As a book that often appears in those ‘100 most important novels of all time’ polls, I’ve been meaning to read Brave New World for a while. I knew some of it’s themes had influenced one of my favourite films – The Matrix (1999) – so I was keen to give this ‘classic’ a go.
Set in the distant future, a genetically engineered class system has bought peace and stability to the world. People are always happy, they get what they want, and they don’t strive for what they cant have. There is no war or religion, and the World State motto of “Community, Identity, Stability” is upheld.
It would seem that the World Controllers have manufactured the perfect society, but any regime, no matter how totalitarian, will always be met with some level of resistance. The main protagonist Bernard Marx sees through the facade and yearns for the something higher. His surname is no coincidence – although ultimately it transpires he’s a more of a feeble coward than a liberating revolutionary champion-of-the-people. This is not his fault because really, he’s been conditioned to fail from the start. Nevertheless, Bernard’s quest for the truth sends him on a journey of self discovery, where he realises the full extent of the Brave New World.
I felt that the first and final chapters where the most exciting, with the middle section somewhat lacking in pace. It’s still a great book though, one that prompts you to ask questions about freedom, knowledge, power, science, art, culture and the meaning of happiness… ‘Can ignorance really be bliss?’… If you’ve read Orwell’s 1984 you’ll definitely notice some parallels between the two. Huxley’s dystopia is, on the surface, less oppressive, intimidating and coercive. The genius lies in it’s it’s warm and friendly guise. But that really just makes it all the more sinister…
Tom Eden 