Brave New World

1. Background and Historical References Brave New World

2. Two Worlds Collide • In Europe and America, the Post-World War I world was vastly different from that which had begun the century. • The “modern” world, as it would come to be known, was defined by speed, science, technological advances, and radically new ideas of government and culture.

3. The Fall of the Last Great Empires and Rise of Totalitarianism • World War I saw the last great empires of Russia, Austria, and Britain fall to pieces. • In countries that had suffered defeat, resentment grew over what they considered to be harsh, unfair treaty agreements • The 1920’s and 30’s saw the rise of new totalitarian leaders: Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler

4. Communism • Karl Marx wrote: “A spectre is haunting Europe, the spectre of communism,” implying that the old system of wealthy owners and poor workers would soon fail. • He wrote the Comminist Manifesto in 1848 and foresaw a revolution by workers in which they would take control of factories during the Industrial Revolution • In pure communism, all people control the means of production without any supervision by a “ruling class”

5. Science and Technology: A world turned upside down • In 1919, Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity was confirmed; nothing was certain except uncertainty • Darwin’s Theory of Evolution (developed in the mid-nineteenth century) gave rise to the “logical” belief that the development of super-humans was possible through genetic selection(this was evident in Hitler’s practice in Germany)

6. Henry Ford • Henry Ford is best known for introducing the assembly line to the manufacture of automobiles • His system allowed several identical cars to be built at the same time in different stages • In May of 1916, Ford said, “History is more or less bunk. It’s tradition. We don’t want tradition. We want to live in the present, and the only history that is worth a tinker’s damn is the history we make today.” This idea can be seen in the attitudes of Huxley’s society

7. Sigmund Freud • Although Freud published his most famous works at the turn of the 20th century, it wasn’t until after WWI that he received great recognition. • Some of the biggest reasons for his fame were the after-effects of WWI, particularly the new concept of trench warfare • Typical treatments for mental disorders at the time included drugs and electro-shock therapy

8. Radio, Television and Propaganda • The radio exploded in popularity in the 1920’s and 30’s • It presented a unique way for millions of people to receive information simultaneously • Many leaders were quick to make use of this new technology (FDR’s fireside chats) • It also became a means of pouring out party-line propaganda to millions of people, as was done by Hitler and Mussolini • Companies also used it to advertise products

9. Conditioning and Behaviorism • Ivan Pavlov elaborated on the idea of conditioning—the training of an individual to respond to a certain stimulus in a certain way through positive or negative reinforcement • His most famous demonstration of conditioning was his training of dogs to salivate at the ringing of a bell • John Watson—father of the School of Behaviorism. His famous statement was that he could take any 12 healthy babies, regardless of family background and make them into any type of person (rich, poor, intelligent). Reinforces “nurture over nature” idea.

10. Thomas Malthus • English economist and writer, his Principle of Population argued that, unless controlled, the population of the world would exceed the necessary supplies for survival. • He believed that natural causes were the only way to avoid population catastrophe • He was against contraception and believed that late marriage was the only way to keep population in check

11. Importance of Names in the Novel • Huxley’s choice of names reflects historical, political, social and economical ideas that have helped to shape the fictional World State • Bernard Marx—named after Claude Bernard, a French psychologist, and Karl Marx • Mustapha Mond—named after Mustapha Kemal Ataturk, a Turkish military figure, and Sir Alfred Mond, an advocate of labor reforms such as health care and profit sharing

12. Names (cont’d) • Henry Foster—named after Henry Ford and William Foster, a popular trade union leader who ran for president in 1924, 28 and 32 but was unsuccessful • Helmholtz Watson—named after Hermann von Helmholtz, and 19th century scientist, and John B Watson, founder of school of behaviorism

13. Names (cont’d) • LeninaCrowne—named after Vladimir Lenin; crowne is most likely symbolic of a monarch in general • Benito Hoover—named after fascist leader Benito Mussolini and former US president Herbert Hoover

14. Themes in the Novel • Technology • Totalitarianism • Individualism • Consumerism • Happiness and the Human Condition

15. Motifs • Ford • “T” sign • Shakespeare • Sex and Drugs