Brave New World is a classic - a dystopian novel similar in theme to George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. As Nineteen Eighty-Four is my favourite book of all time I decided to look further into the genre and explore different texts similar.
I was not disappointed.
I was not disappointed.
Far in the future, the World Controllers have created the ideal society. Through clever use of genetic engineering, brainwashing and recreational sex and drugs, all its members are happy consumers. Bernard Marx seems alone harbouring an ill-defined longing to break free. A visit to one of the few remaining Savage Reservations, where the old, imperfect life still continues, may be the cure for his
distress…
Brave New World revolves around the idea of totalitarianism and is set in a futuristic world where a combination of science and pleasure form a rather feudalistic society. This idea of totalitarianism is achieved through test tube babies, and hypnotism, resulting in a pre-ordained caste system consisting of intelligent humans suited to the highest positions and conversely, serf-like beings genetically programmed to carry out menial works.
In this world of Alphas, Betas, Gammas, Deltas and the unfortunate Epsilons, exists drug-induced happiness, caused by what is known as soma. Here, "everyone belongs to everyone else" emphasising the system of forced promiscuity, brainwashed into the people from the moment of birth. At the core of this book is the horrific idea of eugenics and despite being written several decades ago, its message remains valid for our generation.
The sheer idea of the book is enough to call it a classic: brilliant notions,well thought-out perceptions on society- amazing. However, the characters aren’t as well developed as I expected from a modern classic. Although some characters are interesting, mostly John, who Remembering Shakespeare, says: "You got rid of them. Yes, that's just like you. Getting rid of everything unpleasant instead of learning to put up with it. Whether 'tis better in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them... But you don't do either.”
Subsequently, addressing the point: getting rid of all of the most unpleasant things, the society also rid itself of many of the true pleasures in life. There's no real passion.
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