Brave New World Theme and Tone
Written in 1931 Aldous Huxley's Brave New World portrays a futuristic dystopian society. After its publication, the people at the time considered his work scandalous, outrageous and perverse. However, it eventually became a classic novel through its ironic and sardonic commentary on contemporary value. In Huxley’s novel the contemporary trends in British and American society; for example Ford motor cars, diamond rings, focus on sex and excess consumption have been taken to extremes. Despite the outward absurdity of the utopian society presented; the novel harbors a dark theme and message between its sardonic tones, some of which warn against an all powerful state, abuses of science, psychological control and Community, Identity, Stability vs. freedom.
The most apparent connection between the theme and sardonic tone is the satire Huxley's Brave New World; he satirizes the idea of sex in the society. World State's (the dystopian society which is controlled by an all powerful state) controls its population through strict control over sexual activity and reproductive rights. In this society,
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"everyone belongs to everyone else." There is no limit to how many partners you can have and the logic is you eventually get with the person you “want” to be with. In this society, children are taught to engage in erotic play when they are young. Once children mature into adults’, sex gains social rewards for promiscuity and lack of commitment. Therefore, Falling in love is a sin and those who remain with one partner for an extended period time become shunned from society.
Another, connection between the theme and sardonic tone is the constant worship of Henry Ford. The “World State” is built on the principles of Henry Ford’s assembly line: mass production, duplication, predictability, and consumption. Each member in society is “condition” for a specific task or job that they will perform their whole life. Not only are they...