Brave New World, Part 1

The Society of Brave New World Group work: How does the society portrayed in the novel approach the following issues? How might this be a critique of Huxley’s own society? Can you make any comparisons between Brave New World and what we learned about Utopia? Each group should have several quotes to discuss with the class. Group 1: Equality Group 2: Individuality Group 3: Emotion (both good and bad) Group 4: Consumption Group 5: Sexuality Group 6: Nature

Outcasts in Brave New World Bernard – outcast because he is small for an Alpha John – outcast because he is from the “civilized” world Not really outcasts, but certainly different… Hermholtz – unique because he is “too smart” Lenina – unique because she is enjoys going out with one man What do these outcasts/unique individuals and others’ responses to them tell us about how “civilized” and “savage” societies work?

Contrasts and Intriguing Scenes Huxley draws a sharp contrast between the “civilized” world and the “savage” reservation. Given a choice between the two, which would you choose? Why? Choose a scene from this first half of the novel that intrigued or interested you. Read it again carefully, and be ready to tell the class why the scene is so interesting (or disturbing, as the case may be) and how it fits in thematically with the rest of the novel.

Thoughts on the Title At the end of Chapter Eight, John, the young man raised on the “savage” reservation, quotes the section from Shakespeare’s The Tempest that gives the novel its title. Why is this quote significant? (Other than the fact that it’s where the title comes from…) Did you find Bernard’s response to John’s enthusiasm surprising?