Brave New World

Article written by Ebuka Igbokwe

Bachelor's degree from Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

‘Brave New World’ is set mostly in London in 2540CE, in a world where technology reigns, humans are manufactured in the lab and classified in a rigid caste system based on intelligence. It is Aldous Huxley’s fifth novel, published in 1932. Subjects treated in this dystopian novel include loss of individuality, social conditioning, and a technologically-controlled society.

Key Facts about Brave New World

• Title: ‘Brave New World‘
• Published: 1932
• Literary Period: Modernism
• Genre: Dystopian Fiction
• Point of View: Third-Person
• Setting: most of the novel is set in London, 2540 CE
• Climax: The Savage and Mustapha Mond engage in a battle of opposing philosophical perspectives.

Aldous Huxley and Brave New World

Although it is Aldous Huxley’s fifth novel, ‘Brave New World’ is the first dystopian novel he wrote. In his other works, the author displays a keen sensitivity to social circumstances, and he often examines the conflict between the individual’s interests and social convention in satires. In this work, the author gives this examination the most exhaustive treatment of all his works.

Aldous Huxley was born in 1894 and witnessed the debilitating effects of the First World War, the technological and economic boom of the 1920s, and the crushing economic depression of the late 1920s. The upheavals of this period raised questions of what political orders one may expect to arise in the future.

With ‘Brave New World,’ Aldous Huxley countered a trend in imagining dystopias. While most dystopias are painted as oppressive and tyrannical, this work presents a seemingly benign state. Huxley so convincingly portrays this world that ‘Brave New World’ stands out as one of the most popular works of science fiction, and it is his most influential work.

Books Related to Brave New World

‘The Sleeper Awakens’ by H.G. Wells is a science fiction novel first published in 1899. The story follows the protagonist, Graham, who falls into a deep sleep in the late 19th century and awakens over two centuries later to a drastically transformed world. He discovers that he has become the de facto ruler of a dystopian society, ruled by an oppressive oligarchy, and he must grapple with the political intrigues in which he finds himself enmeshed. The novel explores themes of power, technology, and social inequality in a future that is both fascinating and nightmarish.

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by Margaret Atwood is a dystopian novel set in the near-future theocratic Republic of Gilead, where a theocratic regime has stripped away women’s rights and subjugated them to a system of reproductive servitude. The story follows Offred, a “handmaid” who is forced to bear children for the ruling class. The populace is under constant surveillance, among other strictures of an oppressive regime. Atwood’s novel is an exploration of gender, politics, and the dangers of extreme religious fundamentalism.

‘1984’ by George Orwell is a classic dystopian novel set in a totalitarian society under the oppressive rule of the Party and its leader, Big Brother. The story follows Winston Smith, a low-ranking Party member who becomes disillusioned with the regime’s thought control, surveillance, and historical manipulation. He embarks on a forbidden love affair and keeps a secret diary. However, Winston and his lover are exposed, and he is arrested and brainwashed to love Big Brother. The novel deals with the dangers of totalitarianism, propaganda, and the erosion of individual freedoms in a surveillance-dominated future.

‘The Giver’ by Lois Lowry. The protagonist Jonas is a twelve-year-old member of a society where children are chosen for their life tasks by a council of Elders. These roles are immutable and not to be questioned. Using genetic engineering, this society has eliminated pain and anxiety from the lives of the citizens, and in consequence, emotional depth as well. Jonas is picked for a special task which makes him different from everyone else, and the things he learns about his society raise disturbing questions about what is right or wrong in his world. Themes such as euthanasia, eugenics, and other moral questions of weight are explored in this novel.

‘A Clockwork Orange’ by Anthony Burgess is a dark and provocative novel set in a dystopian future, following the life of the delinquent and anti-hero, Alex. The story delves into the violent and morally turbulent world of Alex and his gang of “droogs,” as they commit acts of brutality and engage in ‘ultraviolence.’ However, Alex’s life takes a dramatic turn when he is arrested and subjected to a controversial psychological experiment that attempts to reform him but strips him of his free will. Burgess crafts a disturbing story that raises questions about the ethics of social engineering and personal choice.

The Lasting Impact of Brave New World