Consumerism In Brave New World

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Consumer culture has taken the place of family cultures and traditions, society has placed emphasis on the pursuit of things people want but do not need. In Aldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World, the phrase “ending is better than mending” (Huxley 49) is mentioned throughout the novel. In this society, it was more common to buy new products instead of investing time in fixing them much like American consumer culture, when electronics become obsolete or clothes not fashionable anymore. Meanwhile skills of fixing old goods that had been passed down through generations had died down such as sewing or automotive repair and trades. In Brave New World words such as mother and father are considered “smut that is really science” (Huxley 24) since in …show more content…
Even Though the characters from Dawn of the Dead did not receive any meaningful happiness from the mall they still felt the need to defend it with their lives instead of moving on. Stephen was the one endanger the group by trying to protect the mall which showed how little concern he had for the safety of his girlfriend and future child. Consumerism and the feeling contentment was once again placed before family and the possibility of lasting happiness. This is similar to Bernard struggle in Brave New World when he responds to being sent away from civilization by saying “you can't send me. I haven't done anything. It was the other's.” (Huxley 226). Bernard viewed leaving as negative although the World's state did not allow Bernard any true happiness and he questioned their policies throughout the book he was contempt with it. Which made him want to hold onto his contentment rather than seek true lasting happiness. Another character Lenina only dated one man at a time because she mostly likely was seeking a meaningful relationship on a psychological level. Although this is considered obscene in the world state since “one’s got to play the game. After all, everyone belongs to everyone else.” (Huxley 43). This shows that although characters are aware something is missing they are hesitant to pursue it due to consumerism culture and society
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