Brave new world
by Aldous Huxley
1. On the Author:
Aldous Huxley was born in 1894 in Godalming near London, England. He visited Eton College and Oxford University. When he left university he started writing for several newspapers and magazines. In 1921 he wrote his first book "Crome Yellow". In 1932 the book "Brave New World" was first published it was followed by more than 45 other books.
In 1963 Huxley died of cancer in Hollywood, California, United States of America.
2. Setting:
The story takes place in Western Europe, especially London in 632 AF . There are some hints in the text that show that AF means Anno Fordii, that means after Henry Ford had produced his first T - Model car, the first mass - produced car in history. So the setting of the story is in about 2540 AD .
3.
Information about society and the situation in the world:
After 9 years of war and a great economic collapse a "World State" and a "World Society" have been established. The world is divided into 10 sections. Each section is controlled by a so-called "World Controller", that means the World is completely controlled. "Community", "Identity" and "Stability" are the motto of the World State. ( this is explained later !).
Another fact is, that people are not born any more.
They are produced in bottles in so-called "Hatchery and Conditioning Centres". In "Predestination Centres" people get conditioned by sleep-teaching and Electro-shocks till they are 12 years old.
As everyone has got a predestinated role, society is divided into different castes. These groups are: Alphas, Betas, Gammas, Deltas and Epsilons. The different groups have different specifications relating to their position and abilities in society. Alphas for example do important work, they are very intelligent and have got high abilities and knowledge.
Their bodies are also very strong and nice. Epsilons in contrast are the lowest in hierarchy, they can't read and do hard work. They are the only black-skinned group in World Society. Now I want to explain the three paroles "Community", "Identity" and "Stability" which are forced by propaganda like: "Everybody belongs to everyone", that means that everybody can have sexual intercourse with everyone in case of using contraceptives. There are no moral duties. (Community) There is a legalised drug called "soma" and everybody who has got problems is conditioned to take a dose of soma to become happy again.
Everybody who does not conform to the rules, that means who is too individual, will be exiled.
People from former times ( e.g. our world) live in so-called "Savage Reservations". In these reservations people still are born, believe in religion, get married and grow old. Especially ageing is a "Horror Vision" for Utopian people.
So these reservations are strictly separated from Utopia's society.
4. Persons:
4.1 Main Characters:
BernhardMarx: Alpha + ( belongs to the highest caste) physically handicapped (regarded as deformed ), but very intelligent own personality, prefers isolation ( in contrast to the other conditioned people) psychologist, employee of the Conditioning Centre
John: grown up in a savage reservation son of the DHC and Linda the only character who can compare the two different worlds person with real feelings and emotions ! does not fit into any society !
4.2 Other Important Characters:
Lenina Crowne: Beta nurse in Conditioning Centre parts of personality, feels always happy because she is affected by the conditioning
Mustapha Mond: World Controller of Western Europe
Linda: John's mother lives for 20 years in the reservation DHC: Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning Centre
Helmholtz Watson: Emotional Engineer of the Civilisation
5. Plot:
One day Bernard and Lenina visit the savage reservation, togehter.
In the book the savages are described as the Indians of our days, primitive living, without technical progress, believing in religion and living in families, etc. There they meet a young man called John and his mother Linda. During an conversation Bernard and Lenina realise that Linda is conditioned and is not a real savage. In addition to that they recognise, that John is Linda's and the DHC's son. John and Bernard are similar to eachother, because they are both not accepted by the societies they are living in - both are too individual.
The plot ends here because of the discusion!!!
6.
Discussion:
Do you think John and Linda will fit into BNW?
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