Themes: Dystopias and Totalitarianism

Brave New World flips traditional ideas of dystopia and totalitarianism on their heads. In typical totalitarian regimes, total control is used to create a society that benefits the privileged few while hurting most of the population, who are usually left miserable, poor, and often endangered. This is perhaps best expressed in George Orwell’s novel 1984. Dystopian worlds like Orwell’s Oceania highlight inequitable and immoral practices by showing...

Themes: The Price of Happiness

Aldous Huxley presents a society in Brave New Worldwherein total happiness comes at a steep price: the loss of free will and individuality. For example, World State citizens like Lenina, Fanny, and Henry are seemingly happy in that they don’t experience emotional or physical pain. However, their happiness is shallow and has the same sources as everyone else: sexual flings, frequent vacations, high-tech and low-effort games, and constant sensory...

Themes: Industrialization

Industrialization was a large factor of society when Huxley wrote Brave New World, which is reflected in the way he wrote it into the novel. Though the World State’s people have renounced all religion, they do still revere one figure with a religious-like fervor: Henry Ford. This is showcased in everyday expressions (“Ford!” and “Fordy!”), their use of A.F. (Anno Ford) to denote years, and their reference to Mustapha Mond, who upholds Henry...

Themes: Consumption

There are several forms of consumption in Brave New World’s World State: media consumption, economic consumption, and drug consumption. All showcase different ways in which the Controllers encourage stability and complacency among the population.

In today’s world of reality TV, blockbuster films, sensationalist news headlines, and never-ending social media updates, Huxley’s warning about the perils of constant, superficial consumption of media...

Themes: Individuality

Individuality is a rarity in the universe of Brave New World. It is highly discouraged by the government and even by the citizens themselves. Anyone who is seen as “different” from the norm—like Bernard—is viewed with suspicion. Many of the citizens are spawned from the lower-class Bokanovsky Groups, which are sets of identical twins all from the same egg and lacking individuality due to their status as clones. What little remains of individuality...

Themes: Technology and Control

The World State uses various types of technology to control people’s lives long before they are “decanted,” or born. From an advanced understanding of eugenics to hypnopædia to Pavlovian-style conditioning, infants’ lives are determined by technology before they have any awareness of what is around them. Furthermore, technologically advanced means of entertainment, travel, and transportation surround people in their day-to-day lives, and robust...

Themes: Social Stability

In Brave New World, social stability is achieved through a combination of genetic engineering, psychological conditioning, and a rigid caste system. The society in the novel prioritizes uniformity and control, suppressing individuality to maintain order. By promoting a sense of belonging and predetermined roles for each individual, the society prevents social unrest and personal dissatisfaction. The motto "Community, Identity, Stability"...

Themes: Consumerism

In Brave New World, consumerism is a central theme that illustrates the control and manipulation of society by the World State. The citizens are conditioned to constantly consume goods and services, which serves both economic and psychological purposes. This relentless consumerism is a tool for maintaining social stability and preventing individuals from contemplating the emptiness of their lives.

The economy of the World State is heavily reliant...