the english paper!
The society in the book Brave New World is one that has changed drastically for the worst. It is one of hedonism, and restraint of freedom, as well as a general disregard for the value of human life. It is a society of overall degradation. In Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, the degradation of society is shown through the hedonistic practices of people in society, the restrictions of freedoms and individuality, and the firm control brought about by the caste system of the society. The first way that the degradation of society is shown in the novel is by the hedonistic practices of the people in the society. One of these practices is the feelies. Barricchio states that the feelies are a means by which people can experience pleasure, and lose their individuality. (2). People can’t be different when they all conform to the same practices. They use the feelies as a means of escape from the world around them. Another hedonistic practice of the people of society is sexual promiscuity. Hazlitt says that sexual promiscuity is rampant in the society. (285). Sex is encouraged as a means of making people happy and promoting stability. Sexual play is encouraged among children starting at a very young age. Every woman in the Brave New World is required to carry a set of contraceptives, promoting the use of sexuality. (Hazlitt 286). People use each other for sex all the time in society. The concept of loving someone is gone, and it is just a mechanical routine. “Intercourse, frequently practiced with changing (and interchangeable) partners, is seen in terms of possession, or rather of ‘use’.” (Varricchio 3). There are many restrictions placed on the people of the Brave New World, which is another sign of the degradation of society. Art, science, and religion are forbidden. McGiverson writhes that they are looked down upon in society.