Brave New
World
Aldous Huxley
The Who
• Bernard Marx- Alpha male who does not fit in because he is
physically different from his caste.
• John the Savage- The only major character to be born and
raised outside the World’s State
• Lenina Crowne- Worker in hatchery and conditioning center.
She is only capable of relating to others through intimate
relations.
• Linda- John’s mother. She became pregnant while on a trip
outside the World’s State. Never returned
• Helmholtz Watson- An Alpha, and lecturer. Friends with
Bernard because both find disfavor with the World's State
• The Director (Tomakin)- John’s father. The Director
administrates the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning
Center.
• Mustapha Mond- The Resident World Controller of Western
Europe. In charge of exiling people.
The What
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Opens in the Central London Hatching and Conditioning Center.
Lenina and Bernard go on a trip to the Savage Reservation in New Mexico.
Bernard and Lenina meet John the savage, who is the son of Linda.
Bernard brings both Linda and John back to the World’s State.
Lenina becomes obsessed with John, and John finds himself attracted to her as
well.
Bernard's social standing rises then plummets.
John continues to become more and more unhappy.
Linda dies, John is outraged, and he tries to start a Soma Rebellion, but a riot
starts.
John, Bernard and Helmholtz are arrested for the riot. Bernard and Helmholtz
are exiled to islands. John leaves the World’s State and moves into a lighthouse,
where he whips himself regularly.
The media finds John, and an orgy ensues after John whips himself for the
cameras.
John wakes the next morning. He is ashamed at himself for participating in the
orgy.
John Hangs himself, completely removing himself from the horrible world.
The Where
• Set in England, in the year of
2540 A.D.
• 632 years “After Ford,” meaning
632 years after the production of
the first Model T car.
Lets Make A Baby
• Bokanovsky Process-which involves shocking an egg so
that it divides to form up to 96 identical embryos,
which then develop into 96 identical human beings.
The Alpha and Beta embryos never undergo this
dividing process, which can weaken the embryos.
• Podsnap Technique- speeds up the ripening process of
eggs within a single ovary. With this method, hundreds
of related individuals can be produced from the ova
and sperm of the same man and woman within 2
years. The average production rate using Podsnap’s
Technique is 11,000 brothers and sisters in 150 batches
of identical twins.
• Conditioning- training that happens in the embryonic
stage. Training for their future career and caste.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwuy2t60
25k
The New World Order
• Alpha – Future World Leaders and
intellectuals
• Beta- Public service workers, Lenina Crowne is
a beta. Of normal intelligence.
• Gamma, Delta, Epsilon• All Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon fetuses go
through the Bokanovsky process and
thousands of clones are created from one
fetus. Work the simplest jobs . Factory
workers.
Themes, Symbols, Ideas
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The use of technology to control society
Removal of free will
The All-powerful state
An over-drugged society
Alienation
Relationships
Soma
Wonder Drug?
• Soma- drug given to
make one feel happy
• The drug soma is a
symbol of the use of
instant gratification to
control the World
State’s lower classes. It
is also a symbol of the
powerful influence of
science and technology
on society.
• Soma distribution can
be compared to what
in our culture?
What is the World Coming
to?
• Name 3 differences between the
Society Aldous Huxley created and
the world we live in.
• Name 3 things that are very similar.
• What are your feelings on these
similarities and differences?
Further Discussion
• Could our society ever get to this point? Why
or why not?
• What role did Shakespeare play in this novel?
Support your answer
• "Community, Stability, Identity”, is the World’s
State motto. Do you believe this is true? Why
or why not?
• Is this Society an Utopia or a dystopia? Explain
and support your answer
Your Homework
• Write three short passages. These will be
written in journal entry format.
• Choose the journal of John the Savage,
Bernard Marx, or Lenina Crowne
• Your journal entries must explain and analyze
specific events in the story. The voice must
authentic and the character's thoughts must
fit their personality.
Credits
• Content:
– SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Brave New World.”
SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2007. Web. 24 Oct.
2011.
– http://wiki.english.ucsb.edu/index.php/English_192_Br
ave_New_World_Discussion_Questions
– http://www.bookrags.com/lessonplan/bravenewworld
/essaytopics.html
• Pictures:
- Clip Art
- http://knowledgelost.org/literature/readinglists/1001-books-you-must-read-before-youdie/brave-new-world
- http://civilservant.wordpress.com/2007/07/30/rethis-and-that/