Brave New World Proposal

Individualism/Freedom

Chapter 3

“'Has any of you been compelled to live through a long time-interval between the consciousness of a desire and its immediate fulfillment?’” (Huxley 45)

                In the Brave New World, the people expect immediate fulfillment. It is unlikely for one to have to wait for the things they want. So uncommon that one person answers the question with a one-time instance of having to wait between the consciousness of his desire and the fulfillment of having a girl he wanted. This quote presents the freedom that the people believe they have, the freedom to want something and to receive it almost immediately.

Chapter 4

“’Did you ever feel,’ he asked, ‘as though you had something inside you that was only waiting for you to give it a chance to come out? Some sort of extra power that you aren’t using—you know, like all the water that goes down the falls instead of through the turbines?’” (Huxley 69)

                Bernard begins to get a feeling that he has something different inside of him, that he wishes he could bring out. This untouched potential relates to the sense of individual in the novel, or lack thereof, which Bernard begins to think about.

Chapter 5

“’Everyone works for everyone else. We can’t do without any one. Even Epsilons are useful. We couldn’t do without Epsilons. Every one works for everyone else. We can’t do without any one...They don’t know what it’s like being anything else’” (Huxley 74).

                This repetitive statement acknowledges the lack of individualism within the group. There is a group mentality that everyone depends on one another, and even the Epsilons serve a purpose. People are oblivious to their own strengths or weaknesses within their caste. This motto makes everyone feel useful, while ensuring that no one goes off to do their own thing.

 “’Everybody’s happy now’…They had heard the words repeated a hundred and fifty times every night for twelve years” (Huxley 75).

                This assumptive notion that everybody is happy is engrained into their heads continuously. This prevents them from thinking they are unhappy or doubting their freedom. They are told what happiness is, without the opportunity to figure it out for themselves.

“Feeling that it was time for him to do something…and when the others began to jig and stamp and shuffle, he also jigged and shuffled” (Huxley 84).

                Bernard does not have the same feelings or reactions that everyone else does, the ones that he should. Instead, he has acquired feelings of his own. However, this makes him feel as though he does not fit in. With this progressive individualism, Bernard still feels obliged to act like everyone else.

Chapter 6

“’It makes me feel as though…’… ‘I am free. Free to have the most wonderful time. Everybody’s happy nowadays’” (Huxley 90-91).

                Bernard continues to talk about his feelings of being himself. By looking at the sea, he feels as though he is more of his own person, and not so much a part of the group. However, Lenina is disgusted by the thoughts of his individuality, of not wanting to be a part of the group. Bernard knows they are not free, and when he asks Lenina if she wishes she were, she already believes they are free.

Chapter 7

'“Old?...’That’s because we don’t allow them to be like that”’ (Huxley 110).

                When exposed to the “real world”, they are horrified to see someone who has grown old. As with anything else, the people of the Brave New World do not have the choice to grow old, repressing them from their freedom. The key words here are “we don’t allow”. The directors have complete control over how the people look, act, and feel.