Women In Brave New World

MEN VERSUS WOMEN IN A BRAVE NEW WORLD

The novel of Brave New World, written by Aldous Huxley, sparked up much controversy when it was first brought out into the public eye. After all, it explored and shed light on scientific concepts and social constructs that weren’t deemed as possible in the 1930’s; the book touched on genetic enhancement, exquisite technology, along with other scientific and cultural advancements. However, with all these aspects being seen as light years away, the author brought forth concepts we still see in everyday society such as social hierarchy and gender roles. With that being said, while the novel is supposedly the epitome of a perfect utopian society, Huxley makes a point to also emphasize that “natural” aspects

Linda, who is John’s elderly mother, was yearning to see the man who abandoned her and their child while Tomakin himself completely forgot or dismissed the existence of his family. When Linda first confronts Tomakin she enthusiastically expects him to somewhat remember him only to be tragically disappointed by the fact that she is completely unrecognizable to him; having changed due to age, Tomakin refers Linda as a “‘monstrous practical joke’” (Huxley 150). Ultimately, this is used to express how, in this society, women are seen as having no value after reaching an age of being elderly or after no longer holding physical beauty. While the definition of beauty differs depending on standards, the society of Brave New World holds physical beauty to be incredibly important much like many civilizations. Huxley uses this to criticize the ridiculousness in the standard of which people are held in society; both men and women are judged on their physical beauty and, in some instances, are labeled of their worth due to their appearance and its perception by society. The novels examples of Linda being ridiculed on her “hideous” appearance further serves to shed light on the sexist nature of the role of women being judged and men being the judges in western society. Moreover, the fact that “nobody had the smallest desire to see Linda” after her traumatizing experience with Tomakin which left her in bed rest, is set to apply a satirical comment on how after a woman has “lost her youth” she is seen as no longer useful to society (Huxley 153). Huxley uses these instances to comment on the underlying sexism seen in literature and gender roles of society which force women to strive to only obtain physical beauty for the sake of being “useful”; in contrast, this sexism usually consists of labeling men for being