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Aldous Huxley

(1894-1963)
English, parents were prominent members of society
humanist, pacifist, satirist
very open about his experimentation with psychedelic drugs
studied botany at Eton college

here he taught George Orwell

worked for a chemical plant after college (inspiration for Brave New World)

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Brave New World

Setting: London, AD 2540 “After Ford”

Title: Brave New World

O wonder!

How many goodly creatures are there here!

How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,

That has such people in't.

—William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act V, Scene I, ll. 203–206^[5]

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Inspiration for Brave New World

wrote it while living in Italy (1931)
wrote Brave New World as a dystopian response to utopian novels written by H.G. Wells

parody

wanted to provide a frightening vision of the future

addresses issues of Huxley’s time:

Industrial Revolution

mass reproduction

Russian Revolution of 1917
Americanization of Europe

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Chapters 1-3

From what point of view is Brave New World written and what effect does that have on the story?

Is the story of Brave New World believable? Explain why or why not.

Are the characters in Brave New World stereotypes? If so, explain the usefulness of employing stereotypes in the novel. If they are not, explain how they merit individuality.

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Pavlov’s Conditioning Technique

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Chapters 4-6

Discuss the significance of the names Ford and Freud and the sign of the letter T.

Discuss the significance of the word "mother" as being a smutty word.

Compare and contrast Bernard and Helmholtz.

Describe Bernard's relationship with Lenina.

Are Bernard's actions believably motivated? Explain why or why not.

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Chapters 7-9

Compare and contrast Linda and Lenina.

Discuss the implications of the name "savage" and the appropriateness of the connotations.

Explain how the title, Brave New World, is appropriate.

Discuss the relevance of the Shakespearean passages.

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Chapters 10-13

The new world is a clean, almost sterile society. Why does Savage feel the need to be "purified"?

Family relationships are totally removed in the new world. What was the purpose of that, and do you think it was a good idea?

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Chapters 14-15

What is the traditional purpose of the family unit in our society?

Suppose this novel had been written from John's point of view in the first person narrative. How would the story have changed?

The people in the new world were conditioned from the moment of conception. How are we conditioned in our society?

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Chapters 16-18

Does our government have the right or duty to make laws regarding morality? Why or why not?

Is there an unofficial caste system in our country?

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