Brave New World: Prediction or Prophecy?

Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World offers a gloomy forecast of the world to come. Though written in 1932, Huxley’s predictions and warnings are becoming increasingly relevant even 80 years later. However, in reading and analyzing this piece, I have been led to question whether the novel should be taken as a cautionary tale or as a prophecy.

As modern society becomes increasingly smothered by consumerism and instant gratification as Huxley suggested that it would, it remains equivocally plagued by the vices which 632 A.F. London has escaped from. Were Huxley’s predictions incorrect? Or have the predictions simply not yet become manifested in modern society? The world of the novel exists some 500 years beyond present day, so at present it is impossible to judge his fears as being definitively right or wrong. In my opinion, however, even 1000 years from today, the ‘Brave New World’ will not exist as Huxley imagined it.

The creation of such a ‘World State’ will fail, as its inception relies on seizing an insurmountable power: human nature. The novel speaks of a Nine Years’ War, wherein opposition to the World State was absolutely crushed, never to rise again. As has been seen throughout history, and as will undoubtedly be seen for centuries to come, such a coup of human will simply cannot not occur. From the annihilation of Hitler’s empire in the 1940’s to the coup d’état of Gaddafi in Syria in 2011, man will always be successful in resisting the conquering of liberty and free will. Although the sustainability of a ‘World State’ as it exists in the novel is nearly infinite, society would never allow such an indefinite state of senseless oppression to be established. Man can only be taught to accept subordinacy if they never know anything else. In the book, this form of absolute control is achieved through mass production and engineering of human life. However, to suggest that such a system could be established in such an absolute sense is shortsighted and inconsiderate of the power that even the ‘Epsilons’ of the world possess.

In short, the fundamental issue of the World State is that it could never be created. The power of man to resist domination, even with the promise of a “perfect” life of happiness dangling in front of them, is too great. No matter how much consumerism and an abundance of “love” will come to bastardize human nature, the fundamental strength of human nature will persist indefinitely.

Hoping to hear some of your thoughts on the matter, and thoughts on how Brave New World has begun to unfold in the modern world.

You over estimate us.

"Man can only be taught to accept subordinacy if they never know anything else..."

Not true they will accept "subordinacy" if they are afraid and hungry and someone cuts off their Iphones. And then when the World government or whatever you want to call that "all seeing eye" at the top of the pyramid promises to feed and protect them and turn their phones back on, they'll bend over and say "Go ahead, master. But, gimme lotsa lube...."

"....an insurmountable power: human nature..."

Not so insurmountable. The masses are like one big baby huey puppy dog ..... Just give em a treat and they'll roll over on their backs and play dead.