Happiness is All the Rage: Brave New World Feraco Myth to Science Fiction 1 June 2009

The Story Bounces from one perspective to another Bounces from one perspective to another Starts in the Central Hatchery (Director, etc.) Starts in the Central Hatchery (Director, etc.) Moves out into the city as its characters do Moves out into the city as its characters do Takes a detour into the Savage Reservation Takes a detour into the Savage Reservation Finishes back in “civilization” Finishes back in “civilization”

The Story As Huxley switches settings, he also switches purposes As Huxley switches settings, he also switches purposes The Hatchery scenes quickly flesh out the entire World State The Hatchery scenes quickly flesh out the entire World State City introduces characters City introduces characters Savage Reservation breaks those characters down Savage Reservation breaks those characters down Return to civilization = Clash of Man v. Progress Return to civilization = Clash of Man v. Progress

What’s It About? Stability (Director)? Stability (Director)? Connection (Lenina)? Connection (Lenina)? Meaning (Hemholtz)? Meaning (Hemholtz)? Happiness (Linda)? Happiness (Linda)? Life (John)? Life (John)?  Notice Bernard’s not here

Bernard Marx and Hemholtz Watson See the world for what it is See the world for what it is Want something more Want something more Bernard = Fake protagonist Bernard = Fake protagonist  We share his views  He caves and changes  Not ready for real challenge Hemholtz = Thinker Hemholtz = Thinker  Seems a bit detached at first  We understand him better later  Greets a challenge

Lenina Crowne A confusing character A confusing character Should we root for her? Should we root for her? Seems capable of feeling Seems capable of feeling Emotional cripple Emotional cripple A child in a world of children A child in a world of children Clashes with those who would keep her a child and those who would ask more of her Clashes with those who would keep her a child and those who would ask more of her

John (The Savage) Our real protagonist Our real protagonist Truly alone Truly alone A man without worlds A man without worlds A relic of the past A relic of the past What have we lost? What have we lost? Tries to save others Tries to save others Intentions frustrated Intentions frustrated Claims right to suffer Claims right to suffer A tragic ending? A tragic ending? Is he reclaiming what’s rightfully his – or giving up? Is he reclaiming what’s rightfully his – or giving up?

Others Mustapha Mond Mustapha Mond  World Controller  Not really bad  Self-limiting – checking his own potential in order to fit in The Director The Director  Clash of Structure v. Humanity Linda Linda  Exile, not outcast  An empty life

Basic Arcs John’s experiences on the reservation and in civilization – always isolated John’s experiences on the reservation and in civilization – always isolated Bernard’s search for acceptance Bernard’s search for acceptance Hemholtz’s search for a “subject” Hemholtz’s search for a “subject” Lenina’s vestigial desire for connection Lenina’s vestigial desire for connection Societal studies – birth, death, conditioning Societal studies – birth, death, conditioning

What’s It Really About? Theme-wise, Brave New World is complicated because it’s trying to do a number of things all at once Theme-wise, Brave New World is complicated because it’s trying to do a number of things all at once Is it about what it means to be human? Is it about what it means to be human? Love Love Security Security Independence Independence Identity Identity Enlightenment Enlightenment

More Themes Development Development Relationships Relationships Civilization Civilization Faith Faith Risk Risk Disillusionment Disillusionment Happiness Happiness Loss Loss Heroism Heroism Dystopia Dystopia

At the End of the Day “Be careful what you wish for – you just might get it.” “Be careful what you wish for – you just might get it.” Paradise Paradise Stable Stable No one wants for anything…except for wanting No one wants for anything…except for wanting Is it human to suffer? Is it human to suffer? Is it human to fail? Is it human to fail? What, then, is humanity? What, then, is humanity?

Chapter 17 Re-read this chapter again. Re-read this chapter again. Can you disagree with Mond? Can you disagree with Mond? What, really, have the people of the World State sacrificed? What, really, have the people of the World State sacrificed? If you had your choice between the Savage Reservation and the World State…would you really choose the reservation? If you had your choice between the Savage Reservation and the World State…would you really choose the reservation?

Brave New World As we move forward, we have to ask ourselves what we really want As we move forward, we have to ask ourselves what we really want What would we do with prosperity? What would we do with prosperity? What would we do with freedom? What would we do with freedom? What would we do if we were in charge of our lives? What would we do if we were in charge of our lives? Apparently, we’d throw it all away. Apparently, we’d throw it all away.