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Huxleys brave new summary
Huxleys brave new summary
Huxleys brave new summary
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Brave New World
Brave New World is a novel by Aldous Huxley. It was published in the year 1932 and is about reproductive technology of the future. It talks of how science and technology is used to manipulate what human beings become. In this essay, we are going to consider the role of women in this novel. The representation of mothers in this novel will also be discussed. By taking into account the role of each character, the different roles of men and women will be discovered. A comparison between Bernard and John will be made to show their different characters in this novel. In the World State society, there are many gender related issues that take place and one gender is considered superior to the other.
In this novel, there are very few women. In the World State society, men are the dominant gender. Lenina Crowe and Linda are the most featured women in this society. Lenina is a nurse at the hatchery and she can be used to represent single independent women in this society. She is described as young, beautiful and sexy. She is admired by many men in this community and has dated several of them. While in the lift, Lenina says that she had spent a night with most of the men there (Huxley, 2007 pp. 4). Lenina dates one man at a time. She is dating Henry Foster while at the same time she is attracted to Bernard. Sex in the World State society is encouraged from a young age and Lenina is scolded by her friend Fanny Crowe for dating one man for too long (Huxley, 2004 pp. 13). In this novel, being a single independent woman is not a virtue. A woman should date as many men as possible. Having sex with them should not be made a big deal. It is said “everyone belongs to everyone else” (Huxley, 2004 pp. 12). A single independent woman...
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...vered that in the World State society, majority of the population is made up of men. Women are there but are not regarded as a voice in the society. Single independent women are not a force to reckon in the World State society and live normal lives. There is no special treatment accorded to them. Besides, being a mother in this society is a disgrace. In social matters, both sexes have the right to do what they want but in professional matters although women are marginalized. Men are given higher and more powerful positions as compared to women. This is seen in the workplace and in the government. Males and females interact freely and casually, commitment and marriage is not part of this society. The last paragraph describes the similarities and differences between Bernard and John. This essay is a complete assessment of some issues that happen in the World State.
Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, while fictitiously showing the future possible advances of science and technology, is actually warning people of what science could become. In the Foreword of Brave New World, Huxley states: “The theme of Brave New World is not the advancement of science as such; it is the advancement of science as it affects human individuals” (xi). He is not suggesting that this is how science should advance, but that science will advance the way that people allow it to. The novel is not supposed to depict a “utopian” society by any means, but it is supposed to disturb the reader and warn him not to fall into this social decay. Huxley uses satire to exploit both communism and American capitalism created by Ford.
This combines with the fact that each time two people go out and then proceed to have sex they use various resources including perfumes, cologne, clothing, and contraceptives. The characters in the novel understand the need of having multiple sexual partners, but even in their society where everyone belongs to everyone, some still find pleasure in only seeing one other person. When Lenina only sees Henry for four months, Fanny is completely distraught and warns Lenina, “’It’s such horribly bad form to go on and on like this with one man... you know how strongly the D.H.C. objects to anything intense or long-drawn’” (41). Huxley uses this to emphasize the fact that multiple sexual partners is needed for a fully happy and stable society, as the extra consumption and emotional release has very positive impacts on society.
The actual process of creating humans is made possible through the use of a single ovary which makes thousands of identical people. Since these people are similar in appearance, thought and relations, they are able to live in perfect harmony with each other. Huxley uses Lenina and Fanny, two of his female characters who are distant relatives from the same ovary, as people who get along well and are on the same page on issues concerning Utopian lifestyles. This is how the government of Utopia, made up of only ten controllers, is able to maintain stability among its people. Since stability is part of the brave new world’s motto, it is a crucial deal for the government to uphold.
From my readings in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World I have noticed most of the World State citizens remain in a childish state of mind all of their entire lives from playing games all day to having instant gatification from their problems. This bothers me very much because in the real world people must work for what they want. Instead the citizens of this deranged culture are taken care of for their whole lives like children.
After reading Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World I was confounded by how accurate Huxley’s prediction of modern day sexual attitudes was. Huxley’s portrayal of Lenina Crowne is especially profound, because Lenina represents the exact opposite woman of Huxley’s time, but a woman that could be found in modern society. Lenina is a free spirted nurse who works in the hatchery, immunizing embryos. When Lenina is not at work she can be found hanging off the arm of the man she plans on taking home that night, probably high on soma. A similar type of sexual revolution has taken America by storm, starting in the 1960’s. Advances in contraceptives as well as birth control for women as opposed
Huxley also uses distortion as a way to make people "see" in his depiction of human relationships. In the book, sex is looked upon as a tool for sharing with multiple partners. The frequency with which people sleep with each other is a disturbing aspect Huxley chooses to portray. Lenina Crowne symbolizes Huxley's portrayal of the complete lack of sexual morals and self-respect. Along with Soma, sexual promiscuity is another form in which the governm...
Wanting to be in a commitment relationship causes many problems in the World State. Fanny said, “It’s not a disagreeable about having one or two men besides Henry. And seeing you ought to be a little more promiscuous,” (Huxley 43). Lenina is seeing one guy, and she believes that he is reciprocating his feelings for her. Henry, who Lenina is seeing, has been giving other women his attention also. Fanny is finding it suspicious that Lenina is only going to be with one person, which is not normal in the World State. Bernard said, “What? He’s looking out for someone to take my place? So it’s actually
Lenina is confused and interested as to how John could not sleep with her and he tries to explain the importance of having a real relationship and being married. Despite his efforts, Lenina simply cannot understand John and his beliefs. Once John’s mother passes away he becomes disgusted by the society he is now a part of and cannot stand how Lenina is constantly begging him for sex. In anger he moves to a secluded lighthouse, here he can become separate from society but continues to have sexual thoughts about Lenina.
1.) The Savage Reservation is similar to the Utopia world in several ways. They both have drugs that are designed to calm people down. Soma, used in the Utopia and mescal used in the Reservation. They both also have a separation within their own society. The Utopia has social castes and the reservation has separation between the men and women, the men having more power. The two worlds also both have ceremonies. The Utopia has the orgy porgy ceremony in which everyone gathers around and has an orgy, hence the name. The Savage Reservation has traditional dancing ceremonies like the many traditional Indian tribes have today. The two cultures have many similar ideas, just expressed a little differently.
Lenina and Linda are both shown as Beta females who come from the civilized world. Even though Huxley does not clearly state that Lenina is from a upper class within society; however the text strongly suggests her to be a Beta through dialogue and association presented with other characters, and her specific thoughts and actions. Having a background and childhood in ‘The Other Place’, both women support the idea of conditioning from heart. Despite sharing a common interest in obsessing over materialistic possessions, such as jewellery, clothing, outer appearances and body fragrances; they also share an interest in p...
Within Aldous Huxley’s work of Brave New World, there are two characters, Bernard Marx and Helmholtz Watson that are a part of the world state, but they are isolated and different then everyone else. Bernard and Helmholtz are both Alpha-plus males; they are the highest class within their society. Bernard is physically shorter than all the other alphas, and is insecure about his size and status. Helmholtz on the other hand is very intelligent and physically attractive. Both individuals share a discontent with life in the world state. Bernard is discontent because he does not fit in, but Helmholtz is discontent because he feels that his work is empty and meaningless and he is dissatisfied with life. Helmholtz’ difference, his “mental excess”, within the world state society is the cause for his dissatisfaction of life in the world state and stimulates his desire to reach for something greater.
In the first couple of chapters, Lenina, a young woman, is introduced. When we first meet her, we learn that she has been seeing a guy, Henry, for the past 4 months. The reader can assume that this is normal, since the same happens in our everyday lives, but we soon discover that this is abnormal. In the new world, a regulation is set that men and woman cannot be in committed relationships, but are supposed to have sex with as many men or woman possible. The fact that she is not promiscuous enough can get her into trouble. “And you know how strongly the D. H. C. objects to anything intense or long-drawn… why, he’d be furious if he knew…” (Huxley, 41) As the story progresses, however, she becomes an example of new world regulations, admitting that she had sex with many men. “She was a popular girl and, at one time or another, had spent a night with almost all of them.” (Huxley, 57) Old world r...
In Brave New World’s World State, relationships are extremely insignificant. Long-term relationships are basically laughable, and the words “Mother” and “Father” are seen as obscene. This futuristic society revolves around short-term relationships that are exist for the sole purpose of pleasure. It is purely sexual. One of the main characters, Lenina, is questioned after telling her friend she is going on multiple dates with the same man. Fanny asks, “I suppose you’re going out? Who with?” A cautious Lenina replies, “Henry Foster.” Fanny asks, “Do you mean to tell me you’re still going out with Henry Foster?”(40). Lenina’s friend is basically confused why she would go on more than a single date with one guy. This is very reflective of the relationships that can flourish in a society wit...
Ever since I was created, I have been mining here at Sector C-88 for coal. Sector C-88 is a monumental quarry with up to ten-thousand workers in a 10-kilometer by 15-kilometer area. Surrounding the massive quarry is an extensive network of processing and extracting factories and centers. Beyond that is, well, I don’t know. It’s just called the Beyond here, and it’s said to have something called “society”, but there’s probably nothing interesting like coal or anything. I looked up at the polluted beige sky and observed the curious shapes from the factory smokes. What could be above the smog? Infinite emptiness? I wondered. Suddenly, a familiar voice broke my course of thoughts.
Society is essentially a rulebook describing how people are supposed to think and how they are supposed to act upon these thoughts. Aldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World explores the importance of questioning the values and societal pressures of the time period you’re living in, however, he still displays his own prejudices of the 1930s in the way Aldous Huxley wrote female characters in his book. In the 1930s, being a submissive and hardworking housewife was the currency you had to have as a woman to have value. In Brave New World, the character Lenina is very different from this expectation due to her being a sexually-active woman who has a well-respected and important job outside