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Brave New World
(1931)
Huxley's Brave New World is a remarkable piece of writing which prophesies the futuristic world. The concept of nature through the character of John the Savage depicts volumes about the totalitarian state which the author portrays beautifully. The irony and satire with which he whips 1931 London society is worth reading.
Dr. Leon Kass, a prominent public intellectual said in a speech to the Manhattan Institute that the "train to Huxley's dehumanized Brave New World has already left the station".
Huxley's work is a brilliant masterpiece which is extraordinarily prophetic, challenging developments in science and technology. Genetic Engineering, mutations, and Bio-technological advancements will take man away from nature. Though these are advantageous, slowly and steadily the natural instincts in man are being 'civilized'. --Submitted by Allan Thai.
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Help?
I'm currently writing an essay on A Brave New World as a literary critique of Utilitarianism. If anyone knows anything on the subject or has any ideas or tips they would be greatly appreciated!
Posted By nikki369 at Sun 13 Dec 2009, 2:11 PM in A Brave New World || 1 Reply
A Brave New World
What exactly was wrong with the future depicted by Aldous Huxley in A Brave New World? I haven't read the book but I'm hesitant to because I've heard that it is anti libertarianism/trans-humanism/utopianism and I see nothing wrong with using technology to eliminate human suffering or creating the most desirable, utopian society possible. I don't understand why people who claim a utopian society is impractical would continue to bring children into a world they consider to be unalterably harsh or painful but that's another discussion. Whether it sounds closedminded or not, I'm just not in the mood to read something that will espouse a view that I consider to be stupid.
Posted By African_Love at Sun 29 Nov 2009, 6:20 PM in A Brave New World || 21 Replies
Conditioning
I have just finished reading A Brave New World I book that I have always wanted to read but never found the opportunity to until recently. I enjoyed the book immensely and particularly enjoyed the end of the book where there was discussion of God and the nature of man. I loved when the Controller finally pointed to the supreme fallacy that John held, that despite the fact he was not conditioned in the same way as the "civilized" man had been, he had in fact been conditioned. He feels he acts naturally and the beliefs he holds are in fact "right" in the objection to the "other" but his God, his believe he suffering to appreciate beauty is also a cultural construction. Marriage, love, poetry is all simply the process of conditioning. The reason I enjoyed this part of the discussion some much was that I was afraid before hand that what I was reading was a piece of culturally relativist literature, as in: it is unnatural their way of life because it is not in the way we see society operate today. First problem that arises in John's mind is the lack of Marriage, which has been seen in many cultures across our history, but not all. In the Na tribes in southern China there is no nuclear family, there is no marriage there is simply random fornication similar to the relationships developed in A Brave New World the simple existence of such a tribe contradicts our concept of inter-gender relations to such a degree that one has to submit that marriage, though not wrong, is not necessarily natural. It is our raising that allows us to feel that marriage is natural, the nuclear family is natural. This conditioning that spreads not only to our family life but the way we act towards members of community, and the reason we shame those that do not follow or brake our conditions. In A Brave New World we see a mass of people executing life in a way we do not and we say that this is wrong. The lack of Liberty is wrong. The infidelity is wrong. The drug use is wrong. We think this just as John thought it, and near the end of the book, the Controller shows John as he is, a hypocrite. The arguments that John poses are relevant only in implications of his own raising, he sees the other is is disgusted as the other is when they hear him talk longingly for his mother, or of his unwillingness to fornicate. This really seems more like Huxley isn't depicting a Dystopian society as opposed to an alternative society. The character of John really being the character of the reader, who will reject this culture immediately under a grand presumption of their knowledge of nature. Truly I would have been interested even more if this same story was told with Nietzsche’s Zarathustra being brought in as the "Savage." To hear the man who said we have to destroy our conditioning to know our true nature. Though I would believe that the result would be the same. He would cry "I belong to Me" and would go live among the rabbits in the lavender covered hills.
Posted By rabid reader at Fri 24 Jul 2009, 3:57 PM in A Brave New World || 0 Replies
Comparing BNW & Anthem
I am looking for some help on comparing both of these texts, i am looking to compare the two characters Prometheus and John for both find and seek individuality in a very non-individualistic society. I was wondering if anyone had good details on events that prompted this shift, and if anyone knew any good quotes or sections that focus greatly on individuality and the world state. Thanks for anyone who can help me
Posted By aaronlennon at Mon 8 Jun 2009, 9:23 PM in A Brave New World || 0 Replies
Plz help have question! (brave new world)
Hello, I am doing a research paper on Brave New World and I wanted to know what a feminist literary critic would think about the style of dress of the characters in Brave New World. It would be great if you could give me as much information as possible on what it might symbolize or how it might relate to gender roles and sexuality in the book. Please Please help me!:crash: BraveNewGirl
Posted By BraveNewGirl at Tue 21 Apr 2009, 4:29 PM in A Brave New World || 2 Replies
Brave New World Advertisement
My task is to create an original product that would be found in World State. Once I have decided upon my product I must produce a print advertisement that would appear in a World State Lifestyle Magazine. (lifestyle magazines can include: food, travel, sport & fitness, art, house and home, relationships, fashion, entertainment, music, etc.) Make 2 references from the novel Brave New World. If you have any ideas please post them here! Thanks in advance.
Posted By john1111 at Sat 7 Mar 2009, 8:28 PM in A Brave New World || 1 Reply
Media as a form of control?
Hi there! I have a quick question about a Brave New World, I have read the book recently and I am wondering how the government utilizes and manipulates the media to control its people? Thanks, SlAyR
Posted By SlAyR at Sun 30 Nov 2008, 1:28 AM in A Brave New World || 2 Replies
Hello&Brave New World
Hello all! My name is Yedra and I'm Spanish. I'm on my last year of Translation Studies and for my Compared Literature course I'm analysing the translation into Spanish of Huxley's book Brave New World (my choice because I really like it) I don't know if someone has noticed before me, I suppose someone might have, that on the Spanish version there are some omissions -some paragraphs that the translator didn't translate. It's not an isolated fact that just happens once, it appears in more than one chapter... I've been doing some research on the Internet and I couldn't find any critique about this issue. Anyone knows something about this? Thank you very much. Yedra
Posted By yedra at Fri 14 Nov 2008, 4:39 AM in A Brave New World || 0 Replies
BNW Connection to Today
Hi, I'm writing an essay to compare/contrast Brave New World to society today. I can talk about any topic within the book, but I'm not sure what to focus on. I was thinking maybe our consumer society and how people have "wants" and not "needs" and how that is relevant to the World State people wanting Soma all the time. Any suggestions?? Thanks!
Posted By ncgirl at Sun 9 Nov 2008, 1:24 PM in A Brave New World || 1 Reply
B N W Anthropology connection
I am trying to make a connection(s) between Huxley's "Brave new world" and Anthropology, let it be culturally or linguistically or ethnocentric etc If possible could you please give me your varied opinions and why you think BNW is intrinsically linked to Anthropology. I am doing a study on links between cult novels and their connection with culture, all ideas or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely. Robert Boyd.
Posted By solarant at Mon 6 Oct 2008, 5:40 PM in A Brave New World || 1 Reply