Dehumanization In Brave New World Research Paper

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In a world where the manipulation of genetics, conditioning, and suppression of emotions dominates, what does it truly mean to be human? Is it to bear emotions such as happiness, grief, greed, or jealousy? Or perhaps it's the ability to be in control, rather than being controlled by others? In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, dehumanization permeates society, encouraging the contemplation of the consequences of predetermined fate and conformity from birth. Through the characters' internal and external conflicts, Huxley confirms the basic human want for acceptance while emphasizing the need for growth and sense of liberation. In the beginning of Brave New World, the author illustrates how the systematic conditioning of individuals from birth …show more content…
In the novel, characters like Bernard Marx and John the Savage, representing an outsider's critique of the overall effects of the World State, resist the pre-established roles imposed by civilization. Johnson, the author of The Meaning of the Body, states that “People want their lives to be meaningful”. This desire- meaning is so strong...that we are sometimes even willing to risk death in our pursuit of meaning and fulfillment.” However, he also states that humans are usually naturally born to grow curious and “It is our need to make sense of our experience and to inquire into its overall meaning and significance....Unfortunately, meaning is a big, messy, multidimensional concept that is applied to everything” (The Meaning of the Body by Johnson). During past conversations, Bernard Marx confides in Lenina Crowne about his true feelings towards soma, expressing his preference to remain true to himself, "and nasty. Not somebody else, however jolly" (Huxley