DISCUSSION QUESTIONS – Brave New World by A. Huxley
Interpretation
1. Are the characters in Brave New World stereotypes? Give 3 characters that could be
viewed that way and explain the “type” they portray.
2. What are the main elements of the new world, and which, if any, of these elements are
present in our world?
3. Name the various classes of people in this “brave new world”, and give examples of
how the ranks are conditioned for the job to be performed and social class to be held.
Critical Thinking
4. Are Bernard's actions throughout the book believably motivated? Explain why or why
not. Do you know anyone like him in real life?
5. Compare and contrast Linda and Lenina.
6. Compare and contrast Bernard and Helmholtz.
7. Discuss the implications of the name "savage" and the appropriateness of the
connotations.
8. Explain how Huxley uses the title, Brave New World, and where the words actually
come from.
9. Why did Huxley choose to have John end up the way he did? Did you see this
coming? What does this conclusion add to the overall point of the story?
10. How are the names Ford and Freud and the sign of the letter T used in the society of
Brave New World?
11. Discuss the significance of the word "mother" as being a smutty word in the novel.
12. What faults in our society does Aldous Huxley point out in Brave New World?
13. Discuss the relevance and use of the Shakespearean passages in the book. What do
they contrast with, or what do they help the reader see more plainly?
14. The new world is a clean, almost sterile society. Why does Savage feel the need to be
"purified" after he has been in this “other place” for awhile?
15. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of genetic engineering as shown in the
novel.
16. "You can't make tragedies without social instability,” says Mustafa Mond. Why not?
17. Family relationships are totally removed in the new world. What was the purpose of
that? Why is that step necessary to set up the Brave New World?
18. Define "happiness” as the founders of the Brave New World would. How does it
differ, if at all, from your version of “happiness”?
19. The people in the new world are conditioned from the moment of conception. Does
conditioning play a role in our society? How does it differ from Brave New World?
20. What takes the place of the family unit in the Brave New World?
Comparison with 1984
21. Longer Response: Compare and contrast John from Brave New World with Winston
Smith in 1984. What is important to each? How do their personalities contrast? How
does each rebel against the repression of his society? What gives each of them any sense
of joy or purpose? Which character is more compelling to the reader? Contrast their two
separate endings. Are both endings believable for the character?
22. Which of the two novels do you feel has a greater message to our society today?
Why?
23. Which of the two books did you find more entertaining and compelling? Why?