Brave New WorldA satirical piece of

fiction, not scientific prophecy

SatireThe art of diminishing or belittle a subject by making it ridiculous and arousing feelings of amusement, contempt, scorn, or indignation toward the subject (Harris).

• Uses humor as weapon against human depravity and idiocy

• Often operates as a form of social commentary that seeks to critique a variety subjects.

• May illicit laughter, but is dealing with serious subject matter

Parody• Mimicry of an established concept, idea, or a person.

Usually an exaggeration. • Parody is fun for fun’s sake. So while it is meant for

mocking, it may or may not incite society. • Parody is just pure entertainment and nothing else. It

does not have a direct influence on society (differencebetween.net).

Utopian and Dystopian Literature

What is a Utopia?

• A Utopia is a place or society that appears perfect in every way.

• Government is perfect, working to improve societies standards of living rather then their own

• Social aspects of the community run perfectly.

• No war or disease, only peace and happiness.

• Everyone outside this Utopian society looks to this place in wonder and awe.

What is a Dystopia?

• Dystopia opposite of Utopia

• A place or society which is in complete chaos.

• Citizens are all suffering and are miserable.

• Often times in novels what appears to be a Utopian society is actually revealed to be a dystopian society.

• The citizens are often live in terror under complete control by the government, unaware of corrupt world in which they actually live in, or suppressed by the society as a whole.

Many of the cultural concerns seen in the novel are still matters of great

importance. In the years since Huxley first published this book, some of his prophesies seem far more plausible than they did in

1932.

Huxley seeks to warn the reader against scientific

utopianism (impracticable perfectionism)

Scientific Utopianism

This novel presents a world …• … of sexual promiscuity• … with a drug culture in the most literal

sense of the word• … in which the traditional family has been

rendered taboo• … in which religion has been reduced to

rituals of physical expression• … in which art is only for mass

communication• … in which the positive values of western

democracy have been converted into a rigid caste system

Brave New World Essential Questions

1. To what extent should one challenge the beliefs of his or her society?

2. When does one put his/her beliefs over community? 

3. To what extent is society controlled by technology and science? How is this control both good and bad?

4. How is consumerism both beneficial and harmful in society?

5. Are truth and happiness incompatible?6. What roles do individuality and family have in

society? Are they necessary?

Brave New World Themes

1. Community, Stability, and Identity vs. Individual Freedom

2. Science and Technology as a means of control

3. Threat of genetic engineering4. Destruction of the family5. Drugs as a means for social control6. Oppression of individual thinking7. The impact of rising consumerism

“Reading Brave New World elicits the same disturbing feelings in the reader which the

society it depicts has vanquished (eliminated).”