Sassan Sheikholeslami
Engl105H
Section 12
Narrative Criticism
Religion is one of the cornerstones of society. It shapes the way that we
act and the way we think. Aldous Huxley makes numerous references to
different types of organized religions throughout “Hyperion to a Satyr”. Most of
these references serve to further his explanation of sanitary conditions
throughout history. He does, however, seem to express an implicit viewpoint on
religion. Thus, this narrative criticism will attempt to answer the research
question, what is Huxley’s perspective on organized religion?
I will begin this narrative criticism with a comprehensive examination of
all aspects of the narrative. The main features that will be analyzed in detail are
the characters, events, and narrator as they have the most relevance to this
criticism. The setting, temporal relations, audience, causal relations and theme
will go mostly untouched, as they are relatively unimportant to the artifact as a
whole, and even less so to this inquiry.
Huxley begins the artifact with an anecdote of a walk he had with Thomas
Mann on a Californian beach, the major point of interest being thousands of used
contraceptives. This leads directly into his account of a brief history of sanitary
practices throughout the world in various cultures. He goes on a few tangents of
significant length, namely the evolutionary aspect of cleanliness and an in-depth
look at the internal mechanisms of a modern sludge plant. At the end of the
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artifact he discusses the relationship between thought and symbolization. This
flows into his vague eschatological prediction for the ultimate level of existence,
one without reliance on symbolic thought.
The characters that Huxley discusses tell us a reasonable amount about his
perspective on religion. For instance, he goes into significant detail on a book by
Pope Innocent III. The passages that are quoted from this book such as “how
filthy the father”, “how low the mother”, and “how repulsive the sister”; are of a
very negative nature. The picture that Huxley gives us of Innocent III is
singularly negative. It seems natural then, that Huxley would not embrace an
institution, the Catholic Church, with a figurehead whose character he sees as
flawed. Huxley’s own interpretation of medieval orthodoxy from this passage is,
That is why every muck-bag ends by getting herself embraced- with the
result that yet another stinker-with-a-soul finds himself embarked on a sea
of misery, bound for a port which, since few indeed can hope for
salvation, is practically certain to be hell. (Huxley, 140)
Another occurrence of Huxley showing this opinion is in his account of
the push for sanitary reform in England. Huxley makes it very clear in this
passage that the only reformer that had any connection with religion was a “lowchurch man of letters”. As Huxley tells us that sanitary reform was thought to be
“the greatest achievement of our age”, he again shows his contempt for
organized religion by the absence of any effort by it for the well being of the
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populace. Evidence of Huxley’s perspective on religion can also be found by
looking at some of the events in “Hyperion”.
Many of the historical events that Huxley strings together also seem to
elucidate his viewpoint on religion. In speaking of the way that the Hindu
organized themselves he says, “The Hindu preferred to condemn a tithe of their
population to untouchability and the daily chore of carrying slop”. Huxley’s
choice of the word “condemn” seems most important here as it shows that he
considers the Hindu religion similar to a prison. Another event worth exploring
is Huxley’s discussion of Feminine Modesty in England. Huxley sees it as “one
of the most rewarding themes of pulpit eloquence”. Thus Huxley thinks that the
reason that females were taught to keep themselves dirty was so priests could
have a good topic to discuss in their sermons. More of Huxley’s stance on
religion can be uncovered by looking at his own insights in the artifact.
As the narrator, Huxley gives us many clues to his viewpoint on religion
by the language he chooses and the ideas he puts forth. An obvious example of
this is his inclusion of an evolutionary explanation for the natural lack of hygiene
in humans. Huxley’s inclusion of evolution, a theory that contradicts most
religious doctrine, as the explanation of our behavior seems to further illustrate
his lack of faith in religious doctrine. More evidence on this can be found near
the end of the artifact when he gives a prediction for the future.
Huxley’s vision of our totalitarian future also shows something of
viewpoint on religion. Huxley seems to think that in the totalitarian future,
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-the time hallowed symbols of monotheism and brotherhood will
doubtless be preserved. God will be One and men will all be His children,
but in a Pickwickian sense. Actually there will be slaves and masters, and
the slaves will be taught to worship a parochial trinity of Nation, Party,
and Political Boss. (Huxley, 151)
This comparison of the Holy Trinity with a likely Totalitarian system of
control shows two things. First, he does not think organized religion has enough
momentum to continue to bond the moral fabric of our society together. Second,
that religion in its current form is a passive form of control that could easily be
distorted for more evil purposes. Both of these ideas are contrary to the opinions
that would be held by a person that had a positive view of religion.
After a close examination of the characters, opinions of the narrator, and
events that deal with religion; Huxley’s perspective on religion seems quite a bit
clearer. Huxley seems to have a very negative view, and thinks of religion more
as a tool of man to control other men, than a source of morals. How do you think
this view is reflected in his other works, namely Brave New World?
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