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Brave New World (1932)

Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)

Born in Surrey in 1894. His family members were prominent figures of the English ruling class and intellectual elite: His father was the son of Thomas Henry Huxley (great biologist who helped to develop the theory of evolution). His mother was the niece of Matthew Arnold (important English poet). Huxleys ancestry brought down on him a weight of intellectual authority and a momentum of moral obligations.

When a student at Eton, he started suffering from an eye illness which almost made him blind. Partially healed, attended Oxford University and graduated with honors but was not able to fight in World War I or engage in scientific work.
Acquired an encyclopaedic erudition; travelled widely around the world ; lived in Italy for a while

His experiences in these places provided material to be used in Brave New World (1931 publ.1932) (ie. Benito Mussolini led an authoritarian government that fought against birth control in order to produce manpower for the war)

Highly interested in

politics (pamphlets against the Spanish War)


pacifism (supported the Peace Movement) mysticism ( experienced drugs to improve his vision) Extremely prolific and versatile, wrote about painting, religion, music, science, philosophy A major influence upon the young intelligentsia of his time

1984 : Important Terms


Totalitarianism
The political concept that the citizen should be totally subject to an absolute state authority Caste System division of society based on differences of wealth,inherited rank or privilege, profession, occupation, or race

UTOPIA = Imaginary, indefinite place of ideal perfection (especially in laws, government, and social conditions) ANTIUTOPIA / DYSTOPIA

The reverse of traditional utopia. Its aim is to promote the advent of a better society by presenting the negative aspects of society in hideous terms.
A dystopian work tends to exaggerate tendencies already present in society, projecting them into the future and warning mankind against the dangers of continuing along the same path. FIRST ANTI-UTOPIA: Swifts Gullivers Travels

Caste System
The caste system in Brave New World includes 5 major castes named after Greek letters (i.e. , Alpha to Epsilon) There are differences in the members of castes (i.e., outer appearance, intelligence, livelihood). They are trained to dislike other castes; as a result , everyone is happy and stability is achieved.

Introduction
Thomas (The Director)
He is the administrator in the year 623AF of the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre. The Director runs a futuristic baby-factory where the assembly-line production of genetic castes is streamlined and controlled, and maturing youngsters are conditioned to be happy about their state-allotted roles in life.

Structure
10 World Controllers Alphas Plus(ruling elite) Alphas (elite) Betas Gammas Deltas Epsilons

Function of Caste System


The society in Brave New World seeks to create happiness for everyone. Everyone is happy to belong to their caste. The caste system is needed to cover every little part of the processes that form the society (i.e. work, housing, etc.). Everyone works for everyone (COMMUNITY).

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