Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World: an Analysis

Brave New World was revises due to the actuality of these concepts. “The prophecies made in 1931 are coming true much sooner than I thought they would” (page 238). These prophecies came to life, before the author had proposed. He claimed “the nightmare of total organization, which I had situated in the seventh century after Ford, has emerged from the safe, remote future, and is now awaiting us, just around the corner” ( page 238). Many had criticized such topics after the creation of the original Brand New World , and claimed the future would recognize more with “1984”. However, we are seeing now that this is myth, Brave New World forecasted the future more accurately.

I am no scientist; however, I remember attending a seminar at Gannon University last year. This seminar was dedicated to these ideas. Scientists now have the means to create a desired race. Parents are now able to choose the genetic makeup of the child, along with the gender. This book, along with the ideas presented at this seminar, reveal to us that these ideas are already reality. One doesn’t have to guess when they will occur, because they already are occurring. Although, governmental intervening has not occurred with this new technology, it is only time before this is true.

I mean, logically thinking, why would they create technology? Certainly, not for the good of the economy, rather to have a way of controlling it more and more. According to Huxley: “Whenever the economic life of a nation becomes precarious, the central government is forced to assume additional responsibilities for the general welfare. It must work out elaborate plans for dealing with critical situations, it must impose ever greater restrictions upon the activities of its subjects and if, as is very likely, worsening economic conditions result in political unrest, or open rebellion, the central government must intervene to preserve public order and its own authority” (page 245). The role of governments has certainly changed over time, it was once reserved to serve the people, however, now it is utilized to reserve only its own power of dictatorship.

Huxley claimed: “In the second half of the twentieth century we do nothing systematic about our breeding, but in our random and unregulated way, we are not only over-populating our planet, we are also, it would seem, making sure these greater numbers shall be of biologically poorer quality. In the bad old day’s children with considerable or even with slight, hereditary defects rarely survived. Today, thanks to sanitation, modern pharmacology, and the social conscience, most of the children born with hereditary defects reach maturity and multiply (page 248).

These ideas reinstate what is already known to mankind. It is apparent, that mentioned persons are living quite longer, considerably. However, it is not are right to discontinue such cases, some persons with deformed features, are the happiest amongst us. Taking away these rights, would be against the Constitution. However, governments aren’t concerned about keeping these rights, rather taking them away one by one. Technology can conclude such deformities now, even before the birth of these children. Many parents opt to abort these cases, which is one secret maneuver the government has already implemented to their goal. However, most people do not realize this, they do not see that the government wants to create a pure race, which is why these technologies were created in the first place.

Although this may be a work of fiction, it does leave one with an unsettling feeling. Especially, since these ideas are happening as we speak. The author speaks heavily on overpopulation and the expectancies of controlling such issues. A remarkable point included: “In an undeveloped and over-populated country, where 4/5 of the people get less than two-thousand calories a day and 1/5 enjoys an adequate diet” (page 249). He then goes on to claim that industrialized countries are even seeing decline in IQ and physical vigor.

These ideas are very prevalent in our world today. But is totalitarianism the answer to fixing such solutions? I don’t believe so, we as people should figure solutions to such problems, not the government. For it is certain their way will be violent and unconstitutional. We can clearly see the dire need to control populations, other countries have done so, such as China. China allows for a certain number of children to be born, I feel this measure could be taken. However, instead of the government intervening, why cannot we just agree to keep this for ourselves.

I feel that totalitarianism principles are very possible in our future. Page 269 of Brave New World speaks about Hitler’s rule in Nazi Germany. It claimed there was one thing different that Hitler did that differed from previous dictators. One thing which made his techniques both successful and possible. He concluded that this was that he utilized all “technical means for the domination of its own country.” Such examples included radios, speakers, and the inability for man to have independent thoughts. I feel these ideas are already incorporated in our society today.

Last week I watched a video called The Corporation, this film showed what corporations were designed to do and how they have considerably. One aspect this film revealed was in regards to Monsanto. As many know, this corporation is responsible for much of the food produced throughout the country. Fox news was designated to do research on a specific chemical this company produces and the safety of it. The reporters concluded that it was linked to several cancers and declining health in general. They claimed they would not lie about their research, so Monsanto threatened them. A lawsuit arose, and one might think Monsanto would be the one in trouble. However, it was concluded that revealing false information via news, television, or journals, is not illegal. What this goes to show, that the government is already controlling our minds. They fill our brains with many lies and mislead us to the truth. These ideas are already incorporated in the system; citizens must be educated themselves and not rely on such programs to conclude the truth. Just as Hitler controlled what was aired and considered truth, the U.S. government is doing the same thing. But most people do not realize this, and that is where the problem occurs.

Another great point made, was that Hitler believed the masses were “incapable of abstract thinking and uninterested in any fact outside the circle of their immediate experience” (page 272). This heavily relates to my example above. Hitler could brainwash an entire nation to conform to his ideas. Many people argue that they would not be involved in such instances, however, one cannot simply speak unless directly involved. I feel that America is blind to what control they are already being subjected to.

The “land of the free” is far from free. The government is controlling are food supply, our economy, and most importantly us. They feel that people are incapable and unconcerned with issues of the world, however, that is not true, to an extent at least. In my opinion, anyone trusting in the government 100% are completely ignorant and blind to what is going on. I feel the government certainly uses propaganda to revert are attention. Such propaganda as the recent Cleveland shooting. Propaganda is the use of information, that is generally biased, which is utilized to promote a certain way of thinking or concept. This propaganda, is used to control us. Many instances have been occurring recently, these issues are blown out of proportion and is used to hide more serious issues occurring. Recently, we saw this instance of a man killing a man on social media. Much hysteria fled through news and social medias. Although, the body of this man was not revealed after he committed suicide, and his live video on Facebook revealed something quite strange. There was not a single drop of blood on the victim’s body, however, just a pile flowing on the space next to him. In my opinion, this was not real. The government most likely used this to distract our minds from something they were doing. Many may think these views are crazy, but I challenge anyone to prove me wrong.

“Democratic institutions are devices for reconciling social order with individual freedom and initiative, and for making the immediate powers of a country’s rulers subject to the ultimate power of the ruled” (page 263). Also on page 264: “given a fair chance, human beings, can govern themselves, and govern themselves better, through perhaps with less mechanical efficiency than they can be governed by “authorities independent of their will.” These two quotes reveal the answer to the last question to this assignment. This questioned is concerned with the idea that people would be granted “guaranteed happiness”, but who is to say this is guaranteed. The government in a totalitarian state does not offer this sort of happiness. As we have seen in the past, it leads to controlling of all aspects of life. What happiness does this generate, in my opinion, this isn’t life anymore? As stated above, people can govern themselves better, for if government was to impede on our rights, life will be in their best interest, not our own. We can already see the greed and power behind such governments, why should anyone feed more into this. We are rational beings, and deserve our free will that was granted to us first by God, and secondly by the Constitution.