Readings on Brave New World

by De Koster, Katie

• ISBN13: 9781565108349
• ISBN10: 1565108345
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-03-01
• Publisher: Greenhaven Pr

Summary

Aldous Huxley's satirical novel presents a grim picture of humanity. The book's major themes are explored and its prophecies are examined.

Table of Contents

Foreward	9	(2)
Introduction	11	(2)
A Selfless and Unobtrusive Hero	13	(13)
Aldous Huxley
The Philosophy of Brave New World
The Self Cannot Survive in Huxley's Utopia	26	(7)
Charles M. Holmes
A culture that encourages unity and uniformity makes it impossible for the individual self to survive.
An Argument Against Bolshevist Ideals	33	(9)
M.D. Petre
Brave New World warns against the Bolshevist or Communist philosophy, a philosophy that cannot coexist with a belief in God.
The Author's Second Thoughts	42	(9)
Aldous Huxley
In a foreword to Brave New World written fourteen years after the book was first published, the author finds that society is embracing the attitudes he warned against even more quickly than he had originally thought.
Brave New World as Prophesy
Huxley's World Could Be Saved by Mutations	51	(5)
John Chamberlain
Huxley's new book is an entertaining farce, according to this contemporary review, but his biological forecasting has failed to take into account the inevitability of mutation.
Huxley's Biology is Perfectly Right	56	(5)
Joseph Needham
An eminent biologist proclaims that Huxley has incorporated the latest views on biological engineering and psychology in making his projections of a world where the technology of science controls humans completely.
Utopia Isn't All It's Cracked Up to Be	61	(9)
William Matter
People dream of comfort, stability, and freedom from worry, but a utopia that can provide such benefits exacts a high cost.
The Rise of Mass Man	70	(7)
Laurence Brander
Shattering increases in population and technological advances create a frightening future for humanity, unless it can find a way to restore a natural balance to human affairs.
Brave New World Satirizes the American Present, Not the British Future	77	(9)
Peter Firchow
Although Huxley was British, it was in America that he found the closest match to his brave new world.
Big Nanny Is Watching	86	(5)
Philip Yancey
The Subtle seductive promises of Huxley's utopia are more effective than the ``Big Brother Is Watching'' threats of Orwell's 1984.
Brave New World, Sixty Years Later	91	(6)
John Clute
A world change is the real horror in Brave New World, a fear that retains its power after more than half a century.
The Art and Technique of Aldous Huxley
Creating the Plot	97	(9)
Guinevera A. Nance
Through masterful use of a variety of points of view, Huxley builds a complex plot.
Using Fantasy to Criticize Reality	106	(8)
C.S. Ferns
Although Huxley was an accomplished essayist, used to presenting arguments in a logical framework meant to persuade, the subtlety of presenting a story and allowing the reader to draw his or her own conclusions is more effective.
Huxley's Literary Techniques	114	(8)
Keith M. May
Huxley quickly creates a rapport with the reader, then varies the pace as he switches from cool exposition of wild science-fiction technology to farce to reasoned argument.
Using Language in a World That Debases Language	122	(8)
David W. Sisk
One layer of irony in Brave New World is the use of names and other words laden with meaning in a culture in which words have lost their meaning.
Huxley's Manuscript Revisions	130	(9)
Donald Watt
Tracing the author's attempts to flesh out his characters supports his self-evaluation: Well-rounded characters were difficult for his to create.
Huxley's Characters Are Appropriate for the Novel	139	(11)
Peter Edgerly Firchow
In the society Huxley portrayed, well-rounded characters would be out of place. The fact that the characters are appropriately flat may keep some readers from realizing that they are also complex.
Characters and Plot	150	(9)
Chronology	159	(7)
For Further Research	166	(2)
Index	168