Brave New WorldAldous Huxley

The Name“Oh wonder!How many goodly creatures are there hereHow beautious mankind is!Oh brave new worldThat has such people in’t!” - William Shakespeare The Tempest (V.ii.)

Aldous Huxley1894-1963: Born in England, Died in Los Angeles.

Plagued with vision problems throughout his life.

Teacher

Published Brave New World in 1932

His “novels of ideas” criticized for being “too intellectual”

Important ConceptsUtopia - a perfect society.

Dystopia - Dreadful, dysfunctional society.

Satire - writing to ridicule and arouse contempt.

Caste System - A class structure that divides people on basis of inherent social status.

Important PeopleIvan Pavlov: Psychology - “Classical Conditioning” - Used dogs. As a result, teaches dog to salivate at the ring of a bell even if there is not food.

Sigmund Freud: Psychology - Mental health comes from a child's upbringing not their heredity.

Henry Ford: Created the Model T Ford in 1908.

FordReligion of the World State based on the life and philosophies of Henry Ford.American car manufacturer, inventor of the assembly lineModel T car – designed to be affordable to everyone; only available in blackMass production & mass consumptionAssembly line = improved efficiencyVertical structure = self sufficient

What is Brave New World

dystopian tale about a possible future world where human faith in scientific progress, freedom, dignity, and individuality are all called into question.

Where and When? 26th Century (A.F.) “After Ford”

London, England

A Reservation in New Mexico

B.N.W. Caste SystemAlphas (Α)– highest, greyBetas (Β)- mulberry, bottle greenGammas (Γ)- leaf greenDeltas (Δ)- khakiEpsilons (Ε)– lowest, black

There are also plusses and minuses, so one can be an Alpha Plus or a Gamma Minus.Differentiation achieved through oxygen deprivation

Bokanovsky Process

Fertilization process used to create Deltas & EpsilonsDivide fertilized eggs to produce identical twinsProduces up to 96 embryos, but 72 is the averagePrimary instrument of social stability

HypnopaediaGovernment organization “conditions” the lower caste children using

Hypnopaedia“The greatest moralizing and socializing force of all time” (28).

Sleep teachingMoral educationClass conditioning

What is B.N.W. Society? A society where all aspects of an individual's life are determined by the state, beginning with conception and conveyor-belt reproduction.A government bureau, the Predestinators, decides all roles in the hierarchy.Children are raised and conditioned by the state bureaucracy, not brought up by natural families.Citizens must not fall in love, marry, or have their own children.

Dystopian ConceptsIs history worthless?

Do we really need mothers?

Is throwing something away is better than fixing it?

Are the elderly worthless to society?

Everyone belongs to everyone else?

The World State Requires:

CommunityIdentityStability

Works CitedEdmondson, Elizabeth. “Brave New World Powerpoint.” Gilmour Academy. 8 May 2007. PDF file. Web. 19 Apr 2010.

A Guide to Brave New World. Austin, Texas: Holt, Reinhart, and Winston, 2003. Print.

Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. New York: Harper Collins, 1998.

Wood, Lisha. “Brave New World Intro.” Sprayberry High School. Typepad. 6 Sept 2006. Web. 19 Apr 2010.