Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Pre-Reading Guide

“O wonder. How many goodly creatures are there here “O wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beautious mankind is! O brave new world That has such people in’t!” -- Miranda inThe Tempest (V, ii), written by William Shakespeare

Aldous Huxley Published Brave New World in 1932 1894-1963 Family had many notable members, including great uncle, poet Matthew Arnold and grandfather, biologist T. H. Huxley Plagued with vision problems throughout his life; studied English since he could not be a scientist Attended Oxford University, became a teacher Published Brave New World in 1932 Lived in the US in later life, died while living in L.A. His “novels of ideas” have sometimes been criticized as being “too intellectual”

Novel Structure Setting: 2540 AD; referred to in the novel as 632 years AF (“After Ford”), meaning 632 years after production of the first Model T car Genre: Dystopia Narration: Third-person omniscient Point-of-View: Narrated in the third person from the point of view of Bernard or John, but also from the point of view of Lenina, Helmholtz Watson, and Mustapha Mond

Important People, Terms, and Concepts Utopia – perfect society Dystopia – dreadful, dysfunctional society Satire – writing intended to ridicule and arouse contempt – especially by using irony and exaggeration Caste System – social structure which divides people on the basis of inherited social status Ivan Pavlov Russian physician & psychologist “Classical conditioning” using dogs RESULT: Trained dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell, even without giving food.

More People, Terms, and Concepts: Sigmund Freud Psychiatrist Psychoanalysis Mental health and illness spring from a child’s upbringing, not his heredity Soma – an anti-depressant, semi-hallucinogenic drug introduced by the World State Orgy Porgy – group sexual experience to unify all people (sex is not the focus, unity is) Solidarity Service – group of men and women who gather to take Soma and have a spiritual experience

Motive for Creating a “Utopia” Huxley exploits anxieties about Soviet Communism and American capitalism. The price of universal happiness will be the sacrifice of honored shibboleths of our culture: “motherhood,” “home,” “family,” “freedom,” even “love.”

What is the Brave New World ? A dystopian tale about a possible future world where human faith in scientific progress, freedom, dignity, and individuality are all called into question. Set in two locations in the 26th century (2540 A.D.): London and a New Mexico Indian reservation

What is the Brave New World ? Religion of the World State based on the life and philosophies of Henry Ford. American car manufacturer, inventor of the assembly line Invented the 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 “Our Ford”

What is the Brave New World ? Caste System: Alphas (Α)– highest, grey Betas (Β)- mulberry 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

What is the Brave New World? Some individuals are created using the 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

What is the Brave New World ? 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 “The child’s mind is these suggestions, and the sum of the suggestions is the child’s mind” (28-29).

What is the Brave New World ? 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.

Are you living in a Brave New World? Do you agree that… History is worthless? Everyone belongs to everyone else? Throwing something away is better than fixing it? No one really needs a mother? The elderly are worthless members of society? Cleanliness is next to godliness? You should never put off until tomorrow the fun you can have today?

Relevance of Novel Today This novel is more applicable today than it was in 1932. This is a time of propaganda, censorship, conformity, genetic engineering, social conditioning, and mindless entertainment. This was what Huxley saw in our future. His book is a warning.

Interesting Irony “Reading Brave New World elicits the same disturbing feelings in the reader which the society it depicts has vanquished.”

Community Identity Stability Brave New World

Essential Questions: Is it better to be free than to be happy? Is freedom compatible with happiness? Is the collective more important than the individual? Can children be taught effectively to think in only one certain way? Can young people be taught so well that they never question their teachings later? Is stability more important than freedom? Can alterations made by advanced science to mankind be made permanent at the DNA-level? Can mankind be conditioned by science? Should the individual be limited/controlled for the greater good? If so, how much?

Works Cited Edmondson, Elizabeth. “Brave New World Powerpoint.” Gilmour Academy. 8 May 2007. PDF file. Web. 19 Apr 2010. A Guide to Brave New World. Austin, Texas: Holt, Reinhart, and Winston, 2003. Print. Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. New York: Harper Collins, 1998. Wood, Lisha. “Brave New World Intro.” Sprayberry High School. Typepad. 6 Sept 2006. Web. 19 Apr 2010.