The Death of Creativity in Brave New World
Aldous Huxley, in his distopian novel,Brave New World, presents a
horrifying view of a possible future in which society has
become a prisoner of the very technology it hoped would save us. In Brave
New World Huxley's distortion of technology, religion, and family values,
is much more effective than his use of literary realism found in his
depiction of a savage reservation. Through his use of distortion Huxley
tells a classic tale with the theme of, be careful what you wish for,
because it may not truly be what you wanted.
Huxley effectively uses distortion in -Brave New World through his
depiction of social values of the future. For example, when Barnard Marx
hears somebody talking about Lenina in the locker room, he becomes upset.
Leaving the building, everyone he passes recommends soma for his bad mood.
Huxley shows the reader that drug use is becoming more and more an
acceptable way out for a weak society. He is showing society that we are
becoming emotionally incapable of dealing with pain and hurt. Furthermore,
the students, while speaking with the director of the London Hatchery, are
told at one time people were viviparous, and were disgusted and outraged.
Huxley is trying to warn society that its lack of commitment and endurance
will eventually be its downfall. Lack of the experience of pregnancy
severs the emotional ties of the woman and her child. An emotionless
society feels no guilt. In addition, Lenina, when accused of lack of
promiscuity by Fanny while in the locker room, religiously denies it.
Monogamy requires commitment, pain, and work. Huxley is predicting humans
progressing to a society of people who are unable to focus on anything but
pleasure; unable to handle the work of a commitment. He knew the road we
were on would lead the wrong way.
Huxley also uses distortion to open peoples eyes to the world of
religion. For example, Bernard Marx hurries and frets about being late to
his orgy-porgy session because he is running behind. Huxley's prediction
of the church moving away from God and towards man is becoming evident even
sixty-three years after his book appeared. Church figures, such as, Jim
Bakker and Jimmy Swaggert, have appeared numerous times on the news and in
the papers for using the church for money and sex. Furthermore, when
Bernard and Lenina visit the reservation they are appalled at the practice
of a cross of Christianity and Hinduism. A warning that lack of religious
tolerance could be one of the greatest downfalls of our time. Every day
thousands of men, women and children die in Middle Eastern Holy Wars, over
nothing more than lack of religious tolerance. In addition, Lenina wears
the sign of the T to replace the sign of the cross. The cross represented
faith, something that couldn't be touched, but had to be believed in. The
T, stands for technology, something that even the weak can believe in
because they can see it. Faith is a sign of a strong society, the lack of
faith would be a sign that a society is becoming weak.
The most powerful distortion in -Brave New World is found in Huxley's
use of technology. For example, the world director of the London Hatchery
is very proud they have produced ninety-six buds from one egg. Technology
has replaced motherhood. The new society finds delight in being able to
reproduce ninety-six of the exact same person. There is no ambition, no
individuality, no creativity, a truly bleak society. Furthermore, while
the students are being given a tour of the hatchery, they are extremely
impressed that not only are the children decanted, they are predestined.
Predestined. Children grow up and know one job and no other, they are
taught nothing but that one job. They aren't allowed to dream and aren't
allowed to hope. In addition, Mustapha Mond, one of the seven world
leaders, the seven most powerful men in the world, is referred to as His
Fordness.
Henry Ford is the god of the Brave New World. Society has
replaced what is associated with beauty, nature, and creativity, with a man
who invented the assembly line, a process designed to stamp out thousands
of the exact same interchangeable part. Are we going to become the exact
same replaceable person? Creativity brought the idea, but will the idea
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