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Fiction

Notes Chapter 17

Summary

Religion is the last sacrifice made by the old world to ensure happiness. Mustapha understands
religion as something men turn to late in life when they become afraid of death. Religion
substitutes for the loss of youth. Mond explains that since society eradicated the fear of death
and since science keeps everyone youthful until death, religion is unnecessary. He reads to
John passages from The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis and from a work by Cardinal
John H. Newman in order to demonstrate this previous society dependence on God, which he
claims is no longer necessary.
Mond also points out people only believe in God when their conditioning suggests it. The
Savage argues instead that solitude would lead people to visualize a god instinctively, but
since society has removed solitude, people cannot contemplate the world on their own terms.
John complains that society prevents people from discovering truth for themselves.
Mustapha and John then argue over the meaning of life and the pursuit of happiness. John
asserts that happiness is a punishment for men because they have overindulged in their
pleasant vices. Mustapha argues that, by their society’s standards, each man is happy and
perfect as he is. The discussion continues, as Mustapha condemns self-denial as bad for the
economy and opposed to happiness, chastity as leading to passion, and passion as causing
instability. Mustapha understands nobility and heroics as only existing where political instability
reigns, which is unnecessary.

Did u know? The climax of the argument comes when Mustapha says, “in fact, you’re
claiming the right to be unhappy.” The Savage demands the right to poetry,
real danger, freedom, goodness, and sin by making the powerful statement,
“I claim them all.” Mustapha merely shrugs and says, “You’re welcome.”

Analysis

This chapter makes clear that Mond considers religion to be the most destabilizing force in
society. Mond does not deny the power that religion had in the past world and even claims
that he believes in a god. However, he also claims that God has become irrelevant in modern
society and now only manifests himself through absence. Huxley presents a strand of existential
philosophy that maintains that God’s non-existence created a world in which humanity could
only find meaning through its own existence. Mond’s society has strictly controlled the parameters
of this existence, leaving no room for a God.

John Savage attempts to counter this argument with the example of the Indian civilization
from which he came. Religion, Savage argues, comes naturally to man and will never entirely
disappear. The religion of the Indians gives great meaning to their lives and provides the
ability to endure turmoil and unhappiness.

The climax of the novel’s action occurs in chapter fifteen, but the climax of the novel’s thought
and ideas happens here when Mond tells John Savage that, “In fact, you’re claiming the right
to be unhappy.” In the extremism of the Utopian utilitarianism, the right to be unhappy no
longer exists. This is what the Savage realizes when he starts claiming all the ills of humanity.
He argues that being unhappy is a natural right that every man should have. Mustapha clearly
disagrees with him.

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