Historical Significant

I researched on the historical significance of Brave New World and came upon a essays relating to this topic. The point of finding historical significance of the book is to show how this novel is a fine piece of literature that should be read in literature class. Also I am going to try and find out the purpose Huxley had in this "over the top" book.



“In the first chapter, the D.H.C. proudly explains the biochemical technology that makes possible the production of virtually identical human beings and, in doing so, introduces Huxley’s theme of individuality under assault”(Cliff Notes). Even though it is kind of crazy, he explains what his book is going to be about. I think the main idea was to open up peoples mind on how the world would be if the government wanted complete "peace". The "government" in this book not only created the people but also brain washed them to feel no love and to have no intelligence. From what Ive read, the main idea is to open the readers mind to the fact that the governments in the world are taking away the right to think and function as an individual. Different things going on around Huxley’s time probably lead him to feel this way. He was clearly taking current events during his time and tying them into his book to show people how messed up the government is in his made up world.

Huxley argues, control through reward poses a greater threat to human freedom because, unlike punishment it can be introduced unconsciously and continued indefinitely, with the approval and support of the people being controlled (Cliff notes). What I think the author is saying is, society will become dumb to the fact that the government is controlling us because, the government gives the people something they want to take their worries away. This is what he wanted people to realize so they could prevent it from happening. Biographies say that Huxley believes in a free minded and individualistic society.“The literal consumption of soma-like drugs also captures Huxley’s attention. By the 1950s, readily available tranquilizers adjusted people to a maladjusted culture, smoothing out any inconvenient instincts of resistance, just as a soma- holiday eliminated the recognition of unhappiness”(cliff notes). So, the government was already creating a drug to take people away from the reality of life, but he is like Bernard in the sense he knows its so they government can take control.

This is a perfect example of the government gaining control of people by rewarding them. “Soma distribution!” shouted a loud voice. “In good order please. Hurry up there”, this is an example from Brave New World where all the kids are lined up to receive their "happy pills". All the kids get excited to receive there soma pills, because it makes them feel good. Yet they don't know this is a drug and is being used to brain wash them. This is how Huxley express the fact that the government will provide to gain, he uses a very obvious thing to show this so he can make people realize.

In the book the people said “Oh Ford” instead of "Oh God". Well, as we know Ford was the Creator of the assembly line, and in the book they did not want them believing there was creation basically. In the novel, they used the word Ford because the assembly line was used for the mass production of humans. He probably chose to do this because number one it is a machine, and number two everyone looked up to Henry Ford for the creation he had made. Here is another example, “the Conveyors moved forward, thirty-three centimeters an hour”. This was where all the humans were made, it is a big essential to BNWs society.

I'm not sure if this book should be read in a literature class. It was very over the top, and had a lot of craziness. I liked it and I felt it opened my mind to thinking about government corruption and the future. If this book was read in literature class I think it should be for a lit 12 because it is kind of confusing. I am the kind of person that likes to think over the top, I loved the book but I don't know if it is for everyone.