BNW Allusions
7. Herbert Hoover
Who was he?
Herbert Hoover was the President of the United States from 1929-1933.
When did he live?
He lived from 1874-1864.
Where did he live?
Hoover grew up in Iowa and later Oregon after he became an orphan at the age of
9.
Why was he famous?
Hoover was president during the beginning of the Great Depression-Black Tuesday
October 29, 1929 when the stock market crashed, throwing the country into the
Great Depression. People thought Hoover was partially responsible for this and
blamed him, naming the shanty towns many people lived in Hoovervilles. Not
surprisingly, Hoover was not reelected. Franklin Delanor Roosevelt took over in
1933 and remained president until 1945.
ConnectionAldous Huxley names one of his characters Benito Hoover in reference to Herbert
Hoover. What happened during Hoover's presidency, the great depression, is exactly
what the Brave New World society is built around preventing. Everything that is
done in the Brave New World has to do with "Stability"--keeping the economy stable
so that nothing like the Depression could ever happen. Brave New World takes
stability to the extreme.
10. The Tempest
The title, Brave New World, appears in the Tempest. Determine under what
circumstances this title appears in The Tempest. Make a connection
between those circumstances and the circumstances in Brave New World.
Tempest was first performed in 1611 and first published in 1623.
Summary- Prosepero is wrongfully exiled to an island and lives with his daughter,
Miranda, there. A ship is wrecked onto an island and a young Prince, Ferdinand, comes
onto the island. Miranda loves him at first sight and says this:
MIRANDA
O, wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in't!
Prospero is like Linda in that they are exiled wrongly. Miranda is like John in that
they end up exiled as a result of the parent. Also, Miranda loves Ferdinand at first
sight just as JOhn loves Lenina at first sight.
11. Romeo and Juliet
What do the events or characters have in common with those in Brave New
World?
Romeo and Juiliet was first performed in 1596. In the play, Romeo and Juliet are
from rivaling families and fall in love. Romeo and Juliet are married by Friar
Lawrence behind the backs of their parents. Romeo is exiled after he participates in
a fight in the town square. Attempting to be with Romeo, Juliet feigns death. When
Romeo sees her lying "deadm," he kills himself. When Juliet wakes up, she sees
Romeo dead and stabs herself with his dagger.
John is constantly quoting Romeo and Juliet to express his love for Lenina. John
thinks like Romeo in that he loves unconditionally and wants to spend the rest of his
life with Lenina. Just like Romeo, John kills himself when he sees that his love is not
turning out the way he wanted, and he cannot accept it.
12. Westminster Abbey
Precisely where is it situated in London?
It is situated in Westminster, London--right in the center of downtown London.
When was it built?
It was first built in 1065 and later rebuilt by Henry III in 1245.
What historic events happened there? (dates)
Dec 25 1066 - William the Conquerer crowned
1301- Coronation chair constructed, same chair used for every coronation since
1560- Queen Elizabeth I established Westminster Abbey as a collegiate church
1953- Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
Who is buried there?
Most kings and queens of England were buried here as well as some famous people
such a poets like Charles Dickens.
ConnectionIn Brave New World, the people have made a mockery of religion. Religion is no
longer in existence for the reason that it does not further the economy. So, Aldous
Huxley satarizes this by turning Westminster Abbey, one of the most important
churches in Christianity, into a nightclub where people do drugs and dance. (Ch. 5)
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