Thursday, November 18, 2010

What are the tasks/jobs each caste in the caste system carry out in Brave New World?

In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World,
there are five genetically-dictated castes that inhabit the New World.  In the supposed
utopia, these predestined humans are named after the letters of the Greek alphabet: 
Alphas, Betas, Gammas, Deltas,
and Epsilons. 


ALPHAS


The
upper castes such as the Alpha Pluses and Alphas are bred for managerial positions. 
They have been given creative powers, but they have been conditioned to abhor books and
nature.  The Director of the Hatchery is an Alpha, for example, as are Bernard Marx and
Helmholtz.


BETAS


Not as
intelligent as Alphas, Betas also can be minuses and pluses.  They have had some
decanting (reducing of the oxygen), but are able to hold jobs that require
intelligence.  Lenina is a Beta.  Like other Betas and Alphas, Lenina is taught to hate
Gammas, Epsilons, and Deltas.  She makes the comment that she is glad that she is a
Beta



because
they're so frightfully clever.  I'm really awfully glad I'm a Beta, because I don't work
so hard.  And then we are much better than the Gammas and Deltas.  Gammas are stupid. 
They all wear green, and Delta children wear khaki.  Oh no, I don't want to play with
Delta children.   And Epsilons are still worse.  They're too stupid to be
able..."



GAMMAS - this caste
is dressed in green


DELTAS - this caste is dressed in khaki
and other castes are conditioned to hate khaki.


EPSILONS -
this group has very little intelligence.


The Gammas, the
Deltas, and the Epsilons have the menial jobs.  There are many of them bred to do these
jobs such as running elevators and cleaning floors.


All the
groups are conditioned through electric shock and hypnopoedia, sleep conditioning. 
Sexual entertainment is also encouraged in the new world.

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