to your comment:

Thanks for your opinions Reed, I have thought about it and decided on my stance. My thesis is now "The author, Aldous Huxley, effectively applies and captures the essence of totalitarianism within his fictional society, even so when his social commentary piece is intended to be a satire." I plan on using 3 specific examples from the novel that each depict a facet of totalitarianism(in the real world) by using the examples from history I posted for support.Can you check these over for me and maybe supply better examples from novel, or merge the similar ideas etc to help me make valid and strong supporting evidence please?

First one, I want to talk about the aspect of direct control(and manipulation?- do direct control and manipulation count as the same thing?) in totalitarianism(my research) and connect it with(example from book) the government's use of genetic engineering, and people being controlled, economically, socially and sexually by the government.I will touch on the lack of freedom of choice and denial of independence(hence why john realizes the corruption in the end) where their lives have all been pre-planned.(wait, this might also relate to the soma drug- which is my second point... I am confused, help?)

Second point, I want to talk about the use of propaganda in a dictatorial regime(research of one of my points) and connect it with the use of the drug soma(example from book) to render people docile through artificial reality and happiness.

Third point, I want to talk about the force of specific knowledge that relates to each ruler, so like censorship(research- like Nazism etc and other ideologies); but isnt this like the first point I made above?(boy, these are all so closely related) and I will relate that to the "religion"(in the novel) in the novel- Fordism.

Do my points even make sense? I kind of rushed through this book last week and I may not have an extremely profound understanding of everything. Can you maybe give me one more example from your brain? Or help me reorganize my thoughts?

Thank you so much Reed! Hope you see this~

Answer 1

I see it. First, your thesis statement is too complicated. I'll post a link below that might help you refine it.

Yes, all these points are related. Separate them out, one by one, and address each specifically. A rushed reading of the novel may be too rushed, but your ideas are sound, if a bit unclear.

The "soma" drug can be said to be analogous to propaganda, convincing people to accept the dictates of the ruler(s) as normal and correct and bringing happiness and contentment. Also bear in mind that propagandists usually identify some enemy that they are protecting against. In Nazi Germany it as Jews and any non-Aryan people. The Soviets had the "west." And so it goes. As I recall, Fordism and the ruling class in Huxley's novel also had enemies, real or imagined, to protect against.

Where your examples are inter-related, point that out. More than one method is used to reinforce totalitarian rule, all to the same objectives.

http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/

Answer 2

If propaganda is analogous to soma(body para 1), then what should I establish for the two other examples in my essay? Would the total control of the citizens' genetic, economic, social, and sexual freedoms be analogous to denial of independence/direct control/manipulation(body para 2)? And lastly, (body para 3) could you tell me an analogous situation+concept to the enforcement of Fordism upon the people(or is there another better example from the book that I have not picked up on that will work better, and sets a more definitive border between all 3 of my points?).

Also, how should I structure my essay? I am thinking standard 5 paragraph(up to 1200 words) with each body paragraph discussing an example from novel and its connection to history or contemporary society(which is the "research" part of this assignment). But now that you have gone into some detail, I forgot to ask whether I should use one example from history(hitler, stalin, argentina(does military rue count/relevant at all)or three examples- one for each instance from the book? It is the organization part(and lesser the connection part) that is confusing me. Should I just stick with one facet of totalitarianism(ie propaganda- but I also had denial of individuality on my list too, just missing a third) and connect it with 3 examples, or 3 facets of totalitarianism gleaned from novel and one instance in history(harder, since we have to find an example that will fit all 3 aspects chosen)?

Please let me know your thoughts and answers! And THANK you for your patience in helping me this far, I genuinely appreciate it. Hope you will be able to see this again in the sea of posts!

Answer 3

In addition to examples(maybe it will help you with my request) I can also touch on Hitler's regime when German children were to enroll in youth groups to brainwash the children with the ideas and practices of Nazism.Stalin did something similar with his Great Terror massacre to rid any traitors. Are there any other examples, such as Argentina or Pinochet, that have similar situations or (since I have never learned about these and research on my own will only go so far) show other examples on the facets of totalitarianism?