Since his childhood years, Aldous Huxley was surrounded by good examples of scientists, teachers and writers. This kind of exposure put him in a perfect position to integrate scientific findings into literature and deliver the story the way a teacher would lead his students through a complicated material.

He started with satire, making English privileged society a target for his works. Then was poetry. Soon after he started to write novels, his knowledge of science and mastery of satirical language generated a great dystopian novel “Brave New World”.

The Cold War and World War II have undeniably proved the great influence technology and scientific developments play in the society. Huxley was ahead of his times to predict that influence to happen.

In 1932 “Brave New World” was published where the concepts of struggle between society as a mechanism and an individual with his free will were elaborated. The events of the book take place at the World State where people are born at a Hatching and Conditioning Center.

The World State is a successful prosperous state, which it achieved by removing the disruptive emotional influence and eliminating any possible genetic aberrations. Each “person” is programmed to belong to one of the five casts, each of them having their own characteristics and functions in the society. Their physical appearances, tastes and morals are preconditioned.

In the universe where self-realization is impossible and being a “father” is a crime, Bernard discovers a man form the Reservoir who has known other values. He is shocked why this man shows signs of aging on his face, doesn’t want to sleep with his beloved Lenina and can’t get over the inequality of the opportunities given to each of the five casts.

One of the few dystopia works that actually allow a rebellion and the other point of view in the plot, “Brave New World” shows its readers what happens when nothing is sacred. And how much are you willing to scarify for the stability and economic prosperity?

Author: Cody Owens