About the author…..About the author….. Aldous Huxley was born in Aldous Huxley was born in

England in 1894 grandson of England in 1894 grandson of the prominent biologist T.H. the prominent biologist T.H. Huxley and brother of Julian Huxley and brother of Julian Huxley, also a biologist. Huxley, also a biologist. Huxley first studied at Eton Huxley first studied at Eton College but later went to College but later went to Balliol College in Oxford.At Balliol College in Oxford.At 16, he suffered months of 16, he suffered months of blindness but one eye blindness but one eye recovered and with special recovered and with special glasses he completed his glasses he completed his studies. He majored in studies. He majored in English when he was unable English when he was unable to pursue his chosen career to pursue his chosen career as a scientist.as a scientist.

Writing Writing Brave New WorldBrave New World He became friends with He became friends with

many writers and many writers and surrounded himself with surrounded himself with intellectuals such as D.H intellectuals such as D.H Lawrence and Bertrand Lawrence and Bertrand Russell. After having Russell. After having traveled in Europe, in the traveled in Europe, in the 1930s he moved to 1930s he moved to France where he wrote in France where he wrote in four months four months Brave New Brave New WorldWorld, a dystopian vision , a dystopian vision of a highly technological of a highly technological society of the future (the society of the future (the word "utopia" comes from word "utopia" comes from Thomas More's novel Thomas More's novel UtopiaUtopia). ).

Huxley’s novelHuxley’s novel In 1932 In 1932 Brave New World Brave New World

was published. It is awas published. It is a cry of cry of warning and nightmarish warning and nightmarish black comedy of a future black comedy of a future society. The book received society. The book received mixed reviews. H.G. Wells mixed reviews. H.G. Wells was offended by what he was offended by what he regarded as Huxley's regarded as Huxley's betrayal of science and the betrayal of science and the future. Other critics future. Other critics recognized the serious recognized the serious intent beneath the surface of intent beneath the surface of playful wit. In its first year it playful wit. In its first year it sold a total of twenty-eight sold a total of twenty-eight thousand copies in England thousand copies in England and in the United States, and in the United States, and enjoyed respectable and enjoyed respectable sales throughout the sales throughout the remainder of the century. remainder of the century.

Origin of the titleOrigin of the title Brave New WorldBrave New World is is

Huxley's most famous Huxley's most famous and enduring novel. The and enduring novel. The title comes from title comes from Miranda's speech in Miranda's speech in Shakespeare's Shakespeare's The The TempestTempest, Act V, Scene I:, Act V, Scene I:"O wonder!"O wonder!How many goodly creatures How many goodly creatures

are there here!are there here!How beautious mankind is!How beautious mankind is!O O brave new worldbrave new world,,That has such people in't!"That has such people in't!"

A banned book!A banned book! Huxley's book has also Huxley's book has also

become one of the most become one of the most frequently banned books in frequently banned books in literary history. Book banners literary history. Book banners have cited "negative have cited "negative activities" (undoubtedly activities" (undoubtedly referring to the sex and referring to the sex and drugs) in the book as reason drugs) in the book as reason enough to prevent students enough to prevent students from reading the book. In from reading the book. In 1993, an attempt was made 1993, an attempt was made to remove this novel from a to remove this novel from a California school's required California school's required reading list. It was also reading list. It was also removed from classrooms in removed from classrooms in Miller, Missouri in 1980, Miller, Missouri in 1980, among other challenges. among other challenges.

Inside the front cover of Brave New Inside the front cover of Brave New World – translated from French-World – translated from French-

““Utopias appear to be much easier toUtopias appear to be much easier torealize than one formerly believed.realize than one formerly believed.We currently face a question thatWe currently face a question thatwould otherwise fill us withwould otherwise fill us withanguish: How to avoid their becominganguish: How to avoid their becomingdefinitively real ?definitively real ? The utopias are attainable. The utopias are attainable. Life marches towards the utopias. And it can Life marches towards the utopias. And it can be that a new century begins, a century be that a new century begins, a century where the intellectuals and the educated where the intellectuals and the educated class will dream means to avoid the utopias class will dream means to avoid the utopias and to return a non-utopian society, less and to return a non-utopian society, less "perfect" and free.”"perfect" and free.”Nicolas BerdiaeffNicolas Berdiaeff

Brief Introduction to BNWBrief Introduction to BNW

The novel is set in A.F. 632, approximately seven The novel is set in A.F. 632, approximately seven centuries after the twentieth century. A.F. stands for the centuries after the twentieth century. A.F. stands for the year of Ford, named for the great industrialist Henry Ford year of Ford, named for the great industrialist Henry Ford who refined mass production techniques for who refined mass production techniques for automobiles. The world is ruled by World Controllers who automobiles. The world is ruled by World Controllers who ensure the stability of society. To ensure social stability, ensure the stability of society. To ensure social stability, a five-tiered caste system ruled by Alphas and Betas has a five-tiered caste system ruled by Alphas and Betas has been created. The labor force comes from the lower been created. The labor force comes from the lower three castes, known as Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons. three castes, known as Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons. A drug called soma ensures that no one ever feels pain A drug called soma ensures that no one ever feels pain or remains unhappy, and it is rationed out to and used by or remains unhappy, and it is rationed out to and used by members of every caste. Social stability is further members of every caste. Social stability is further ensured through the use of pre- and postnatal ensured through the use of pre- and postnatal conditioning. conditioning.

Intro continuedIntro continued In an 1961 interview, In an 1961 interview,

Huxley expressed his Huxley expressed his concern that emerging concern that emerging technology, scientific technology, scientific progress, and social progress, and social conditioning had the conditioning had the potential to destroy potential to destroy human individuality. It human individuality. It may not have been may not have been Huxley’s intention to be Huxley’s intention to be prophetic but it is prophetic but it is impossible to ignore the impossible to ignore the similarities between similarities between Huxley’s imaginary world Huxley’s imaginary world and our real one!and our real one!