BRAVE NEW WORLD By Aldous Huxley ALDOUS HUXLEY
BRAVE NEW WORLD By Aldous Huxley
ALDOUS HUXLEY 1894 -1963 Born to intellectual, wealthy family Christian worldview Pacifist Experimentation with drugs, especially hallucinogens Loss of eyesight, frequent illness
KEY FACTS Full title · Brave New World Author · Aldous Huxley Type of work · Novel Genre · Dystopia/Satire Time and place written · 1931, England
SATIRE A piece of literature designed to ridicule the subject of the work. While satire can be funny, its aim is not to amuse, but to arouse contempt. Ridicule, irony, exaggeration, and several other techniques are almost always present
A Utopia is a place or society that appears perfect in every way. The government is perfect, working to improve societies standards of living rather then their own, social aspects of the community run perfectly. There is no war or disease, only peace and happiness. Everyone outside this Utopian society looks to this place in wonder and awe, believing it is completely perfect in every such way. WHAT IS UTOPIA?
Dystopia WHAT IS DYSTOPIA? came from the term Utopia. It defines a place or society which is in complete chaos. The citizens are all suffering and are miserable. Often times in novels what appears to be a Utopian society it first by the visiting protagonist is actually revealed to be a dystopian society. The citizens are often revealed to live in terror, under complete control by the government, unaware of corrupt world in which they actually live in, or suppressed by the society as a whole.
1984 (GEORGE ORWELL) Orwell portrays the potential effects of Soviet Communism Totalitarian state, where everyone is watched by Big Brother TV cameras capture everyone’s movements No one has any freedoms Children spy on their parents and turn them in for any kind of political dissent 3
1984 (GEORGE ORWELL) Parents lose moral authority over their children Children raised by the state (“It takes a village”) Doublethink: to hold simultaneously two opinions which cancelled out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them. War Is Peace, Ignorance Is Strength, Freedom Is Slavery Newspeak: the attempt to make certain thoughts inexpressible through the reform of language. Example: Ethnic Cleansing 3
POPULAR DYSTOPIAS Earliest Literary Dystopia: Plato’s Republic Government had a deep suspicion of literature Viewed educated men as potentially subversive Genre became extremely popular in the 20 th century… …WHY? 2
POPULAR DYSTOPIAS 20 th century popularity Attempts to put utopian ideals into place resulted in real-life dystopias: IDEOLOGIES Soviet Communism German Nazism Western Consumerism Modernism Technological mass production 3
IDEOLOGY (BELIEF SYSTEM) “the imaginary relation to the real conditions of existence. ” - Althusser “The body of ideas reflecting the social needs and aspirations of an individual, a group, a class, or a culture. A system of beliefs or theories, usually political, held by an individual or a group. ” –OED Ideologies are all around us, and usually we don’t recognize them. 3. 5
UTILITARIANISM Doctrine founded by Jeremy Bentham (1748 -1832) • Doctrine is based on the line of reasoning that “we are all governed by the feelings of pain and pleasure. ” The standard of right and wrong or any decision for that matter (moral or political) is guided by the desire to maximize utility (overall happiness). • “The highest principle of morality is to maximize happiness, the overall balance of pleasure over pain…the right thing to do is whatever will maximize utility”; utility meaning “whatever produces pleasure or happiness, and whatever prevents pain or suffering. ”
EUGENICS Highly Controversial Social Philosophy that argued the human race could be improved through the reproduction of people with desirable traits and the reduced reproduction or eradication of people with less desirable traits.
PAVLOVIAN CONDITIONING
WESTERN CONSUMERISM A social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. People purchasing goods and consuming materials in excess of their basic needs Characterized by propaganda and advertising everywhere What is the difference between the two? 3
MODERNISM A group of movements in the 20 th century that sought to break with the past To eliminate traditions To live without dependence on the family, the Church, and the community Only novel and innovative ideas were considered worthy Technological advancement was worshiped without questioning the possible ill consequences 3
MASS PRODUCTION Product of the Industrial Revolution Production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines Contributed to consumerism Henry Ford’s Model T was the first Mass produced 3
BRAVE NEW WORLD Portrays a society that has been socially engineered for a mindless happiness. No need for a totalitarian state because everyone is so “amused” and entertained by sex and drugs. Technology drives the culture and takes away one’s humanity A critique of consumerism, technology worship, mass media 3
BRAVE NEW WORLD Human beings are treated like different model cars trundling off the Ford assembly line. Babies are bred in bottles for designated roles in society comparable The family is seen as unnecessary and revolting. 3
2540 AD; referred to in the novel as 632 years AF (“After Ford”), meaning 632 years after production of the first Model T car 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 Setting:
Mustapha Mond, Resident Controller of Western Europe, governs 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. • There are only 10, 000 surnames. • Citizens must not fall in love, marry, or have their own kids.
BRAVE NEW WORLD SOCIAL CASTES/COLORS Alphas- Grey powerfully built, deep chested, broad shoulders, quick, agile, intellectual Betas- Mulberry everything is a bit less developed compared to Alphas, but still they are quite well-built. They conduct demanding work in positions of importance Gammas- Green They hold positions such as: housekeepers, attendants, workers, porters etc. Deltas- Khaki Epsilons- Black
IMPORTANT INFORMATION… Soma The drug soma is a symbol of the use of instant gratification to control the World State’s populace. It is also a symbol of the powerful influence of science and technology on society. As a kind of “sacrament, ” it also represents the use of religion to control society.
Many find 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.
- Slides: 24