Literary Analysis Essay on Huxley's Brave New World

Introduction

Few novels are as detailed and breathtaking as Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. The novel was written when England was deed into depression. However, the science and technology sectors gave England hope for a better future. While most authors shied away from writing about a better future, Huxley, through her novel, entertained the idea of a world where illnesses, poverty, and drudgery were no longer inexistent. In this light, this essay seeks to demonstrate that while the society in Huxley's Brave New World has some striking resemblances with our society, it is way too extreme to represent our present or our future. The essay will also demonstrate that the society being portrayed in the novel would not be theoretically possible in our generation.

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The Importance of the Individual and the Lack of Human Connections

Huxley's concern for the poor and the downtrodden in the society is representative of our common culture. More so, the Brave New World has elites who have all the power and the say in the society. This is not a foreign phenomenon. Huxley's solution form this imbalance is to make humans who have no real emotions in order for every individual to focus on making the world a better place instead of focusing on the other person (Reiff 34). What set's Huxley's new world apart from our world is the importance of the individual. While we view individuals as important, Huxley mentions that the people of the new world have no say in matters to do with their propertiesor their rank in the society (Huxley 49). The fact that people in the Brave New World are cloned from a fertilized egg makes them different from us for they do not have sisters, brothers, children or families. As such, they cannot form any lasting human connection with each other.

Dehumanization and the Focus on Technological Development

Huxley reiterates that the government is aware of the dangers associated with negative emotions. As demonstrated in the novella, one cannot attain actuall happiness for what matters in the world is an individual's contribution to the technological development of the world and nothing else (Huxley 150). Huxley, therefore, proposes the elimination of emotions and individuality followed by the complete dehumanization of the human being. More so, in the entire novel, Huxley eschews a future full of flying machines and sci-fi (Reiff 44). This is a world that the current human race cannot survive in for it is totally focused on machines and remodeling the human being into some sort of robot. While our world has made commendable advances in so far as democracy is concerned, Huxley roots for a ruthless totalitarian leadership. He believes that such is the only leadership system that can manage the new crop of human beings.

It is worth noting, however, that the people in this new world do not have a moral compass for there is no religion where people can seek guidance and spiritual inspiration. As mentioned in the novel, the people are conditioned to live without the thinking about the precense of a higher power. Therese people are rtherefore in no position to seek for spiritual; guidance from religious establishments (Huxley 3). Additionally, people are allowed to live morally corrupt lifestyles without having to worry about dire consequences such as sexually transmitted diseases or broken relationships. Sexual promiscuity in this novel is regarded as sexual freedom. The young are also to engage in all sorts of sexual activity while they are discouraged from forming any lasting connections with their sexual partners.

The Impossibility of Huxley's World and the Disregard for Values

Huxley's world is also theoretically impossible. A world where the values of honor, empathy, religion, and family are totally burned is a world with no order. Hence, even with its technological advancements and its highly efficient human beings, it would be an extremely difficult world to live in. The young age at which the young men and women are introduced to sex makes it difficult for the people in this world to appreciate the love and the emotions synonymous with it (Reiff 45). By the same token, the people living in this world are encouraged to disrespect their neighbors by spying on their friends, neighbors, and businesses through the social media.

While the world conditions portrayed in Huxley's novel can only exist in our wild dreams or in blockbuster movies, we cannot question the accuracy of some of Huxley predictions concerning the 21st century. For instance, Huxley predicted how technology would be used to control the decisions of masses through social media, the commercialization of sex and the creation and distribution of pornography (Reiff 47). Furthermore, Huxley's nightmares of a future where euthanasia, genetic engineering among other technological advancements would be the order of the day have all come to pass.

Conclusion

In summary, Huxley's novel presents to us an efficient world that is devoid of human relations and connections. It is also a world where people are allowed to live a carefree life without having to worry about the consequences of their actions. More so, familial ties are nonexistent in this world. However, Huxley's portrayal of the 21st century is nothing short of magnificent. Now, more than ever, sex is being used as a commercial tool and then pornography industry has grown into a multi-billion industry.

Works Cited

Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. New York: Harper & Row, 1982.

Reiff, Raychel H. Aldous Huxley. S.I.: Marshall Cavendish, 2009