Is "Brave New World" Really Brave? Selma Kondoker 10th Grade

“Community, identity, and stability” was the main motto of the World State, the revolving society in Aldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World. Published in 1932, Brave New World depicts a society that is perceived as ‘utopian’, with changes and sacrifices made in order to keep the society not happy, but content altogether. However, when the individual and worldly character John comes into the man-made society of goals to achieve “community, identity, and stability”, the world is turned upside down and the true aspects and sacrifices are shown, proving that the ‘utopian’ society that was once believed is not utopian any more. In the World State society in this novel, sacrifices and many severe changes are made from the world around it, such as emotions, individuality of the person, and freedom, showing bravery, the ability to face dangers or pain. Taking away the important and valuable parts of human life was what ultimately made the World State society ‘brave’, in order to create a content society based on “community, identity, and stability”.

One way that bravery is shown in the society is by the elimination of individuality within humans. “‘We prefer to do things comfortably,’ said the Controller. ‘But I (John) don’t want...