World, written in 1932, presents a horrifying view of a possible future in which society has become a prisoner of the very technology it hoped would save us. In Brave New World, Huxley’s distortion of technology, religion, and family values is much more effective than his use of literary realism found in his depiction of a savage reservation.
Through his use of distortion, Huxley tells a classic tale with the theme of be careful what you wish for, because it may not truly be what you wanted.” Huxley effectively uses distortion in “Brave New World” through his depiction of social values of the future. For example, when Bernard Marx hears somebody talking about Lenina in the locker room, he becomes upset. Leaving the building, everyone he passes recommends soma for his bad mood. Huxley shows the reader that drug use is becoming more and more an acceptable way out for a weak society.
He is showing society that we are becoming emotionally incapable of dealing with pain and hurt. Furthermore, the students are told by the director of the London Hatchery that at one time people were viviparous, and were disgusted and outraged. Huxley is trying to warn society that its lack of commitment and endurance will eventually be its downfall. Lack of the experience of pregnancy severs the emotional ties between the woman and her child. An emotionless society feels no guilt.
In addition, Lenina, when accused of lack of promiscuity by Fanny while in the locker room, religiously denies it. Monogamy requires commitment, pain, and work. Huxley is predicting humans progressing to a society of people who are unable to focus on anything but pleasure and unable to handle the work of a commitment. He knew the road we were on would lead the wrong way.
Huxley also uses distortion to open people’s eyes to the world of religion. For example, Bernard Marx hurries and frets about being late to his orgy-porgy session because he is running behind. Huxley’s prediction of the church moving away from God and towards man is becoming evident even sixty-three years after his book appeared. Church figures, such as Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggert, have appeared numerous times in the news and papers for using the church for money and sex.
Furthermore, when Bernard and Lenina visit the reservation, they are appalled by the practice of a cross between Christianity and Hinduism. This serves as a warning that the lack of religious tolerance could be one of the greatest downfalls of our time. Every day, thousands of men, women, and children die in Middle Eastern Holy Wars due to nothing more than a lack of religious tolerance. In addition, Lenina wears the sign of the T to replace the sign of the cross. The cross represented faith, something that couldn’t be touched but had to be believed in. The T stands for technology, something that even the weak can believe in because they can see it.
Faith is a sign of a strong society. The lack of faith would be a sign that a society is becoming weak. The most powerful distortion in Brave New World is found in Huxley’s use of technology. For example, the World Director of the London Hatchery is very proud that they have produced ninety-six buds from one egg. Technology has replaced motherhood.
The new society finds delight in being able to reproduce ninety-six identical individuals. There is no ambition, individuality, or creativity in this truly bleak society. Furthermore, during the students’ tour of the hatchery, they are impressed that not only are the children decanted, but they are also predestined to a specific job. Children grow up knowing only one job and are taught nothing else. They aren’t allowed to dream or hope.
In addition, Mustapha Mond, one of the seven world leaders, is referred to as His Fordness.” Henry Ford is the god of the Brave New World. Society has replaced beauty, nature, and creativity with a man who invented the assembly line, a process designed to stamp out thousands of the exact same interchangeable parts. Will we become the exact same replaceable person? Creativity brought the idea, but will the idea destroy creativity?
