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Brave New World: Satire and Social Commentary in Huxley's Vision

Explore the satirical elements in Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" and its relevance to contemporary society. Discuss themes of happiness, freedom, social control, and the dehumanization of individuals. Compare Huxley's dystopian world with the realities of the USA today.

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Brave New World: Satire and Social Commentary in Huxley's Vision

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  1. Chapter 17 [231-] 10 min: Add any relevant quotes from Mustapha Mond in chapter 17 to your poster.

  2. Chapter 16 & 17 [231-] • Is MM correct: “Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the overcompensations for misery… happiness is never grand”? What does he mean? • What happened to a society of all Alphas? What about in real life? • Why would World State not vaporize the unorthodox? Why is violence not the best tool for them? • Do you like the inconveniences of life? Which suboptimal moments have turned out to have value for you? • How does the freedom to be unhappy compare to the right to be happy? How does it compare to the freedom to say 2+2=4? • Why does “nothing cost enough here”? Do you agree with John? • Why does Huxley refer to John as “the savage” exclusively now? Irony? • How does MM represent Huxley’s social commentary? John? • What is the VPS? Why is it important? Do we need to express these feelings in life?

  3. Chapter 18 [] • Why does John go to the lighthouse? • What is the fate of each of the main characters? • How does John purify himself at the lighthouse? Why does he do so? • How does media doom John? • How does Lenina act when she sees John at the lighthouse? • What happens to John when the crowd begins to imitate his behavior? • How does the crowd respond? What happens that evening? What becomes of Lenina? • What is the significance of the ending of the novel? What message does Huxley give us about the world through this resolution?

  4. Chapter 16-17 • Is BNW an utopia? • What is the evidence for and against?

  5. Brave New World: Satire? • To what extent is Brave New World satirical? • What evidence do we have for and against, in terms of the elements of satire? • Irony of the title and John’s usage of “O, brave new world”? • Irony of John as ‘the savage’? • Juxtaposition of World State and the Savage Reservation? • What else?

  6. Huxley’s Future How accurate is Huxley’s vision of the future? Compare and contrast specific aspects of Brave New World State with the USA you know today in a Venn Diagram. The questions below are meant to spur your thinking as you work as a table group. • Do the citizens of World State/USA • share cultural values? • value art, philosophy, and literature? • have dignity? • show that they are civilized? • love their servitude? • live a dehumanized life? • value stability over individuality? • agree to be conditioned by society and controlled by government? • have “predestined” social roles? • What elements of BNW look good but are bad? What elements of life in the USA look good but might be bad?

  7. Is the United States today a “Brave New World”? What aspects of contemporary American society look good but are actually bad? • Perception of super-wealthy population but in reality poverty is significant • 2nd Amendment—people argue that guns protect people but there have been 200 school shootings since Sandy Hook • Hollywood—fame draws people to LA but then the plastic society seems pneumatic • Social Media—a “filter” on our lives • Equality—legislating that equality is super tricky #harrisonbergeron • Free market—a small percentage of people get really wealthy #intime • Starbucks—you get the caffeine you crave but you also get calories, a costly beverage, and fewer coffee options nationwide • You can buy almost anything here—including things that will kill you quickly!

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