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Unit 20: Aldous Huxley—Brave New World: Themes and Characterization

2. A ......... is a kind of science fiction. Notes
3. Barnard Marx loves ......... .
4. The Director of the Central Condon Hatchery and Conditioning centre is called ......... .
5. Lenina visits John at his ......... .

The Limits of Science

While society has mainly banned art and religion rather than science, Mustapha Mond also
claims that too much scientific progress can also reduce the ultimate happiness of each individual.
Science, he tells the reader, is responsible for a great many of the achievements of their society
and for the levels of happiness that each individual achieves. Nevertheless, if scientific progress
occurs without restraint, it will lead to less happiness.
For instance, the government does not engineer food in a scientific laboratory, even though it
would be faster and would feed more people. By farming food naturally, the government
gives more work for the lower caste people to do and thus keeps them occupied and happy.
This example shows that progress does not always maximize happiness, a fact that John the
Savage clearly sees in his new society.

20.4 Summary

• John first enters the story as he expresses an interest in participating in the Indian
religious ritual from which Bernard and Lenina recoil.
• The major movement in Bernard’s character is his rise in popularity after the trip to the
Reservation and his discovery of John, followed by his disastrous fall.
• Mustapha Mond is the most powerful and intelligent proponent of the World State.
• A dystopia is a kind of science fiction, or fantasy, world that predicts the future in a
negative light.
• Huxley’s civilized world is a society of ultimate knowledge. Humans have conquered
almost all areas of scientific inquiry; they control life, death, aging, pleasure, and pain.
• The society in Brave New World can only survive because it has destroyed any remnants
of human relationships and bonds.

20.5 Keywords

Disgusting : arousing revulsion or strong indignation.
Foil : prevent the success.
Orgy : a wild party characterized by excessive drinking and indiscriminate
sexual activity.

20.6 Review Questions

1. Examine the themes of Brave New World.
2. Enumerate the characterization of the text, Brave new world.
3. Discuss Huxley’s vision of a utilitarian society.

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