The world is very mechanical, 1930s-style, rather than electronic or digital. And it's true that Huxley's future society is missing some basic elements we would now expect, such as nuclear power and computers. I re-read this novel recently, expecting to find it somewhat dated. Huxley's wit is also intact in Brave New World and his writing style more innovative than usual for him. They may not be in the same league as the figures in his denser booksīut they're a cut above the one or two-dimensional types we often find That an aspect setting Brave New World apart from other worksĪbout dystopias is the psychological complexity of Huxley's characters. His earlier witty satires of the intelligentsia through a more profound His most popular novel by far and is often called a classic of scienceįiction, Brave New World falls quite neatly into the HuxleyĬounter Point and Crome Yellow, as we see him moving from Is not just a philosophical tract though. What exactly is wrong here? Do I need to believe in something deeper New World as it stands, he leaves the reader wondering, "Now Out in his later, less convincing novel, Island. Welfare, individual freedoms and spiritual pursuits, perhaps as spelled The 1946 and later editions, Huxley regrets not having put forwardĪnother alternative in the novel-one that would combine collective We mean by these, what we really want and need as human beings. Progress, freedom, happiness and such-and to consider more deeply what Rather he is provoking us to get past the easy cliché's about Is asking, "What's the problem?" is not because there isn't Primitive societies, while the majority of the world's populace persist Intellectuals who nonetheless don't like it are quite free to go off toĪn island to live with others of the same mind, or to join more Through much of the novel, Huxley also presents crushingly sensibleĪrguments in favour of the planned, cloned, brainwashed, ignorant, andĬulturally superficial society of the "new world". Despite showing the struggles of his dissenting characters This point is what commentators-eager to make thisįamous novel a warning against their own favourite targets-tend to Protagonists, are concerned about any of this. Yet none of the book's millions of citizens, outside of our three State and then levelled off, prohibiting any further initiative or Lack of self-expression through the arts. Self-determination allowed the citizens of the World State. Some people might point to the lack of individuality and Because he does feel there's a problem.Īnd we the readers feel, along with a small minority in Brave Moreover, everyone has as much sex with as many partners as they like, They're all working at what they likeĭoing and are healthy to pursue diverting recreation on their off time. There is no poverty, little disease, no social unrest, noĭiscontent-almost everyone seems happy to be living in a stable,įriendly, prosperous society. The factors that could cause social disasters have beenĮliminated. Orwell's more political novel is along these lines, along with hundreds of other science fiction stories.īut in Huxley's story, there is no disastrous future. Most books about a dystopia extrapolate from current trends to show what disastrous futures might come about if we don't change course. 'You're welcome,' he said.I wonder if people who refer to Aldous Huxley's Brave New World as a cautionary tale-that is, those who aren't confusing it with George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four-could actually spell out what it is cautioning against.Įven more to the point, tell me what alternative it is presenting to help humankind avoid the fate described in this novel? I claim them all,' said the Savage at last. Not to mention the right to grow old and ugly and impotent the right to have syphilis and cancer, the right to have too little to eat the right to be lousy the right to live in constant apprehension of what may happen tomorrow the right to catch typhoid the right to be tortured by unspeakable pains of every kind.' There was a long silence. In fact,' said Mustapha Mond, 'you're claiming the right to be unhappy. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. 'We prefer to do things comfortably.'īut I don't want comfort. All the tonic effects of murdering Desdemona and being murdered by Othello, without any of the inconvenience.' It's the complete physiological equivalent of fear and rage. It's one of the conditions of perfect health. What?' questioned the Savage, uncomprehending. 'Men and women must have their adrenals stimulated from time to time.' There's a great deal in it,' the Controller replied. “Isn't there something in living dangerously?'
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |