The title of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is ironically a quote from another author. However, said author is the great Shakespeare. Huxley uses a line from Shakespeare’s The Tempest in a masterful way. John the Savage quotes the play’s line “O brave new world that has such people in it” (139). This simple phrase is not only a driving factor of the novel, but a philosophical adventure. John the Savage says these lines at first with hope and enthusiasm. His ideal world is at his hands, and he is excited to explore. The anticipation of the utopia leads John to quote his great knowledge of literature and Shakespeare. However, he later repeats the lines with bitter irony. His imagination contrasted significantly with the true values of the
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This motif within Brave New World is not only a literary device, but a profound analogy to the world in which Huxley lived. When John first quotes Shakespeare on page 139, he is excited for his new life to begin. He is expecting the New World to have all sorts of fascinating people. Bernard asks “‘I wonder if you’d like to come back to London with us’… The young man’s face lit up… John also laughed… for pure joy. ‘O brave new world that has such people in it’” (139-140). When John is finally able to experience the “brave new world,” he is disappointed. John realizes that the new world does not have the exotic and new features that he had dreamed of, and London is solely a society of machines. John is exposed to the brutal reality that the utopia has no freedom. Having experienced such liberties before, John is shocked when he hears of having no break from enjoyment and seeing the immoral actions of citizens. John’s true character is revealed when he reverts to his use of Shakespeare later when he sees the use of soma and the creation of twins. The inventions used in the society of the New World shock John, and he is constantly uncomfortable wherever he is in London. John repeats his earlier enthusiasm with sour irony: “‘O brave new world…’ By some malice of his memory the Savage found himself repeating… ‘O brave new world that has such people in it’” (160). The irony of John’s …show more content…
His use of language is incredible, and his descriptions are beautiful. Huxley’s masterful subtlety is exemplified on the final page of Brave New World, when John the Savage is found dead. “‘Savage!’ Called the first arrivals… There was no answer… Just under the crown of the arch dangled a pair of feet… Slowly, very slowly, like two unhurried compass needles, the feet turned…” (259). Huxley’s style is summarized in a wonderful way throughout these
This motif within Brave New World is not only a literary device, but a profound analogy to the world in which Huxley lived. When John first quotes Shakespeare on page 139, he is excited for his new life to begin. He is expecting the New World to have all sorts of fascinating people. Bernard asks “‘I wonder if you’d like to come back to London with us’… The young man’s face lit up… John also laughed… for pure joy. ‘O brave new world that has such people in it’” (139-140). When John is finally able to experience the “brave new world,” he is disappointed. John realizes that the new world does not have the exotic and new features that he had dreamed of, and London is solely a society of machines. John is exposed to the brutal reality that the utopia has no freedom. Having experienced such liberties before, John is shocked when he hears of having no break from enjoyment and seeing the immoral actions of citizens. John’s true character is revealed when he reverts to his use of Shakespeare later when he sees the use of soma and the creation of twins. The inventions used in the society of the New World shock John, and he is constantly uncomfortable wherever he is in London. John repeats his earlier enthusiasm with sour irony: “‘O brave new world…’ By some malice of his memory the Savage found himself repeating… ‘O brave new world that has such people in it’” (160). The irony of John’s …show more content…
His use of language is incredible, and his descriptions are beautiful. Huxley’s masterful subtlety is exemplified on the final page of Brave New World, when John the Savage is found dead. “‘Savage!’ Called the first arrivals… There was no answer… Just under the crown of the arch dangled a pair of feet… Slowly, very slowly, like two unhurried compass needles, the feet turned…” (259). Huxley’s style is summarized in a wonderful way throughout these