To install StudyMoose App tap and then “Add to Home Screen”
Save to my list
Remove from my list
Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" delves into the repercussions of replacing established ethical standards with amoral criteria, illustrating the loss of morality in society. This essay critically examines Huxley's depiction of Utopia, focusing on its application in love, science, and religion, ultimately questioning its effectiveness in the real world.
In "Brave New World," Aldous Huxley paints a dystopian picture where love is not only absent but actively scorned. The society portrayed in the novel exhibits a collective disdain for passion, rooted in the belief that emotional instability must be eradicated for Utopia to thrive.
The destruction of the family unit becomes a poignant example of the consequences of Utopia's absence of love. In a world of artificial births, the very concept of family becomes not just obsolete but offensive. Terms like "mother" and "father" are deemed vulgar, highlighting the societal shift.
Mustapha Mond, the World Controller, vividly describes the psychical squalor of pre-Utopian homes, emphasizing the reeking emotions and suffocating intimacies.
Verified writer
Proficient in: Philosophy
4.7 (235)
“ Amazing writer! I am really satisfied with her work. An excellent price as well. ”
Huxley employs Mond's explanation to students to underscore the societal rejection of familial connections, with one boy physically reacting to the vivid depiction. Contrary to the Utopian vision, Huxley recognizes the importance of the family as the core of society. A home, in his view, is where individuals learn essential communication and relationship skills, vital for navigating societal complexities.
While exploring the theme of love, Huxley further critiques the Utopian stance on sexuality and monogamy. Within this imagined world, monogamy is not only discouraged but forbidden, promoting promiscuity as a societal virtue.
The motto "everyone belongs to everyone else" underscores the normalization of excessive sex with multiple partners. Conversations between characters, like Fanny Crowne's admonition, shed light on the societal norms where sex with only one partner is considered bad form.
Sexual pleasure, instead of being an intimate expression of love, is degraded into a routine activity. In this brave new world, children are encouraged to be exploratory in their sexual behavior from a young age, with those displaying embarrassment subjected to psychological testing. Huxley critiques the absence of love in Utopia, emphasizing that in actual society, love is a revered emotion and the foundation of meaningful relationships.
The novel also explores the theme of scientific control in Utopia. Huxley presents a world enslaved by science, where individuals are not only born through scientific means but are also conditioned to think and live according to predetermined norms. From embryos to death, science acts as a pervasive controller, ruling over every aspect of life. However, Huxley highlights the paradoxical attitude towards science within Utopia, where it is both essential and dangerous.
The leaders of this imagined world understand the potential threat posed by unbridled scientific advancement. The juxtaposition of "Community, Identity, and Stability" as the main objectives with the acknowledgment that science must be carefully restrained reveals the inherent conflict. In our society, science is harnessed to improve the quality of life, whereas in Utopia, it serves as a means of control, contrasting with the emphasis on individualism.
Huxley takes the opportunity to contrast the role of science in "Brave New World" with its function in actual society. While in our world, science is manipulated for the benefit of mankind and improvement of life quality, in Utopia science controls individuals. This inversion, where science controls mankind, challenges the feasibility of such an approach in a society that values individualism and human initiative.
The absence of religion and God is another facet of Huxley's critique of Utopia. In the novel, any religious texts, including old bibles, are considered pornographic and forbidden. The leaders of Utopia deliberately keep these books locked away, emphasizing that God is incompatible with their machinery-driven, scientifically controlled, and happiness-centric society.
Mustapha Mond rationalizes this absence, attributing it to the incompatibility of God with machinery, scientific medicine, and universal happiness. Huxley acknowledges that society cannot function without religion or a god, as these elements provide the moral compass and community cohesion. The novel portrays a future civilization that has forsaken existing morals and standards, with religion deemed unnecessary for the stability of Utopia.
However, Huxley recognizes that the sacrifice of religion comes at a cost. Any religious books, including old bibles, are considered pornographic and forbidden. The leaders of Utopia deliberately keep these books locked away, emphasizing that God is incompatible with their machinery-driven, scientifically controlled, and happiness-centric society. Mustapha Mond rationalizes this absence, attributing it to the incompatibility of God with machinery, scientific medicine, and universal happiness.
People in actual society place tremendous importance on religion and God. Not only are beliefs formed and based upon religious teachings, but religion is also the moral fiber of a community. Huxley is aware that society cannot function without religion or a god. This belief is portrayed throughout the novel.
Brave New World presents a frightening view of a future civilization which has forgotten current morals and standards. Instead of humans controlling science and their lives, science controls humans, and World Controllers decide all rules which are intended to mold society into a stable community. Huxley's criticism of this community portrays the impractical application of Utopia in actual society.
In conclusion, Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" serves as a powerful critique of the practical application of Utopian ideals. The loss of morality in the face of Utopia's implementation is evident in the novel's exploration of love, science, and religion. By examining the implications of Utopia on these societal aspects, Huxley prompts readers to reflect on the desirability and feasibility of such utopian visions in the real world.
Critique of Love, Science, and Religion in 'Brave New World'. (2020, Jun 01). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/aldous-huxleys-brave-new-world-new-essay
👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!
Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.
get help with your assignment
