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The idea to read this book was most likely due to having enjoyed the brief attempt I had given it in high school. I am not sure which grade level this book is read at anymore, it was just too long ago. Needless to say I wasn't quite so eager to finish it then, so made up for it when hitting a rainy stint of weather in Ireland. (surprise)
Without giving too much away, this was Huxley's first Dystopian novel, published in 1932. The main theme of the story shows us a futuristic society where most of humanity is governed by one supreme power called The World State. The World State has each member of society predetermined to fill certain roles; a caste system. When you are born, you are born into a certain job, lifestyle, privilege etc... On the contrary to The World State are geographical areas filled with what Huxley has called "the savages" Picture if you will the reservation land for the Native Americans in North America. (sad but true) In regards to the World State; Huxley spends a great deal of time and detail behind the science of the very complex birthing process, and he gives much detail to the how and why the world is set up in such a way as to be governed by The World State. This attention to detail makes the book more enjoyable to read, as Huxley has a way of painting a picture for the reader that leaves nothing unexplained. The world State has set up society so that all are willing to subscribe to it from birth. Brainwashing and a population cap sets up the society so that no one goes without their wants, as the wants are prescribed and embedded into the population. If a holiday is required there is a drug called 'Soma' that offers the escape everyone is looking for; the only World State sanctioned vacation desired by most. This eliminates the natural human instinct to search out individualism which the World State fears might threaten the State itself. Again, Huxley spends so much time going over the rules of the State that this review would take pages and pages. By what has been said so far you can get an idea, I won't spoil the rest of the fun details.
The main plot revolves around a handful of characters living in The World State scenario. Some find they are faced with thoughts and feelings of individualism that threaten their positions in the State. I have left many characters out to limit the review here on purpose, however, the main characters are; Bernard Marx, Helmholtz Watson, Lenina Crowne, Linda (mother of John), John (Linda and Thomas' son), Thomas (Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning and Johns father), and Mustapha Mond (the big boss of the area, controller of one of the ten zones which make up The World State)
Linda and John live in the Savage lands for reasons you'll find out when you reads the book. Thomas (who is Johns father), denies their existence and still maintains his role of director in The World State. When Bernard and Lenina vacation to the savage lands they meet Linda and John and put the story together as to why they no longer live in The World State. Bernard arranges for them to return to The World State, which is desirable at first. While there Bernard, after being threatened by Thomas, exposes the truth about John. Thomas is shamed and resigns from his position. For a time, John becomes a celebrity; a savage living amongst the people. Linda, happy to be home falls into a Soma overdose and John annoyed at the lack of compassion disrupts daily life with the help of Helmholtz. The controller Mustapha, a man who is no stranger to individualism himself, but who sees the theoretical need to abandon it for the "greater good" of The World State (who I found to be one of the most interesting characters in the book), must now make a choice. As it turns out Bernard and Helmholtz are exiled for helping John. While Helmholtz finds this a desirable punishment, Bernard sadly does not. John is kept on in The World State and, in a sense, he is studied until he is faced with an ultimate decision in order to come to terms with a series of maddening events which will decide the fate of he and Lenina. ( I won't spoil).
Upon careful examination, it seems to appear that Huxley is writing about a fear of losing ones identity, or the sense of the individual. Compare this classic tale written in the 1931 with society today; year 2014 - and this is the true power behind the book as far as I am concerned. Does it not feel like we are being moved into a World State scenario in our everyday lives today? Take a look at John in the book and his promotion from savage to celebrity. Now look at celebrity worship as a whole in our society - constant idolization and surveillance that is enough to drive modern day celebrity power completely off the deep end, just as John is forced at the end of this book. The juxtapositions between this book and modern Western society today are staggeringly similar when you adapt an initiated view, and this is only looking at the aforementioned example which is just a tiny glance into the book. There is so much room for interpretation, it truly becomes endless.
I read a review on Huxley where it stated he was concerned that a government who would choose to give us all that we wanted would reduce us to a brainless 'passive culture'. We would concern ourselves with a fake 'race' to an imagined finish line. Any quest for truth would be diluted in an abyss of information overload. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with a meaningless society based on pleasure seeking as the highest reward for our actions, as the true measure of life's accomplishment. In short, he feared a society where we would be controlled by having access to complete opportunity to fulfill our greatest desires. (in other words; constant access to pleasure) It looks as if his fears summed to one lesson; that our quest for pleasure would destroy us and make us easy to herd and control. It doesn't take a burning intellect to see that his greatest fears are coming true. We truly are turning into these things almost exactly - pretty spooky. I'd like to go on further but I have some TV to watch, a video game to play, some internet to surf, and a whole whack of other brainless activities that take priority. Not to mention I need to go to the mall to get my winter outfits ready for the season change.
I recommend this book for anyone interested in modern day social commentary. This book has come to be known as the 'lighthouse' book on the topic - or most certainly one that has received a great deal of attention that leads others interested to it. When you begin to examine the lessons told in this book and compare them to society today, you might begin to experience a very real sense of discomfort. This makes it a good place to start for those interested in social commentary. As I have been told by some other readers; there is a novel titled 'WE' that has similar themes written before Huxley penned this gem. George Orwell (apparently) accused Huxley of stealing ideas from 'WE' for this book. I have yet to acquire a copy of 'WE' but will comment further after I have. Orwells '1984' might be of interest for those dystopian fans, not to mention Huxley's last novel 'ISLAND' (also reviewed here) which takes the themes of this book to another level all together.
This book is 237 pages long and I was able to read it over 2 rainy days from the comforts of my hostel.
On my sliding scale I give this book a solid 10/10. I enjoy the thought of this book being written so many years ago and still being so relevant today - this is still a book that gets much attention and is up for so much discussion if one chooses. I found this book to be very difficult to review as there was just too much meat on the bones as far as discussion potential goes. I was unable to give any one portion of the book enough attention and for this I am regretful. This is a MUST read, a deep philosophical journey that deserves your own interpretation. Are certain aspects of this book becoming a reality today? Give it a read, decide for yourself and drop me a comment.
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