Brave New World, written in 1931 by Aldous Huxley, is a dystopian classic that has served as a cautionary tale for generations on the dangers of industrialized societies. Set in the London of 2540 AD, it portrays an enlightened and seemingly perfect world order. We are introduced to the World State, a rigidly structured and regulated society with citizens living in an almost robotic harmony. People live preordained lives with “no pain, no passion, and no worry”.
The novel follows protagonist Bernard Marx, a misfit who, unlike his peers, has a strong sense of individuality and is curious about the outside world. This makes him an outcast in the controllable and predictable population. We also meet Lenina, a beautiful and popular woman who is sexually promiscuous and believes in the cultural norm of “everyone belongs to anyone”. But fate brings together the two misfits who embark on an eye-opening journey and ultimately face the ugly truth that their world is built on lies and hollow promises.
The World State has replaced the conventional family unit with government-controlled “Hatches, Laces and Bruteries” where all of the citizens spend their lives. Institutions such as motherhood and fatherhood have been eradicated, while citizens are conditioned to love and work, and have their medications to control emotions and desires.
Brave New World is home to soma, a drug that was created with the intention to provide peace of mind by taking away the pain of pursuit. People consume the drug almost religiously and use it as an escape from reality. It not only dissolves emotions and desires, but it even masks the truth about the world that Bernard and Lenina discover.
Language and literature are eliminated, replaced by films and propaganda that enforce the World State’s values, and any form of art is seen as an inconvenience. Religion is replaced by a worship of the moment and of the “feeling of security” in a world ruled by science, technology, and a totalitarian government.
The novel is a thought-provoking exploration of the dangers of an industrialized society and a dystopian nightmare. It is a timeless warning about the potential dangers of a world built upon baseless happiness instead of passionate and fulfilling lives.
As Bernard and Lenina pursue their truth and free themselves from the shackles of their insular world, the novel comes to a stirring conclusion about the importance of the truth and pursuing passion. Brave New World is an insightful novel that powerfully expresses the dangers of losing our sense of individuality and striving society. It will continue to serve as a classic work of dystopian literature and remains one of the most important novels of all time.
