Brave New World Ultimate Destruction

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Brave New World Ultimate Destruction

In Brave New World, Aldous Huxley tries to convey the belief that every invention or improvement for the “betterment” of mankind is only an instrument for his ultimate destruction. “We are,” he said, “on the horns of an ethical dilemma and to find the middle way will require all out intelligence and all out good will.” This goes for all fields of life, medical, technical, social, etc. Not only in the book, but also in real life, one can see that this belief is evidently true.

A first example in the book is the process in which babies are “born.” The intricate fertilizing, decanting, and conditioning processes is directly used to produce and control a 5 caste system in society. Now, this is not a bad idea, other system is flawed. We see this in people like Bernard. An alpha is supposed to be at the top of society being well formed, tall, good looking and intelligent. Bernard however is somewhat shorter and less handsome than the rest of the men in his caste, and therefore is thought of as queer. This inconsistency in the hatching system shows proof that the system is not completely safe or stable, and will in time produce more and more “social rejects” that can only lead to destroy the system.

The conditioning process itself is also a good example of how innovation and “progress” can lead to the destruction of man. John got this in his belief that everyone, no matter how old, was an infant because of the conditioning systems. To truly mature, he thought, one must face suffering and constant cleansing (leading him to his time at the lighthouse). The acceptance and use of the notion that society should be organized by the pleasures of the people is preposterous in that by only living for simple physical pleasure at whatever moment in time it may be, one is stripped of the ability to strive for long-range, true happiness. By breeding a complete society of infants with no concept of planning for a final goal can only end in destruction as it con not support itself if the hand that rocks the cradle, excuse the pun, would happen to waiver.

Thirdly, in the book, the rationing and use of soma as a release for all people is a big red flashing light on the board of pending social disaster.

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