The Oneida Community Analysis

The Oneida Community and John Humphrey Noyes Perhaps the most successful and long-lasting utopian socialist society ever established on American soil, the Oneida Community in New York was a religious commune that withstood the test of time, flourishing for over thirty years. Founded by John Humphrey Noyes and developed from his commune in Putney, Vermont, the Oneida Community was notorious for its unorthodox practices and belief system. John Humphrey Noyes was born on September 3, 1811 in Brattleboro, Vermont to a wealthy and accomplished businessman. He attended Dartmouth College in 1830, where he decided to study law (“John Humphrey Noyes”). At the age of 20 he experienced a religious revival, which inspired him to desert Dartmouth for

John Humphrey Noyes, the leader of the community, is akin to Mustafa Mond in the novel. Both Noyes and Mustafa Mond had control over their societies and isolated them from the universe. Some similar aspects of Oneida’s complex marriage are also visible in Brave New World. Everyone belonged to everyone, and monogamy was frowned upon in each society. Noyes and Huxley were both intrigued by eugenics, but Huxley took the idea one step further: instead of specifically pairing couples to produce children, as Noyes did, the author completely eradicated the concept of parenthood. He described a society in which all babies were born, or “decanted,” from bottles in a laboratory. Noyes and Huxley each created a hierarchical society, as well. Noyes placed importance on the ability to produce the best children, while Brave New World detailed how every facet of one’s life was predetermined (Murray). Though Aldous Huxley depicted the quintessence of a utopian society in Brave New World, John Humphrey Noyes was able to create his version in the real world. His utopia, the Oneida Society, is one of the most illustrious idealistic societies that the world has ever