Introduction to Brave New World

About the Author: Aldous Huxley was born in 1894 to Leonard Huxley and Julia Arnold in southern England. His father was a school teacher, but his family would later be renowned for scientists. His grandfather, in fact, had the nick name, “Darwin’s Bulldog.” He, like others in his family, enjoyed the sciences, but in 1911, Aldous was overcome by a sickness that would leave him nearly blind. Due to his poor eyesight he was not able to pursue a scientific career.

Aldous would not allow his partial blindness to hinder his pursuit of high academic excellence and decided to turn to literature. In his 20s, Aldous’ father decided to no longer support him financially, so Aldous started to put his writing to work. As a journalist, essayist, and poet, Aldous was able to travel often and mingle with academic and influential people. *It was because of these individuals that Aldous began to be concerned and highly critical of the important changes that were occurring across Western civilization.

When were these works written? His critical texts examined the serious threats posed by the combination of power and technical progress as well as “behaviorism.” His critical view against war and nationalism would also be seen in his works. When were these works written?

One of his best known novels is Brave New World. He wrote it in four months and it was originally published in 1932. Adolf Hitler had not yet gained power in Germany, and therefore Aldous Huxley had not been able to tap into the realities of the dictatorial future, but he did have the foresight to write about it before it happened. Brave New World, depicts a society where the use of genetics and cloning in order to condition/control individuals is an accepted process.

The perfect dictatorship would also be represented: “It would have the appearance of a democracy, but would basically be a prison without walls in which the prisoners would not even dream of escaping. It would essentially be, as Aldous Huxley tells us, a system of slavery where, through entertainment and consumption the slaves ‘would love their servitude’” (EGS, par 7).

About the Book: Humans are no longer birthed and they are no longer raised with parents. Humans are manufactured and they are placed into a caste system where there is no chance of moving up through the ranks.

Cloning: The human clones, that this book is focused on, are processed and conditioned at the Central London Hatching and Conditioning Centre in London, England. We learn about the Bokanovsky and Podsnap process as the way in which thousands of nearly identical human embryos are created.

Characters to Make Note of: *Throughout the book, take note of the differences between characters. Bernard Marx – An alpha male who has an “inferior” physical stature. Helmholtz Watson – An alpha male lecturer at the College of Emotional Engineering and a friend of Bernard. Lenina Crowne – she is the focus of Bernard’s sexual desire and she is a vaccination worker at the hatchery. Mustapha Mond – The Resident World Controller of Western Europe who keeps a collection of forbidden literature and is capable of exiling those who have “unorthodox” beliefs.

Fanny Crowne – Lenina’s friend who warns Lenina that she should have more men in her life and that she should never focus on one for too long. John (“The Savage”) – is the son of the Director and Linda. He is one of the few in the world who are born instead of decanted. His view of the world is based off of Shakespearean plays and he’s never known life outside of the reserve. Linda – is Beta female, and John’s mother. She was lost on a reservation during an outing with The Director. They had been on a date. The Director – is the administrator of the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre and John’s father.

Is Brave New World a Dystopian or Utopian Society? Dystopia vs. Utopia Dystopia – a society characterized by human misery, as squalor, oppression, disease, and overcrowding Utopia – an ideal place or state with any visionary system of political or social perfection. Is Brave New World a Dystopian or Utopian Society?