Huxley Essay

   Aldous Huxley's predictions of the future back during the 1930's could not have been more accurate. That was an exaggeration, but that man predicted today's society very similar to the way it is now, but also very different. With the advent of the internet and electronic entertainment, as well as capitalism really gaining a grip on everyday life, some parts of Brave New World that were just a scary fictional quirk are becoming more and more real. Huxley may have written it in as a satire of the society he was living in, but it potentially holds even more weight now. 

   

   When comparing Huxley's comments during this interview and to today society there were some things I did not agree with. For instance, Huxley had stated that his predictions about the future were very near in our society today and that to some degree is true, but mainly disagreeable. Huxley's world consisted of genetic engineering to class struggles, embryos chemically treated to ensure they fit a certain class, and then babies and children are hypnotized into believing governmental doctrines as pure truth. Also, the use of Soma, a narcotic used as an instant anti-depressant, casts a worrying shadow on the chemical treatment of clinical depression to an extent. We are no where near becoming an Utopia and I'm sure glad of it. We live in a society where yes, we are utopia to a certain degree where we contain laws and a dictator, but we are shaped and funded among freedom. We have the choice to pursue in any career we choose to excel in, dress and look however we want to, and partake in any actions we desire (to a certain extent). I don't think well be having such dictation over us american citizens, but the way technology and science is progressing we may see a slight change in the way we modify our children. 

   Another thing Huxley stated in this interview was the issue surrounding overpopulating. I agree with this one. Yes, children and people are all wonderful people, but overpopulating the Earth can create major issues concerning limited resources, limited jobs and most importantly limited space. When there are mass amounts of people without jobs or homes then that lowers our economy and forces us to create more job opportunities for the homeless and that decreases the amount of money the current workers are earning. 

A more relateable detail that is striking in Brave New Worldis the distinction between public and private. In Brave New World, relationships are out in the open. Everybody knows everybody else’s business. It’s an everyday part of life – it is important that everybody knows who you’re going out with (and who you’re sleeping with), and how many people you're getting at the same time. It’s normal to discuss that people will regularly share partners without feeling any form of jealousy or shame. Engaging sexually with multiple partners is encouraged throughout the book. The moral norm that we’re used to (adultery = bad, monogamy = good) is dramatically altered to the point where if you remain monogamist for too long, you are punished by the authorities.

   The interview reveals a lot of Huxley's personal options towards the book were he elaborated more on, but he remained loyal to his exact presumptions and I found that very interesting. Aldous Huxley was a very brilliant man, and it's absolutely mind blowing that he accomplished predicting and blue-printing our future. I personally hope that our future doesn't obtain too many more qualities similar to Brave New World, but I know for a fact we will pursue in some. As weird as this book is, I'm enjoying it more and more the further I get into it and I'm highly interested in what the end will turn out to be.