BRAVE NEW WORLD

Abstract

Abstract: Huxley’s Brave New World portrays a futuristic hyperbole of
mankind’s future as a result of technological advancements. From a New Historical
perspective, this essay examines how BNW satirizes contemporary society by satire
where the audience is both a part of the problem and solution. Through the use of satire
Huxley’s novel successfully portrays horrific examples of how human life in a not so
distant future may find that the technology which revolutionized our lives actually
enslaves us. Post-novel examples such as Hitler and his Nazi regime is a real life
example of the type of totalitarian regime that is possible as a direct result of scientific
progress in many fields. In this paper, however, posterity is excluded from the analysis.
Instead this essay focuses on the contemporary society as depicted in early 20 th century
literature and how it reflects identifiable satirical elements in BNW. The analysis
depicts how several discourses of contemporary industrialized Britain such as
rationalism, socialism, industrialism, freedom, religion and political indifference are
reflected in the novel. Ultimately, Huxley’s dystopian reflection of human future taunts
us, the audience, by directly and indirectly illuminating the dangers of blindly
accepting scientific advancements in the name of progress. The one, perhaps most
relevant question the novel raises is – are we truly free when we are free to have the
most wonderful time?