Literary Importance of Brave New World

Does Brave New World deserve to be studied in an english class? I believe it does because it has such a meaningful message. Aldous Huxley puts out a strong message in the Brave New World that you cannot have utopia without people loosing their individuality. Brave New World also has a good deal of historical significance because of how much the mood of that time shows in Huxley's writing.


In BNW everybody lives in this perfect utopia in which "Everyone belongs to everyone else." In this world people are created, they are not born. Using the Bokanovsky's process they can create 96 babies from one sperm cell. Embyro's are conditioned to whatever their destined occupation is and raised in a government controlled nursery where they are fed propaganda their whole lives. In the pursuit of a utopia the government has almost completely ruled out the option of individuality."individuality is literally impossible. As a result, built on a large foundation of identical, easily manipulated people, the society thrives. Stability lives, but individuality—the desire and/or ability to be different—is dead." (cliffnotes.com). I believe that the loss of individuality from utopia is the main message in BNW. It is also a very meaningful message because not only is it a interesting idea, but in Huxley's time it really seemed like a strong possibility because of the great depression, the industrial revolution, and the rise of corporations.
Another message I picked up on from the book is that full happiness cannot be achieved without sacrifices. In BNW, John the Savage wants to show his love to Lenina but all she wants to do is have sex with him. "I wanted to do something first.... I mean, to show I was worthy of you," said John. Lenina replied, "Why should you think it necessary" (BNW 189). This quote shows how John felt like he should have to prove his love first, but Lenina didn't care. Lenina didn't care because she had grown up in the BNW and doesn't know better, but John knows that if he proves himself first that the sex will be more meaningful and he'll reach a higher level of happiness. It's kind of like when you build something yourself, or buy something with your own money. Since you've put the sacrifice into it you'll appreciate it more and it will give you more pleasure. In BNW everything is made to be easy and simple, with no conflicts.

When Huxley wrote BNW it was during the worst part of the great depression. Everyone was broke, unemployed, had no confidence in the economy, and was feeling the giant come down of the roaring twenties. During the great depression people were getting the feeling of what happens when something so big (e.g. the U.S. economy) falls to the ground. I think that this had an influence on Huxley because he got to see the bad side of something as big as the U.S. economy crashing.

I also believe that the industrial revolution had a big impact on the way BNW was written. All through Huxley's life he was witnessing the industrial revolution. People were starting to work in factories, do specialized work (like in BNW), and become more dependent upon other people (also, like in BNW). I believe that this was the main influence on the book because before the industrial revolution people generally worked for themselves. They planted food for themselzes, they hunted for themselves, they built houses for themselves, and made clothes for themselves. When the industrial revolution occured all the sudden people were producing things for other people and buying instead of making products from other people. Because of this people became more tied to their fellow beings, creating the famous quote of the book "Everyone belongs to everyone else."

I think that because of BNW's message on the importance of individuality and its historical background it is a must for english classes all over. Students everyone I think should read BNW because they need to know that their individuality is important and that if they let the government take it away from them they'll loose many of the simple pleasures that we all love.