Submitted by Unwritten_Writer t3_ygkkkv in books
So I decided to reread 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley again. I read it a few years ago after having it suggested to me and it was alright, not as exciting or frightening as 1984 - more of a dry commentary on modern society before we even reached modern society.
As I was doing my reread of it, I began to realise just how scarily identical our society is to the one portrayed in the book: purely hedonistic behaviour all around; there's no genuine act of love, no genuine act of play, no care for the environment - it's all in the pursuit of pleasure and the belief that everybody is one whole. A lot of stuff skipped over my head the around the first time I read it but I particularly enjoyed the critique of modern society, mockery of religious practices/dogma, science going to far(with genetic engineering of humans, who based on the descriptions of the DHC and Henry Foster, slightly and variously deformed), how outsiders to every society are viewed as being 'different'(and in some cases as 'savages') - there's obviously way more smaller details in it, but this is the major themes that stick out. I really appreciated the book more this time around and I actually think it's a way better book to 1984 as it's a better reflection of society and the way it's heading. I'd need to reread 1984 though to make a better comparison.
What are your thoughts on Brave New World? Do you prefer it over 1984? Have you read any books similar to it? Do you believe it holds up well today?
Edit: Honestly didn't expect this to become such a huge discussion!(it's frightening!) I appreciate all of your input, regardless of how average this post is. Just wanted to share my experience of understanding it now, compared to when I didn't understand it before.
Also, I enjoy analysis of stories, just not in English classrooms. Fin.