Brave New World Outline

I.Introduction
A.Thesis: Huxley uses the motif of Shakespeare's novel s which include love and emotional material, to show how it undermines a society based on being content and making economic and societal progress.

II. Body
A. Soma
1.)Soma makes people forget emotions
a.) In Shakespeare, people act on their emotions creating a conflict within the novel.
b.)"pg. 124" Show's how mother and father are forcing their daughter to marry someone she doesn't love, causing grief and her cousin's death.
2.) Emotions create disorder
a.) People do rash or illogical things due to love or grief, as in Othello when he suspects Desdemona of infidelity.
b.) In Romeo and Juliet, the logical thing to do was to simply accept her fate with her predetermined suitor, but love causd conflict and unhappiness.

B. Removal of Monogamy
1.) Removal of monogamy removes feelings of intimacy and love, a special connection between two people.
a.)"pg 115" Removal of connections between people, compares to Shakespeare because Othello's love creates conflict.
2.) How emotions hinder this society
a.) "pg 149" They're conditioned to be content with no conflicts. Unlike Othello they can't allow people to be distressed because these painful emotions cause unrest and disorder.

III.Conclusion

Thesis 10x

Structure: Huxley uses the constant shifting of focus from Bernard, John, and Lenina to highlight the contrasting perspectives on the same society, showing that a person's needs dictate their ideal society, making it impossible to create one system that appeals to everyone.



Evidence:Since John was raised with a sense of moral codes and an aversion to self-indulgence, he views the society as evil and hollow. He finds value not in objects or happiness, but in religion and emotions and suffering, which he finds gives growth as a human. Lenina enjoys happiness so the socitey suits her fine, but Bernard too wants to have feelings of intimacy and love so he finds himself out of place and lonely in it.



Motifs: The motif of soma within the society is employed by Huxley to represent the removal of conflict and emotion, in order to show how a system based on Stalinism is cold, emotionless, and industrial-minded.



Evidence: Soma makes it so that whenever a citizen is upset, they are administered soma and they are calm and happy. It also makes people somewhat mindless, constantly on a high. In Stalin's society the people were like machines, used to improve the economy and to modernize the country. There are constanly situations when emotions get in the way of people acting like they are supposed to, like when Bernard is upset when the Arch-Songster takes Lenina away to be alone, in these instances the soma is taken instead of action and the problem is removed. This conflicts with the human nature of passion and conflict created by love that are often used by Shakespeare, who is referenced in the book.



Symbols: The use of a hierarchy in which there are varying degrees of humans is symbolic of Hitler's view that there are varying degrees of humans in which some are superior to others, Huxley's makes a statement on how those who are not free to pursue every opportunity in their society aren't free, even if they don't even desire the choice.

Evidence: In Brave New World, the Epsilons can never receive higher level jobs because they are too intellectually stunted. Conditioning prevents them from desiring these jobs but the fact that they can't choose opposes the principles of nations like America in which every citizen may work hard to get any job they want. John is Huxley's point of view in the novel, and when he sees the Epsilons working like mindless abominations, he is repulsed. They are the "untouchables" of India's old culture, who were considered creatures and less like people and took the lesser jobs.

Patterns: Huxley creates a pattern of sexual freedom within the society to show how it is wrong to sacrifice current morals in the pursuit of total happiness, arguing the benefits of struggle and pain to create a individual.

Evidence: John the Savage is Huxley's vieew on this society, as it is the outside perspective. In it he is repulsed by the sexual freedom and belives in monogamy. Also in the end of the novel he beats himself and denies himself from the pleasures of the society, because he understands the struggles make him an individual and seperate, defining him. Everyone in the society are all the same, except for division among the classes. They share the same people all around so there is no special relationships, and follow a uniform lifestyle so there is no freedom. The strife in John's life caused him to find a love of Shakespeare, not being an Alpha in some society.

With Liberty and Propaganda for All...

This propaganda is targeting patriotic americans during a time of war, in which citizens may be asked to do questionable things, and must go along with it for the sake of nationalism. Using strong feelings of patriotism gives this poster more appeal, emphasizing the strongness and courageousness of the man depicted. A downside is that it may be a little blatent and forward with it's idea, but during times of war citizens are more accepting of such propaganda because they believe it is necessary to ensure America's future. The audience will be overwhelmed by nationalism so much that they agree with it. It is inappropriate to modern American society because we believe in accountability in the people to govern the government, but in the early 20th century such ideas were more common and perceived as less radical.

Journal Topic A

"Punctured, utterly deflated, he dropped into a chair and, covering his face with his hands, began to weep. A few minutes later, however, he thought better of it and took four tablets of soma." (Huxley 119)

In this scene Bernard is upset, but instead of talking to Lenina about his feelings for her, for this would be a grave breach in protocol, he must force himself to enjoy a life without commitment or deep connections. This is the problem in this society that is brought up in the current section. If one doess not like the current system, they must force themselves to be happy. John the Savage brings this issue to light when he arrives at the society, because he is accustomed to a different lifestyle in which unhappiness is allowed. In this sense John is more free than any citizen that can do whatever they want, as long as it goes along with the society. But like Bernard, if the society doesn't make you happy you are viewed as strange or defective, instead of questioning the way the society functions. This falls into the "citizens are forced to worship an ideal" category, since the citizens in Brave New World are forced to worship the ideal of happiness at all cost. Religion brings moral guidance and spiritual comfort, but since it makes the overall population uncomfortable by deeming certain actions or vices as immoral, so they remove it. The removal or freedoms, even possibly unenjoyable ones, is still the loss of freedom. Huxley is warning us about the pitfalls of a seemingly perfect society, many things we despise are actually blessing we take for granted and should appreciate.

Post Choice B

The most notable character who struggles against society in Brave New World is John the Savage. He is victimized by being forced to assimilate to his new culture without being asked if it was the type of world he wanted to live in. At first he shelters himself away from them, secluding himself into a room, but he couldn't stay hidden inside forever. He refuses the soma, doesn't engage in sex freely like the other citizens, and continues to live a life guided by morals and ethics. A more permanent solution was to try to talk to the Director, Mustapha Mond, to try to reason with him. This rebellion causes Bernard to lose the respect of his peers, since the fellow scientist can't yet hold John accountable for his actions, he is only a savage who doesnt know any better. Afterwards John believes that he can help this society see the madness it has created, but Mustapha Mond is also strong in his conviction that science is the only means to progress humanity forward. His tactics fail since the entire society is so dependent on its government for guidance and happiness that they have forgotten how to be happy themselves. Although the society itself doesn't directly punish John, he still suffers consequences for his resistance to the system and its rules. By refusing to take soma or use the other vices available to him, John must live alone yet again with the haunting memories of a twisted shadow of humanity's former self. In the end John can't handle this new horrifying society he never knew existed, offending his beliefs so greatly that he realizes he can't change the society or himself, and tragically ends his life.

Mersault's Conclusion

Mersault has an epiphany at the end of the book, once he realizes that he is definitely going to die and all hope is lost, that life has no meaning. That's why he says it wouldn't matter because Marie would find a new Mersault and Raymond would befriend someone else. His life had no purpose, and it isn't until now that he understood and embraced the full ideaology of existentialism. This discovery is the epiphany.

Strange Thesis

By using the prison, the funeral, and the courtroom as metaphors for being trapped in one's own life, Camus expresses that when a man isn't free to choose how to live his life, he becomes a prisoner to his own thoughts.

Strange Change

Mersault undergoes an emotional change after the murder. Beforehand he lived his life solely by the physical implications, like for example if he ate it was only to get rid of his hunger. After the murder he becomes interested in the emotional and psychological perspective. The prison is the perfect setting for comparing the two because in a prison most pleasures aren't available, like cigarettes. The loss of the cigarettes is the first step, and it's apparent by even then he views it as an inconvenience because he's addicted to them.