Essay: Aldous Huxley – Brave New World Questions & Answers

1) In the novel, what is the quest? Choose a character and explain how he/she gains self-knowledge.

Aldous Huxley, in his novel Brave New World, utilizes the makings of a quest through his character John, a young adult who must find his own morality in a world where no one exhibits individuality. John, the quester, fulfills all the criteria of a quest as he travels to civilization in London (a place to go) to supposedly see the “brave new world” (a stated reason to go) but in reality comes to terms with his view on humanity and life (Huxley 139). After juggling vivid emotions of love, betrayal, and confusion, as well as facing the temptations of the modern world (challenges), John must choose the ideals which are important to him. He claims “‘I don’t want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin… I’m claiming the right to be unhappy’” (Huxley 240). While civilization may glisten on the exterior, John finds the heart of this culture revolting, because perpetual happiness merely exists because of the government’s distractions. Originally, the appeal of London wooed him, but he soon discovers he does not want to live in a world void of trials and tribulations. This quest created and secured John’s beliefs, and as a result, he finds the value in knowledge and morals. Witnessing others infidelity and crooked personas, John straightens his own moral compass and tries to share his values with others. He learns that he cherishes all aspects of life, despite the pain and suffering that accompanies some of them. Further, he becomes disenchanted with the luxuries of life, and truly appreciates his humble upbringing. His self-discovery demonstrates the importance of the ups and downs of life, and in turn, it makes a statement on the dangers of perpetual happiness. His realization that happiness cannot truly occur without other emotions fuels his desire for freedom from the civilized world and his wish to free others as well. Overall, while he travelled to civilization to witness its supposed beauty, John, instead, realizes his strong moral compass and urge to live life fully, with all emotions intact.

2) What features of intertextuality do you recognize in reading your choice novel with other pieces of literature you have previously read? What was your “aha! Factor” while reading your choice book?

In Brave New World, a drastic thunderstorm within the reservation – which affects two civilized individuals, the Director and Linda – indicates the wrong-doings of the individuals, foreshadows a figurative ending to a life, and sets a miserable and dreary atmosphere for the scene. Looking back to dreaded day, the Director recounts, “…the most frightful thunderstorm…it poured and roared and flashed…Still, I searched and I shouted and I searched. But there was no sign of her” (Huxley 96). Later in the novel, readers learn that the Director lost and left a pregnant Linda in the reservation and returned to London (Huxley 120). This storm expands past the implications of just a thunderstorm, and serves a foreshadowing purpose to events revealed later in the novel. The rain and lightning signify the misdeed Linda and the Director commit when she becomes pregnant, a sin within their society. Rain and water frequently hint at the washing of sins, so this storm ironically characterizes their societal misdoing. Rather than purifying the individuals, the rain merely washes the event from the Director’s reputation to cleanse him of his mistake, as Linda no longer can tell the tale. Further, the thunder and lightning, manifest a terrible atmosphere which hints at the danger to come. Linda never truly returns to civilization, as the storm forced the Director to abandon his search for her. The inclement, deadly weather also signifies the death of civilized Linda. No longer will she enjoy the comforts of London, as she now must live on the reservation with no escape. While a figurative death, Linda’s old life disappears and instead she faces more trials and tribulations than ever before. Huxley weaves weather into this scene to amplify the situation and characterize people and events surrounding the event; as a result, the thunderstorm serves a greater purpose in providing insight into Linda, the Director, and misdeeds explored in the novel.

The geography within Brave New World serves multiple purposes as it forms plot and atmosphere for the novel and develops main characters.  The complex geography involves a totalitarian world government with the motto “Community, Identity, Stability” (Huxley 3). The book primarily takes place in an ultra-modern London, where children are formed in bottles, where citizens are conditioned to believe in ideas such as industrialism and consumerism above all else, and where people are divided into castes and given superior traits based on these groupings (Huxley 9-10). Overall, this contributes not only to physical geography, but also the political and social atmosphere which shapes characters. This setting forms a situation where individuals do not exercise personal liberty and allow the government into the most personal aspects of their lives. This drives a plot with statements focused on the role of government in society and the morality of certain actions. Many characters face personal questioning based on the righteousness of certain protocols and standards, and as a result face backlash from those in charge. Without this atmosphere, much of the novel’s discussions and themes would not exist, as this government needed to be in place to create these dilemmas. Further, the modern world with advanced technology drives the development of the savage, John. Coming from a reservation, John never experienced luxury; however, when in London he experiences it for the first time and see through its glamor. The book necessitated a glamorous setting so John could achieve this discovery. In order to discover his own definition of morality, John had to visit a place void of it. He needed to witness extreme governmental control, so he could value his liberties and knowledge. Further, the mindless, almost robotic people around him pushed his discovery, and without them, much of the plot would have been lost. These aspects of geography created a base for the plot to thrive, and the governmental and social aspects of it caused John to achieve the personal understanding he needed to fully develop as a character.

4) Who is the hero in the novel? How do you know he/she is the hero? Is there a visible, physical different between the hero and other characters? Why would this be important?

Often, heros do not exhibit utmost perfection and they differ from those around them, as in Brave New World, where the savage, John, becomes the hero among civilized people. John, while descended from civilized people, differs in looks from the typical Londoner, “The dress of the young man…was Indian; but his plaited hair was straw-coloured, his eyes a pale blue, and his skin a white skin, bronzed” (Huxley 116). The unique mix between Indian and civilized causes John to stick out no matter where he resides. He never quite fits in, which makes him a perfect candidate to be a hero. By not resembling others on the reservation or in civilization, John rises to a different platform, and stands out among the crowds. With eyes on him, his decisions affect not only him but others around him. His differences signify his special calling: one to bring knowledge to others. Further, John differs from others due to his moral purity; he constantly strives to make the right choices and punishes himself if he feels he doesn’t, even wanting “to know what it feels like being crucified” (Huxley 137). The hero attempts to bring people to knowledge about the real world and often resembles a Christ figure. While ultimately a failed hero, he attempts to free people from the constraints of their oppressive government, stating “‘I come to bring you freedom!’” (Huxley 211). He wishes to open people’s eyes to emotions and feelings other than superficial happiness. By even attempting to bring others to see the benefits of morality, John becomes the closest thing to a hero in the novel. He wants to help others achieve a better life, one free of the current World State, and as a result, he earns the title of hero. Overall, John, the savage, differs from everyone else in the novel, he never truly relates to anyone else, and he even looks different in a world where everyone resembles each other; however, these differences set a stage for John to become a hero by using his differences to expose the faults in the book’s society.

5) Choose a quotation from the novel that reflects the overall meaning of the work (make sure you are explicit about what you think is the meaning of the work as a whole). What did you glean from this reading experience?

“Getting rid of everything unpleasant instead of learning to put up with it…It’s just too easy” (Huxley 238). Within Brave New World, Aldous Huxley explores the lines between happiness and reality to assert that without truth and knowledge, life stands void of genuine contentment. The above quote characterizes this prevalent message by illustrating the darkness people within the World State live in and their oblivion to reality. John realizes the importance of all emotions: anger, fear, sadness, etc; as a result, he continually seeks to feel things through poetry, books, and knowledge in general. However, Huxley contrasts John with the people in civilized London, who live life the way the World State dictates and feel only superficial happiness courtesy of soma, which gives the ability “to take a holiday from reality whenever you like” (Huxley 54). This false reality seems great; however, these citizens lack a true grip on reality and solely know what their government tells them. Huxley pictures this contrast to further embellish his message. Life may seem easy, and they may seem happy; however, the false pretenses of this felicity derives itself from the lack of reality. While seemingly great, without all emotions, all circumstances, and knowledge, true contentment cannot be reached. People but understand their opportunities and downfalls to determine their happiness. If they never received the opportunity are they truly happy? Overall, reading the book opened my eyes to the benefits of my free will and my ability to feel all emotions whenever. While sadness and anger may not be pleasant, I now realize their importance to contentment in life. I appreciate the world we live in, as we are free to find our own knowledge and to define our own happiness. Along those lines, throughout the novel I often commented how scarily relevant the scientific themes were. By reading Brave New World, I realized the power of genetic engineering and how in the wrong hands, its extent could be devastating. By intertwining science, morality, and an advanced world, Huxley spreads a message about genuine happiness and captivates his audience.

Works Cited

Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. Turtleback Books, 2012.