The Use Of Distortion In Brave New

World Essay, Research Paper

Aldous Huxley, in his distopian novel,- Brave New World, written in 1932 presents a

horrifying view of a possible future in which society has become a prisoner of the very

technology it hoped would save us. In -Brave New World Huxley’s distortion of

technology, religion, and family values, is much more effective than his use of literary

realism found in his depiction of a savage reservation. Through his use of distortion

Huxley tells a classic tale with the theme of, be careful what you wish for, because it may

not truly be what you wanted.

Huxley effectively uses distortion in -Brave New World through his depiction of

social values of the future. For example, when Barnard Marx hears somebody talking

about Lenina in the locker room, he becomes upset. Leaving the building, everyone he

passes recommends soma for his bad mood. Huxley shows the reader that drug use is

becoming more and more an acceptable way out for a weak society. He is showing

society that we are becoming emotionally incapable of dealing with pain and hurt.

Furthermore, the students, while speaking with the director of the London Hatchery, are

told at one time people were viviparous, and were disgusted and outraged. Huxley is

trying to warn society that its lack of commitment and endurance will eventually be its

downfall. Lack of the experience of pregnancy severs the emotional ties of the woman

and her child. An emotionless society feels no guilt. In addition, Lenina, when accused

of lack of promiscuity by Fanny while in the locker room, religiously denies it.

Monogamy requires commitment, pain, and work. Huxley is predicting humans

progressing to a society of people who are unable to focus on anything but pleasure;

unable to handle the work of a commitment. He knew the road we were on would lead

the wrong way.

Huxley also uses distortion to open peoples eyes to the world of religion. For example,

Bernard Marx hurries and frets about being late to his orgy-porgy session because he is

running behind. Huxley’s prediction of the church moving away from God and towards

man is becoming evident even sixty-three years after his book appeared. Church figures,

such as, Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggert, have appeared numerous times on the news

and in the papers for using the church for money and sex. Furthermore, when Bernard

and Lenina visit the reservation they are appalled at the practice of a cross of Christianity

and Hinduism. A warning that lack of religious tolerance could be one of the greatest

downfalls of our time. Every day thousands of men, women and children die in Middle

Eastern Holy Wars, over nothing more than lack of religious tolerance. In addition,

Lenina wears the sign of the T to replace the sign of the cross. The cross represented

faith, something that couldn’t be touched, but had to be believed in. The T, stands for

technology, something that even the weak can believe in because they can see it. Faith is

a sign of a strong society, the lack of faith would be a sign that a society is becoming

weak.

The most powerful distortion in -Brave New World is found in Huxley’s use of

technology. For example, the world director of the London Hatchery is very proud they

have produced ninety-six buds from one egg. Technology has replaced motherhood. The

new society finds delight in being able to reproduce ninety-six of the exact same person.

There is no ambition, no individuality, no creativity, a truly bleak society. Furthermore,

while the students are being given a tour of the hatchery, they are extremely impressed

that not only are the children decanted, they are predestined. Predestined. Children grow

up and know one job and no other, they are taught nothing but that one job. They aren’t

allowed to dream and aren’t allowed to hope. In addition, Mustapha Mond, one of the

seven world leaders, the seven most powerful men in the world, is referred to as His

Fordness. Henry Ford is the god of the Brave New World. Society has replaced what is

associated with beauty, nature, and creativity, with a man who invented the assembly

line, a process designed to stamp out thousands of the exact same interchangeable part.

Are we going to become the exact same replaceable person? Creativity brought the idea,

but will the idea destroy creativity?