Societal observations of identity in brave new world

Societal Observations of Identity inBrave New WorldAldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World is one of future observations and assumptions. Huxley makes observations about a society that has lost individual identity and replaced it with collective identity. To prove this the following points will be addressed, Huxley uses John, the savage to demonstrate the loss of identity, he uses John because he is an individual and shows the variance between him and those living in Brave New World. When Lenina and Bernard visit the savage reservation they are shocked and disgusted at the way they live which shows the different between their individuality.

The novel is set in the Brave New World where everyone does their given jobs without questioning and everything is stable. To demonstrate how Brave New Worlds society has lost individual identity Huxley uses John. John is from the savage reservation were everyone is an individual, John is taken back to Brave New World and is shocked at the loss of individuality. “ The Savage stood looking on, ” O brave new world, O brave new world…” In his mind the singing words seemed to change their tone.

They had mocked him through his misery and remorse, mocked him with how hideous a note of cynical derision! ” This quote demonstrates what John thinks of Brave New World. He thinks it is a horrible place whereas those who live in Brave New World are not individuals and all believe Brave New World is the only right place to live. It also shows how John would quote Shakespeare separating him from the crowd, he is an individual. John was shocked at how they live in Brave New World, Lenina and Bernard went to the savage reservation and were also stunned at how they live there.

Huxley uses the plot of Lenina and Bernard visiting the savage reservation in order to express the how those in Brave New World have lost their individuality. He compares the savage reservation and the Brave New World to make it clearer to the readers just how much identity has been lost in Brave New World. “ Oh! Look. What the matter with him? ” Lenina is disgusted at an old man who has wrinkled skin. Lenina has never seen an old person as in Brave New World they do not grow old and they all look the same, no individuality. The hatchery in Brave New World is where everyone is created nd 96 identical people are made. The setting of the hatchery is used to show how all the people in Brave New World are designed to do exactly what they are conditioned to. Once they are created they are conditioned to do a certain job, to take soma which ensures they have no emotion and to be happy with who they are. “ We also predestine and condition. We decant our babies as socialized human beings, as Alphas or Epsilons, as future sewage works or future directors of hatcheries. ” This quote illustrates how their future is chosen for them, they are created for a certain job and have no problem with doing it.

They have no individuality. Huxley uses characters, setting and plot to prove that the people of Brave New World have lost individuality. Huxley makes observations about a society that has lost individual identity and replaced it with collective identity. This is proven through the use of John the savage who is an individual, Lenina and Bernard’s trip to the savage reservation and how much they hated it, and by the hatchery where they create all the people who are designed specifically to do a certain job. Those in Brave New World are not individuals and have only a collective identity.