Brave New World By Aldous Huxley A presentation

1. Brave New World By Aldous Huxley A presentation

2. Aldous Huxley • July 26 1884- November 22 1963 • Born in Surrey, UK • Third son of Leonard Huxley, writer/schoolmaster, and Julia Arnold, founder of Prior’s Field School. • Grandson of Thomas Henry Huxley, “Darwin’s Bulldog”- famous zoologist • His brother and half-brother were also well-known biologists • Aldous himself very well-educated • In 1911, suffered from illness which left him almost blind for several years. Disqualified him from service in WWI • After graduating from Oxford, he was financially indebted to father. Taught French at Eton where Eric Blair (George Orwell) was one of his students • In 1920s worked at a chemical plant (inspiration for Brave New World)

3. In 1919, married Maria Nys • In 1937, moved to Hollywood, California to work as screenwriter. Not successful. (Walt Disney rejected his synopsis of Alice in Wonderland because “he could only understand every third word.”) • After WWI, Huxley applied for US citizenship, but continuously denied because he refused to take up arms to defend US (on philosophical, rather than religious, objections) • On December 24, 1955, took first dose of LSD. Became pioneer of psychedelic drugs • In 1956, married Laura Archera after 1st wife died of breast cancer • Huxley was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. • Upon his deathbed, requested LSD, wife obliged with 2 separate injections before he died. • Died on November 22, 1963, the same day as C.S. Lewis and John F. Kennedy

4. Brave New World in Context • Written in 1931, published in 1932 • Huxley wrote Brave New World while living in Italy • He was already established as writer and satirist • Brave New World was his fifth novel and first dystopian work • H.G. Wells had written utopian novel, Men Like Gods, Huxley decided to write parody, “negative utopia” • Novel is set in future, but contains issues of 20th century. • Industrial Revolution • Mass production • Russian Revolution of 1917 • WWI (1914-1918)

5. Huxley visited US and was “outraged by the culture of youth, commercial cheeriness, sexual promiscuity, and the inward-looking nature of many Americans.” Also found a book about Henry Ford on boat to America. Wrote Brave New World with America in mind. • “feelies” were response to talking movies, and sex-hormone chewing gum was parody of chewing gum, a symbol of US at the time • In 1999, Modern Library ranked it as 5th on list of 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century • It is rated number 52 on The American Library Association’s list of most challenged books, and has been banned in several instances because it “centers around negative activity.”

6. The Title • Title comes from Shakespeare’s The Tempest • Used ironically • In different languages, title is changed, sometimes to reflect their versions of works: • French: The Best of All Worlds • German: Beautiful New World • Italian: The New World • Spanish: A Happy World • In Shakespeare’s time, “brave” meant “beautiful” or “good looking”

7. The Setting • Set in the year A.F. 632 (2540 A.D.) • Most of the population unified under The World State; population limited to 2 billion people • Peaceful, stable global society • Goods and resources are plentiful • Everyone is happy Community, Identity, Stability

8. Reproduction • Natural reproduction no longer exists • Children are created in bottles in Hatcheries and Conditioning Centres where they are decanted • Each fetus is treated correspondingly to its predetermined social class (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon) • The members of the lowest classes are essentially poisoned to stunt growth and development while in bottles. • Members of lower classes are created using Bokanovsky process, producing up to 96 identical children at a time. • Podsnap’s Technique is also used for lower classes to mature all of the eggs in an ovary simultaneously • Member of upper classes are developed naturally and are unique • Sex is purely recreational • Ideas of family, motherhood, pregnancy are considered pornographic

9. Ford • The World State’s calendar begins with year 1 A.F. as 1908 A.D. the year Ford’s first Model T was completed on his assembly line • Although no true supernatural religion exists, Ford is worshipped • called Our Ford. • “Oh, Ford!” • the sign of the T • The World State’s society is built on the principles of Ford’s assembly line: “mass production, homogeneity, predictability, and consumption of disposable consumer goods” • Freud is sometimes said instead of Ford. • Thought to be same person by World State citizens • Incorporate Freud’s idea that sex is essential to happiness and should not be limited to reproduction, even in children.

10. Soma • Hallucinogen • Hangover-free • Creates “holidays” • Used at any sign of stress, discomfort • Sprayed at a riot • Taken for enjoyment (ice cream soma bar, half-gramme raspberry sundae) • Taken during Solidarity Services in the Fordson Community Singery • 12 people sit in circle • Take soma tablets and pass around strawberry ice-cream soma • “Ford, we are twelve; oh, make us one, • Like drops within the Social River; • Oh, make us now together run • As swiftly as thy shinning Flivver.” • Proclaim that they hear Ford coming • “Orgy-porgy, Ford and fun, • Kiss the girls and make them One. • Boys at one with girls at peace; • Orgy-porgy gives release.”

11. Hypnopædia • Discovered on accident • Could not be used to teach, only memorize • “Moral education, which ought never, in any circumstances, to be rational.” • “A gramme is always better than a damn.” • “A gramme in time saves nine.” • “One cubic centimetre cures ten gloomy sentiments.” • “Everybody’s happy nowadays.” • “Everyone works for every one else.” • “When the individual feels, the community reels.” • “Never put off till to-morrow the fun you can have to-day.” • “Ending is better than mending.” • “Everyone belongs to everyone else.” (one hundred repetitions three nights a week for four years= 62,400

12. Death • People typically die at age 60, remaining youthful whole life • Death isn’t feared: children are conditioned, given treats when visiting hospitals • Concept of family doesn’t exist, so no one mourns • Bodies are cremated, and 98% of phosphorous is recovered, instead of being wasted • “Fine to think we can go on being socially useful even after we’re dead. Making plants grow.”

13. A Brief Plot Summary • Opens in the Central London Hatching and Conditioning Centre • Lenina Crowne, an employee, is reprimanded by her friend Fanny Crowne for being in a nearly exclusive relationship. • Lenina admits her attraction to the strange Bernard Marx. • Lenina accepts Bernard’s invitation to visit a Savage Reservation in New Mexico. • There, they meet John and his mother Linda, who is from the World State, and bring them back with them. • John is dissatisfied with the World State.