Compare and Contrast Essay Reproducing using technology is a unique theme that is portrayed and inspired in both works. The novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is based upon a dystopian society which has been entirely manufactured, and is controlled by just a few at the top of the World State society. The news article “Making Babies Aint What it Used to Be”, written by Simon Smith speaks about the future of reproduction through the use of technology, and germ line engineering. In both of these pieces, the theme of reproducing through technology is clear, however is it carried out for 2 completely different purposes. Also, the same type of technology is used in the novel and article, but the time spans of each process are highly contrasting. Both the novel and the article follow the theme of reproduction through the use of technology, and although their are a few differences, they are still very similar.

In both of the pieces, Brave New World and “Making Babies Aint What it Used to Be”, the concept of the reproduction of humans through the use of technology is similar. In the novel, human beings are genetically engineered and conditioned in what is called the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre. Huxley writes, “bokanovskification consists of a series of arrests of development. We check the normal growth and, paradoxically enough, the egg responds by budding.” (pg 17) In this centre, multiple humans are grown all at once. There are not many workers, but a wide variety of technology which contributes to the reproduction process as well. In the news article, a very similar concept is followed in the future of reproduction through the use of technology. Smith states, “But the project, called “surrogaid”, would do more, enabling a colned or non-cloned child to grow from conception to birth in a machine that provides the necessary nutritional elements and stimuli.” (Smith p2) The concept of genetic engineering is clearly shows here because of the brief description of the “surrogaid”. Both pieces consider the concept of reproduction through the use of technology and engineering, but for two very divergent purposes. In Brave New World, the reason why reproduction occurs is because no one has any other option, but to use technology. The concept of family and love doesn’t exist within the dystopian society modelled in the novel. Aldous Huxley writes, “Mother, monogamy, romance. High spurts the fountain; fierce and foamy the wild jet. The urge has but a single outlet. My love, my baby. No wonder these poor per-moderns were mad and wicked and miserable. Their world didn’t allow them to take things easily, didn’t allow them to be sane, virtuous, happy.” (pg 47) Here, Mustapha Mond, one of the ten “World Controllers” depicts that family and love is a bad thing, which is why the ideology of reproduction is made through technology, and not between two individuals. In the article, Simon Smith states, “It could also be a boon for women who are unable to have children due to uterus problems or removal. And then, of course, theirs the prospect of mean – gay and heterosexual...” (Smith pg 2) Simon Smith writes that the “surrogaid” would be good for the society, but not for the same reasons as the novel Brave New World. While the purposes of the two pieces are different, the concepts are the same.

The novel and the article both possess a similarity between the common type of technology that is used during human reproduction and engineering. Specifically, the human fertilizer. In Brave New World, Huxley states, “”And this,” said the Director opening the door, “is the Fertilizing Room... three hundred fertilizers were plunged as...”” (pg 15) Fertilizers are part of the first steps of reproduction in this novel, followed by conditioning and much more. In “Making Babies Aint What it Used to Be” by Simon Smith, the “Surrogaid” acts as the main fertilizer that helps the embryo to grow and develop. Smith writes, “...the project