Brave New World: Utopia?
Matthew Cayce
Instructor Susanna Holmes
Honors Composition II
26 April 2006
Brave New World: Utopia? When one envisions a utopian society, religion, the prevailing presence of social class segregation, and abusive drug use are not typically part of such a surreal picture. These attributes of society, which are generally the leading causes of discontent among its members, are more so the flaws an idealist would stray from in concocting such hypothesis for a more "perfect" world; not so for Aldous Huxley. In his novel, Brave New World, these ideals are the fine points of which his utopian world are built upon. Religion is non-existent and present simultaneously in the form of preconditioning and technology, social classes are used for defining individual purpose and harmony among citizens, and drug use is the backbone for provoking happiness. In Brave New World, religion is non-existent in terms of how it is in present times. Today, religion is more or less the belief of things in the supernatural realm that provoke moral codes of standards, or ethics, as applied to living life and social conduct among people. Basically, God is "dead" in this world, but a central "godhead" is always present. This is best understood by some explanations given by Mustapha Mond to the students visiting the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre. He says, (referring to the current time and era of this new world) "The introduction of Our Ford's first T-Model Chosen as the opening date of the new era" (57). He also states that there used to be a thing called God and Christianity before this era, and since the beginning of this new era all crosses have been replaced by T's (58). This clearly shows the importance of Ford as godhead. Another instance of this is seen in how such cataclysms as, "Oh my God," that God is replaced by Ford, which is done throughout the novel. This religion based on the importance of Ford's ingenuity of production and the importance of
Instructor Susanna Holmes
Honors Composition II
26 April 2006
Brave New World: Utopia? When one envisions a utopian society, religion, the prevailing presence of social class segregation, and abusive drug use are not typically part of such a surreal picture. These attributes of society, which are generally the leading causes of discontent among its members, are more so the flaws an idealist would stray from in concocting such hypothesis for a more "perfect" world; not so for Aldous Huxley. In his novel, Brave New World, these ideals are the fine points of which his utopian world are built upon. Religion is non-existent and present simultaneously in the form of preconditioning and technology, social classes are used for defining individual purpose and harmony among citizens, and drug use is the backbone for provoking happiness. In Brave New World, religion is non-existent in terms of how it is in present times. Today, religion is more or less the belief of things in the supernatural realm that provoke moral codes of standards, or ethics, as applied to living life and social conduct among people. Basically, God is "dead" in this world, but a central "godhead" is always present. This is best understood by some explanations given by Mustapha Mond to the students visiting the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre. He says, (referring to the current time and era of this new world) "The introduction of Our Ford's first T-Model Chosen as the opening date of the new era" (57). He also states that there used to be a thing called God and Christianity before this era, and since the beginning of this new era all crosses have been replaced by T's (58). This clearly shows the importance of Ford as godhead. Another instance of this is seen in how such cataclysms as, "Oh my God," that God is replaced by Ford, which is done throughout the novel. This religion based on the importance of Ford's ingenuity of production and the importance of
Cited: Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. New York: Harper Collins Publishers Inc., 2005.