Brave New World Aldous Huxley

The Name “Oh wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here How beautious mankind is! Oh brave new world That has such people in’t!” -William Shakespeare The Tempest (V.ii.)

Aldous Huxley : Born in England, Died in Los Angeles. Plagued with vision problems throughout his life. Teacher Published Brave New World in 1932 His “novels of ideas” criticized for being “too intellectual”

Important Concepts Utopia - a perfect society. Dystopia - Dreadful, dysfunctional society. Satire - writing to ridicule and arouse contempt. Caste System - A class structure that divides people on basis of inherent social status.

Important People Ivan Pavlov: Psychology - “Classical Conditioning” - Used dogs. As a result, teaches dog to salivate at the ring of a bell even if there is not food. Sigmund Freud: Psychology - Mental health comes from a child's upbringing not their heredity. Henry Ford: Created the Model T Ford in 1908.

Ford Religion of the World State based on the life and philosophies of Henry Ford. American car manufacturer, inventor of the assembly line Model T car – designed to be affordable to everyone; only available in black Mass production & mass consumption Assembly line = improved efficiency Vertical structure = self sufficient

What is Brave New World dystopian tale about a possible future world where human faith in scientific progress, freedom, dignity, and individuality are all called into question.

Where and When? 26th Century (A.F.) “After Ford” London, England A Reservation in New Mexico

B.N.W. Caste System Alphas (Α)– highest, grey Betas (Β)- mulberry, bottle green Gammas (Γ)- leaf green Deltas (Δ)- khaki Epsilons (Ε)– lowest, black There are also plusses and minuses, so one can be an Alpha Plus or a Gamma Minus. Differentiation achieved through oxygen deprivation

Bokanovsky Process Fertilization process used to create Deltas & Epsilons Divide fertilized eggs to produce identical twins Produces up to 96 embryos, but 72 is the average Primary instrument of social stability

Hypnopaedia Government organization “conditions” the lower caste children using Hypnopaedia “The greatest moralizing and socializing force of all time” (28). Sleep teaching Moral education Class conditioning

What is B.N.W. Society? A society where all aspects of an individual's life are determined by the state, beginning with conception and conveyor-belt reproduction. A government bureau, the Predestinators, decides all roles in the hierarchy. Children are raised and conditioned by the state bureaucracy, not brought up by natural families. Citizens must not fall in love, marry, or have their own children.

Dystopian Concepts Is history worthless? Do we really need mothers? Is throwing something away is better than fixing it? Are the elderly worthless to society? Everyone belongs to everyone else?

The World State Requires: Community Identity Stability

Works Cited Edmondson, Elizabeth. “Brave New World Powerpoint.” Gilmour Academy. 8 May PDF file. Web. 19 Apr A Guide to Brave New World. Austin, Texas: Holt, Reinhart, and Winston, Print. Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. New York: Harper Collins, Wood, Lisha. “Brave New World Intro.” Sprayberry High School. Typepad. 6 Sept Web. 19 Apr 2010.