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Brave New World. Caste system : any social class or system based on such distinctions as heredity, rank, wealth, profession, etc. A specialized level in a colony of social insects, such as ants, in which the members, such as workers or soldiers, carry out a specific function.
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Brave New World • Caste system: any social class or system based on such distinctions as heredity, rank, wealth, profession, etc. • A specialized level in a colony of social insects, such as ants, in which the members, such as workers or soldiers, carry out a specific function. • Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon
Historical Context • The novel was published in 1932 • The Great Depression • The time between the two World Wars • A time of major instability
Henry Ford • Born in 1863 • Henry Ford realized his dream of producing an automobile that was reasonably priced, reliable, and efficient with the introduction of the Model T in 1908. This vehicle initiated a new era in personal transportation. It was easy to operate, maintain, and handle on rough roads, immediately becoming a huge success.
The Assembly Line • Henry Ford combined manufacturing, standardized and interchangeable parts, a division of labour, and, in 1913, a continuous moving assembly line. Workers remained in place, adding one component to each automobile as it moved past them on the line. Delivery of parts by conveyor belt to the workers was carefully timed to keep the assembly line moving smoothly and efficiently. The introduction of the moving assembly line revolutionized automobile production by significantly reducing the time it took to assemble a vehicle (from 12 hours to less than 6 per vehicle). Ford's company became the largest automobile manufacturer in the world. • By 1918, half of all cars in America were Model Ts. • The characters in the novel make “the sign of the T” instead of “the sign of the cross”.
The Title • The title of Huxley's novel comes from Shakespeare's play The Tempest in Act V, scene 1. The speaker is Miranda, the daughter of Prospero, the former Duke of Milan. Prospero entrusted his kingdom to his brother Antonio so Prospero would be free to study magic. Antonio took control and kicked out Prospero and his young daughter, putting them on a boat that eventually landed on an island where the play is set. • In Shakespeare’s time "brave" meant not only bold, but also something that dazzled the senses. Often when the phrase "brave new world" is used today, it is meant to imply positive if challenging change. As Huxley uses it in the title of his book, the phrase "brave new world" also highlights the naive enthusiasm we can have for technology and control that it seems to bring.
The Tempest • In The Tempest Prospero has conjured a storm to bring the bad guys to the island for justice and Miranda, having only ever seen her father, marvels at these “new” men, not knowing the danger some of them represent. • MIRANDA: O, wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, That has such people in't! PROSPERO: 'Tis new to thee.
The Setting • The novel is set in the future, in the year 2540 • In the novel, the year is A.F. 632 • A.F. stands for “After Ford” • Year 0 in the novel is 1908, the year Ford invented the Model T • 1908 + 632 = 2540
