Huxley's Message
Jehova Boogenheim
November 16, 2006
English 3
Huxley's Hidden Message
Aldous Huxley has a humanistic, deep and enlightened view of how society should be, and of what constitutes true happiness. In his novel, Brave New World, he shows his ideas in a very obscure manner. Huxley presents his ideas in a satirical fashion. This sarcastic style of writing helped Huxley show his views in a very captivating and insightful manner. The entire novel describes a dystopia in which intimate relationships, the ability to choose one's destiny, and the importance of family are strictly opposed. In Huxley's mind, however, these three principles are highly regarded as necessary for a meaningful and fulfilling existence.
Intimacy and Relationships are a major theme in Brave New World. In the New World Society, people are encouraged to act promiscuously. When Lenina's friend, Fanny, hears of Lenina's four month affair with Henry, she responds with disdain and surprise: "It's such horribly bad form to go on and on like this with one man" (Huxley 41). In the New World Society, a young woman like Lenina should be constantly switching partners. Sex, much like the society's feel-good drug soma, is a very instant form of gratification. Building a long term relationship can be emotionally taxing, something that society in Brave New World opposes. Why spend time trying to build deep and intimate relations with a person, when happiness can easily be achieved through multiple partners and constant satisfaction? This philosophy, of course, is the opposite of what Huxley truly believes about love. Deep and profound joy can only be found in true love, achieved through patience and commitment, which seems to be absent in the society of Brave New World. Huxley believes that Humans need long term relationships based on emotional attachment, not just physical intimacy, to be truly happy.
The people who live in Huxley's New World Society have lives which are predetermined for them.
November 16, 2006
English 3
Huxley's Hidden Message
Aldous Huxley has a humanistic, deep and enlightened view of how society should be, and of what constitutes true happiness. In his novel, Brave New World, he shows his ideas in a very obscure manner. Huxley presents his ideas in a satirical fashion. This sarcastic style of writing helped Huxley show his views in a very captivating and insightful manner. The entire novel describes a dystopia in which intimate relationships, the ability to choose one's destiny, and the importance of family are strictly opposed. In Huxley's mind, however, these three principles are highly regarded as necessary for a meaningful and fulfilling existence.
Intimacy and Relationships are a major theme in Brave New World. In the New World Society, people are encouraged to act promiscuously. When Lenina's friend, Fanny, hears of Lenina's four month affair with Henry, she responds with disdain and surprise: "It's such horribly bad form to go on and on like this with one man" (Huxley 41). In the New World Society, a young woman like Lenina should be constantly switching partners. Sex, much like the society's feel-good drug soma, is a very instant form of gratification. Building a long term relationship can be emotionally taxing, something that society in Brave New World opposes. Why spend time trying to build deep and intimate relations with a person, when happiness can easily be achieved through multiple partners and constant satisfaction? This philosophy, of course, is the opposite of what Huxley truly believes about love. Deep and profound joy can only be found in true love, achieved through patience and commitment, which seems to be absent in the society of Brave New World. Huxley believes that Humans need long term relationships based on emotional attachment, not just physical intimacy, to be truly happy.
The people who live in Huxley's New World Society have lives which are predetermined for them.