Thread: Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

Originally Posted by Tom88

Admittedly I haven't read it in some time, but I remember comparing the overall tone to Orwell's classic - right from the get go I didn't really "buy" into Huxley's world the way I did Orwell's. The opening chapters had some students studying ye ol' way of life, and constantly exclaiming how gob-smacked they were that we were monogamous etc. Basically Huxley was employing no subtlety at all to show the contrasts of his world and ours. This set me off on the wrong foot from the get-go.

I preferred the writing in 1984 as well, but appreciate that the books are foils for each other. While I think the world of 1984 is more realistic in its depiction, the idea presented in BNW seems to be coming true.

Mankind does not need to be screwed under an iron thumb to achieve power (1984), if you entertain them sufficiently and distract them with leisure they will happily hand the keys to the kingdom to the power hungry.

Originally Posted by Capulet

While I think the world of 1984 is more realistic in its depiction...

That's because 1984 is a satire and BNW is a fantasy.

I just taught this book to my high schoolers. I think it is an excellent book with plenty of social commentary that still applies today. However, my students did not feel the same way. (Sigh) I don't think any of them actually read it.

Originally Posted by For me with Squalor

Spider8: are you insinuating that the average population of the US (i assume you are from the US) is well educated?

Apologies for not seeing this sooner. Maybe you won't see this reply.

I'm from the UK and a lot of people doing menial duties are desperate immigrants from poor countries, or there's plenty of british people also who (I think) are smart but lack of a high standard of education has the same effect. Especially the older generation. The only difference from reality and Brave New World is that they are not happy, hence the chemical retardation.
Now we've flipped the coin: The under-thirties are better educated but there's till too many degree owners now (younger generation) and not enough proffessional jobs. Educating people to degree-standard does not itself create jobs.
Many degree owners now do menial work.

Originally Posted by spider8

The only difference from reality and Brave New World is that they are not happy, hence the chemical retardation.

A good place to counterpoint how Orwell dealt with the menial classes - the Proles; Cheap alcohol. The Party/Orwell recognised that the proletarians would be if not happy, then contented with their lot as long as they could buy cheap beer and gin at the end of a working day. A more relevant form of chemical retardation.

Originally Posted by jmascia

I just taught this book to my high schoolers. I think it is an excellent book with plenty of social commentary that still applies today. However, my students did not feel the same way. (Sigh) I don't think any of them actually read it.

Sad, a missed opportunity. I think it depends on how you sell it to them before they start to read.

I've always been more interested in Huxley for his mescaline advocacy, but I've recently decided to read BNW. I'm looking forward to it.

Didn't Wells also write a novel in the BNW/1984 genre? For some reason I'm thinking he coined "New World Order".

Originally Posted by Mike C

A good place to counterpoint how Orwell dealt with the menial classes - the Proles; Cheap alcohol. The Party/Orwell recognised that the proletarians would be if not happy, then contented with their lot as long as they could buy cheap beer and gin at the end of a working day. A more relevant form of chemical retardation.

I forgot about that, it's so many years since I read it. I know that about half the people on my nightshift tonight will hit the bottle when we get home in the morning. Cheap chemical retardation, relaxant, comforter, sleep medicine, companion. (companion? ! )