Growing Nationalism Cannon to right of them

Growing Nationalism

Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them Volleyed and thundered; Stormed at with shot and shell, While horse and hero fell. They that had fought so well Came through the jaws of Death, Back from the mouth of hell, All that was left of them, Left of six hundred. When can their glory fade? O the wild charge they made! All the world wondered. Honour the charge they made! Honour the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred!

Lenina Crowne John Savage Linda

Factory Production of People Is the book in a way the total triumph of capitalism? Even people can be produced to order on an assembly line as a product.

Caste System All people are designed to be happy with their situation. Is this so bad?

Ford as a Religion All religions have been abolished, but is there still a need people have for something more? The World State replaces the cross of Christ with “T” – referring to the Model T.

Sexual Freedom and the Abolishment of the Family Unit Huxley wrote before birth control pills were invented. Is it possible to imagine a culture with no mothers, fathers, or families? If drugs are freely available, how could they be controlled?

Psychological Conditioning & Propaganda If a slave is happy, is he/she still a slave? But does it work? How can people still know that ‘mother’ and ‘Shakespeare’ are dirty words?

Comparison to 1984 George Orwell’s 1984, written in 1948, depicts a dystopia modeled after Nazism and Soviet communism. Society is ruled by violent force and torture for the benefit of a powerful elite.

BNW versus 1984 What does it mean that we love will ruin us? Is it possible?

Satire or prediction? Huxley couldn’t have predicted a postassembly line future with computers. Does that make his book less valuable?