A Brave New World Identity Analysis

Shane Hanlon
Dr. Manuel
Veritas
14 October 2015
Love, Family, and Identity In the novel Brave New World, Aldous Huxley creates a society, one where “everyone belongs to everyone else” (Huxley 43). In this futuristic community there is no individualism, no family bonds or relationships. This is a place where everyone is equal and the equality is supposed to create happiness amongst the citizens. The idea is that the equality is pleasurable and allows for the society to operate efficiently. It is a similar view to a communist regime where society functions for the good of the whole; working for the community and not oneself. However in a world where everyone is equal, basic human values are lost, values such as love, religion and a

Love is a basic, instinctive trait that all humans have the capacity to possess. Love can be defined as “a variety of different states and attitudes that can range from interpersonal affection to pleasure” (Wikipedia). The emotion of love can range from caring about one another as a good friend might to the love a mother has for her child which is a deep and immeasurable connection. However, others who view a loving relationship that two people have can get feelings of jealousy which can create a sense of instability or chaos in a controlled society. “No social stability without individual stability” (Huxley 28). In the world created by Huxley, love is not supposed to exist because it can complicate relationships. In this world, relationships are not necessary therefore the concept of love is also not necessary and without it the idea is that society will function in a more harmonious manner. There is no need for relationships between men and women because of artificial reproduction. People are born in hatcheries through the Bokanovsky Process. Everybody is an orphan, no parents exist and children are taught right from wrong by the world state. However, John the Savage’s life is different from others. He was born naturally and his mother cared for him deeply. This love that she expressed towards him allowed him to learn what love is just not how to express it. John and Lenina Crowne begin to

Religion is a way for people to deal with problems and stress. It is a type of healing that no drug can match. Religion helps people understand the unknown which provides comfort to believers. In Brave New World believers rely on soma to help their stress and discomforts. “A gramme is better than a damn” (Huxley 89) says Lenina. Soma is a legal drug provided by the government with no side effects and it promotes stability through happiness and pleasure. It clouds the mind of the user and causes them to hallucinate. Soma is a primary way the world state controls the society. The lack of religion in the world state permits soma to fill that void in people's lives and allows them to feel complete. Happiness is the main goal in the society and it is achieved no matter the