Aldous Huxley Brave New World

Apocalyptic Novel Written about the future and attempts to predict the future in other than utopian terms

Utopia/Dystopia Utopia- A place of ideal perfection especially referring to laws, government, and social conditions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v57JVVD6-ag Dystopia- An imaginary place where people live dehumanized and often fearful lives

Aldous Huxley Aldous Huxley was born in England in 1894 He wrote Brave New World in 1931 He moved to the USA in 1937 He died on November 22, 1963

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”

Setting London, England A.F. 623 A.F. stands for “after Ford”- the number of years after he started the assembly line (1913). So, what year is this taking place? 2536

What is the Brave New World ? 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

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.

TONE The book is critical of the society presented in it. Strongly satirical of the problems in our own society Warns the readers of the dangers of science when it is misused SATIRE: the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

Possible research topics… Genetic engineering Drugs prescribed to alleviate depression, anxiety, etc. Governmental control over society Over-sexualized society/youth Obsession with youth (plastic surgery, longevity) cloning

Topics cont… Psychological manipulation Stem cell research Effects of capitalism/consumerism Test-tube babies Utopian experiments