Brave New World :: essays research papers

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Aldous Huxley was born in Surray, England on July 26, 1894. He belonged to a dis-tinguished British family, which included T.H. Huxley, an famous scientist and hu-manist; and Julian Huxley, a philosopher of science. Aldous Huxley went to Balliol College, Oxford. He wanted to become a doctor, but an eye infection blinded him, and prevented him from finishing his studies. Huxley had to quit for some time because of his eye infection. He did exercises for his eyes, and with self-discipline eventually recovered from most of the infection and could some-what see. Huxley resumed his studies at Oxford, and accomplished a degree in 1916. At first Huxley tried to be journalist. But in 1921, he began writing poetry and short stories. There after, he began writing essays and novels. He received the Award of Merit for the Novel from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in the year 1959. His most famous book, "Brave New World", was published in 1932. In the "brave new world" of 632 A. F. (After Ford), universal human happiness has been achieved. Control of reproduction, genetic engineering, conditioning--especially with repetitive messages during sleep--and a perfect pleasure drug called "Soma" are the cornerstones of the new society. Religion, thinking and loneliness have been abolished. Reproduction has been removed from the womb and placed on the con-veyor belt, where reproductive workers tinker with the embryos to produce various grades of human beings, ranging from the super-intelligent Alpha Pluses down to the dwarfed semi-moron Epsilons. Each class is conditioned to love its type of work and its place in society; for example, Epsilons are supremely happy running elevators. Outside of their work, people spend their lives in constant pleasure. This involves consuming (continually buying new things, whether they need them or not), participating in elaborate sports, and free sex. While uninhibited sex is universal and considered socially constructive, love, marriage, and parenthood are viewed as obscene. The story concerns Bernard, an alpha whose programming is a bit off--he is discon-tented and desires to spend time alone just thinking or looking at the stars. At one point he takes Lenina on a vacation to the savage reservation in New Mexico. There he discovers John (the Savage), son of Linda who had visited the reservation more than 20 years previously and was accidentally left behind. When she discovered she was pregnant (the ultimate humiliation!), she had to remain among the savages.