Monogamy In Brave New World

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In Brave New World, Aldous Huxley warns his readers of how nonexistent relationships may become in the future if society continues on its current path. He depicts the early decline of monogamy as the members of the society in his novel all sleep with one another and do not have marriages or proper relationships, because they do not believe in the idea of commitment. Furthermore, he symbolizes the fall in meaningful relationships and increase in abusive ones by having John be threatening to Lenina, the girl he had loved at first. Ultimately, similar to the novel’s depictions of the absence of monogamy, meaningful relationships are becoming more obsolete today as the divorce rate is increasing and because less people are waiting until marriage …show more content…
Though the extreme of marriage becoming obsolete has not yet been reached, the beginning decline of lifelong monogamy could predict that society may be headed in that direction. Similarly, it is believed that society would be better off letting go of the idea of lifelong monogamy, something that has already occurred in the World State. For instance, in her conversation with Lenina, Fanny reacts to her friend’s confession of only sleeping with Henry Foster for several months by saying, “Again? Do you mean to tell me you’re still going out with Henry Foster?” (Huxley 40). She acts so surprised because in this society, sleeping with only one person for months at a time is a rare thing, as no one in the World State commits themselves to just one other person. They are taught to believe that they would be happier sleeping around, and if one person does not stick to that societal norm, they are put to shame. Likewise, some people today believe that society would be better off without committed relationships, as it has …show more content…
Specifically, following John’s escape from the World State, Lenina moves on to Henry yet again, which she seems to regret as it is said that, “Her blue eyes seemed to grow larger, brighter; and suddenly two tears rolled down her cheeks … Inaudibly, she spoke again; then, with a quick, impassioned gesture stretched out her arms towards the Savage, stepped forward” (Huxley 257). Here, after seeing what John has become in his time away from her and the World State, Lenina begins to regret ever letting him go, seeming as though she wishes she could have done something to make him stay with her. On the other hand, in discussing how relationships have changed in recent years, one article recommends that young adults should, “Have fun with your significant other and move on” (“At OU” 2). The author of the article claims that younger people will be better off having small, quick relationships rather than long-lasting ones. While one source claims that society would be better off without long-term commitment, the other – the novel – trivializes his argument as some may wish to have longer lasting relationships than just small
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