Alduos Huxley, in his science fiction novel Brave New World written in 1932, presents a horrifying view of a possible future in which comfort and happiness replace hard work and incentive as society's priorities. Mustapha Mond and John the Savage are the symbolic characters in the book with clashing views. Taking place in a London of the future, the people of Utopia mindlessly enjoy having no individuality. In Brave New World, Huxley's distortion of religion, human relationships and psychological training are very effective and contrast sharply with the literary realism found in the Savage Reservation. Huxley uses Brave New World to send out a message to the general public warning our society not to be so bent on the happiness and comfort that comes with scientific advancements. Huxley effectively uses distortion in Brave New World in his depiction of Soma as a replacement for religion. Soma is a rationed narcotic that is emphasized by the government to help the people escape from their problems. The people of Utopia have become dependent on the drug to keep them in a constant state of pleasure. In their "perfect" society there is no escape from happiness. The primary example of the degrading effects of Soma is Linda. Brought back from the Savage Reservation after being left behind pregnant, Linda faced many moral and ethical dilemmas she chose to avoid. Her addiction to Soma, which is looked upon as a good thing by everyone except John, brings about the terrible end to her life in which she was in a state of constant delusion. Soma, as Mustapha Mond puts it, is "Christianity without tears" (244). Soma, in effect, is the key to social stability in Utopia. Soma prevents uprisings, saves revolutions and suppresses emotions. Although Huxley's distortion of religion is powerful, there are other strong arguments in the book. 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... ... middle of paper ... ...George Orwell. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House, 1986. 52-56. Gardner, Averil. George Orwell. Boston: Twayne, 1987. Harris, Roy. "The Misunderstanding of Newspeak." George Orwell. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House, 1986. 31-34. Howe, Tom. "George Orwell." British Writers Volume VII. Ed. Ian Scott-Kilvert. New York: Scribner, 1984. 273-287. Kalechofsky, Roberta. George Orwell. Boston: Twayne, 1987. Rahv, Philip. "The Unfuture of Utopia." George Orwell. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House, 1986. 102-105. Read, Herbert. "1984." George Orwell. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House, 1986. 86-89. Reilly, Patrick. Nineteen Eighty Four - A Student's Companion to the Novel. Boston: Twayne, 1989. Reiff, Phillip. The Complete Guide to George Orwell. New York: Chelsea House, 1983. 39-49. Roazen, Antonio. Twentieth Century Literary Criticism Vol II: George Orwell. Detroit: Gale, 1979. Williams, T.J. Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature in English: George Orwell. Chicago: FD, 1996. Woodcock, George. "Nineteen Eighty-Four." Reference Guide to English Literature Vol III. Chicago: St. James, 1991. 61-63.
Huxley’s first example of satire is that he shows elements of communism in the World State. Dictatorship is an element of communism and is shown in Brave New World by means of the World Controller, Mustapha Mond. In the World State, people “belong” to everyone else. Mustapha Mond, when lecturing students, says, “…’every one belongs to every one else’” (40). This thought in the novel is similar to that of communism where everyone shares everything. In Brave New World, however, Huxley takes this thought to another level. Sex, in the World State, is encouraged to occur with everybody. Even kids are encouraged to participate. People are scolded for having only one partner. Fanny, Lenina’s friends said, “’I really do think you ought to be careful. It’s such horribly bad form to go on and on like this with one man…’” (41). Lenina could possibly be punished for “having” only one man. This is how Huxley uses satire to exploit communism.
Orwell, George, and Erich Fromm. 1984: a novel. New York, N.Y.: Signet Classic, 19611949. Print.
While reading Aldous Huxley's Novel Brave New World readers experience a world unlike any other. A world where being promiscuous and the use of drugs are not only legal but considered a "must" for a fully functional member of society. This world isn't a world full of democracy or the democratic process, it's a world where a virulent caste system dominates. A world where people are bred to be workers or leaders. The people of this society believe that they live in the perfect world. All these images are satirically portrayed through the authors use of Mockery and parody.
Brave New World written by Aldous Huxley is a book about a Utopian Society that thrives on stability rather than freedom. This futile, yet widely accepted society was gone against by one man, John the Savage. John’s mother, Linda, accidentally conceived him in the World State but soon after, moved to the savage reservation to give birth to him. Living in the savage reservation all his life, John had merely heard stories about the World State through his mother. The excitement he once had about moving to the World State was short lived as he was being given a tour of the society. John is accepted in the World State but he begins to have a difficult time dealing with the principles one has to follow in that society.
“It illustrates how language can be the core of a person’s reality, how it can be used to obscure the truth, and even how it can be used to change the past.” (Berkes) Just think of your world, powered by a government that has no end or suppression. Sometimes we all think that the government is in a bad place, but with Orwell’s work we can see that indeed it can be controlled even more. “Predicting the future wasn’t Orwell’s goal” (Fischer), but it was used as a tool to warn the future that if we don’t govern what our country is doing, it can slowly take over our lives. “Language is one of the key instruments of political dominations, the necessary and insidious means of the ‘totalitarian’ control of reality.” (Rai) Communication and language have shaped our world and will continue to help expand the reaches of human existence; as with anyone’s reality, your thoughts and dreams are all made up of communication and ideas. Its only when someone treads on your deepest sense of personality, that you understand the power of human thought and language. “Orwell’s novel validates that language, when used in a manner that has a political standpoint, can tread on the very existence of reality.”
Orwell, George. “Politics and the English Language.” The Concious Reader. Ed. Caroline Shrobes, Michael Shrugrue, Marc DiPaolo, Christian J. Matuschek. Longman: Boston, 2006. 445-447. Print.
Eric Arthur Blair, commonly known under the pseudonym George Orwell, led a fascinating life, from working as a member of the Indian Imperial Police Force, to experiencing poverty firsthand in both London and Paris, to fighting in the Spanish Civil War. Orwell’s diverse life experiences gave him very strong political opinions that carried through to his writing career, during which he addressed issues such as education, poverty, and communism. George Orwell was a master of the modern political satire, through which he powerfully illustrates the political and social issues of the twentieth century.
To the uninitiated, the society of Huxley's Brave New World at first seems to be only pure science fiction with no visible ties to reality. After all, we have no government-controlled genetic engineering of human beings in our world. We do not center our children's education around pleasure and the maintenance of happiness. We have no drug, or soma, to keep us in a state of physical bliss and emotional contentedness. Yet, for all its fantasy, there are several uncomfortably close connections with our own world in Huxley's ominous vision.
Knapp, John V. “George Orwell.” Critical Survey of Long Fiction, Fourth Edition, January 2010, pp. 1-6. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=103331CSLF14690140000418&site=lrc-live.
In the essay “Politics and the English Language,” George Orwell conveys that the modern writing style is in dire need of Improvement. Orwell directly states that “. . . the English language is declining . . .” as his thesis (1).
Orwell, George. “Politics and the English Language.” George Orwell: Critical Essays. London: Harvill Secker: 2009. 270-286. Print.
Throughout the novel, Huxley presents the reader with a fictional world of blissful misfortune where science has become king. The inhabitants of the new world have had the “expected ills of human life eliminated” so that no one dies of any disease. Also within the new world “blind happiness is necessary for social stability” so the World State gives soma to its inhabitants so that “all emotions are dulled” (Sova). Huxley then shows how as science is in control, life, for some, has become not worthwhile. By showing the downsides to scientific advancement, Huxley critiques modern life for its dependence on science to make our lives better. Secondly, Huxley’s world is missing any true spirit, whereas he believes we do need one to live. In Brave New World “the world is becoming soulless” because it has slowly lost all ability to act independently of science and the government. What makes us unique is our souls; and critic Jake Pollerd states that “for Huxley living means choosing, creating, performing—all the acts and gestures that make us unique.” This explains how Huxley satirizes the soulless world he creates in order to pointedly explain his beliefs. Lastly, Huxley provides the character John as the most civil in Brave New World despite also providing both savage and civilized characters. Huxley first uses John to show the absurdities or “alienation caused by “Freudian”
McCrum, Robert. "The Masterpiece That Killed George Orwell." The Observer. Guardian News and Media, 10 May 2009. Web. 31 Mar. 2014
Within a world filled with pleasure and no moral repercussion, things are not as blissful as they seem. Opinions, thoughts and actions, based on the contentment of one person lead people into become things, instead of people with their own intelligence. Huxley’s view on the world sparked my imagination into understanding the way some societies can put pressure on people in a certain way. This book is great for the high school level, because of the topics, and the level of reading throughout the book. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to think outside the box, and get a look into different beliefs. When reading Huxley’s Brave New World, you won’t be disappointed.
Orwell highlights how powerful the use of language and propaganda can be when used to control society. One of the first times ...