When the Ends Justify the Means
Introduction
Along with George Orwell’s 1984, Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World has taken precedence
as a crucial piece of dystopian literature. While 1984 portrayed a tyrannical regime fuelled by hate, rage, and surveillance, the World State of Brave New World described a police state without a police; a regime that controlled its populace by consumerism and common pleasures. Unlike 1984, in which Oceania’s methodology of ruling was a vivid analogy to those used by the Soviet Union, the far fetched nature of the World State resulted in the novel’s abymissal initial reception. However, with the eventual fall of the Soviet Union, the rise of mass commercialism and cheaping of information, Huxley’s revelations were given a more critical analysis, only to be realized by its readers that the modern world was transforming alarmingly to resemble Huxley’s visions of the future.
Surprisingly, as readers began to fear the uncanny resemblances of their reality with that of Brave New World, Huxley himself began to doubt the moral implications of the practices shown in his dystopian novel. The novel Island, written in 1963, was a revisiting of the World State through Pala, a peaceful, “forbidden island” (7), coveted internationally for its rich, unexploited oil reserves. Despite using methods that were similar and at times even mirrored that of the World State, the community created in Pala was portrayed to be the closest thing humanity could have as a utopia. This strange contrast of opinions leads to the question of how much the end justifies the means when even Aldous Huxley wasn’t sure. It is the aim of this essay to bring clarity on this complex question by comparing the means and aspects of the worlds portrayed in Brave New World, Island, and Huxley’s essay Brave New World revisited, analyzing how much his involvement into the Counter Culture movement may have changed his opinions presented in Brave New World.
Introduction
Along with George Orwell’s 1984, Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World has taken precedence
as a crucial piece of dystopian literature. While 1984 portrayed a tyrannical regime fuelled by hate, rage, and surveillance, the World State of Brave New World described a police state without a police; a regime that controlled its populace by consumerism and common pleasures. Unlike 1984, in which Oceania’s methodology of ruling was a vivid analogy to those used by the Soviet Union, the far fetched nature of the World State resulted in the novel’s abymissal initial reception. However, with the eventual fall of the Soviet Union, the rise of mass commercialism and cheaping of information, Huxley’s revelations were given a more critical analysis, only to be realized by its readers that the modern world was transforming alarmingly to resemble Huxley’s visions of the future.
Surprisingly, as readers began to fear the uncanny resemblances of their reality with that of Brave New World, Huxley himself began to doubt the moral implications of the practices shown in his dystopian novel. The novel Island, written in 1963, was a revisiting of the World State through Pala, a peaceful, “forbidden island” (7), coveted internationally for its rich, unexploited oil reserves. Despite using methods that were similar and at times even mirrored that of the World State, the community created in Pala was portrayed to be the closest thing humanity could have as a utopia. This strange contrast of opinions leads to the question of how much the end justifies the means when even Aldous Huxley wasn’t sure. It is the aim of this essay to bring clarity on this complex question by comparing the means and aspects of the worlds portrayed in Brave New World, Island, and Huxley’s essay Brave New World revisited, analyzing how much his involvement into the Counter Culture movement may have changed his opinions presented in Brave New World.
Usage of Adages and Education to Shape Minds
Adages are used by both Pala and the World State to reinforce the main ideas supported by the
two novels’ dominant body of government. Through constant reminders and repetitions, the adages are ingrained into the individuals that live in these two worlds. While the base intentions of doing so differ drastically, the methods of instilling these proverbs are quite similar.
The World State of Brave New World makes strong usage of hypnopaedia and simple
proverbs as methods to restrain its citizens’ capabilities of free thought. This is done through two methods, “INFANT NURSERIES. NEOPAVLOVIAN CONDITIONING ROOMS” (19), and
simple idioms. Infant Nurseries, as its name may suggest, use various methods of psychological conditioning on newborns to shape basic behaviors that persist for the rest of an individual’s lives. It is noted by Mr. Foster that Infant Nurseries are not to meant to instill complex ideas, but “ ‘instinctive’ hatred” (22) towards dispositions not related to them. Subliminal messages, also known as Hypnophaedia is repeated incessantly throughout a child’s life while going through the NeoPavlovian Coniditioning rooms. This instills a rigid and obvious class system that ingrains an idea into an individual that one’s disposition and class is much better than that of other social standings, regardless of whether one is a member of the Alpha upper class, or the low, nearly slavelike Epsilon. The other method of adages, one that takes place throughout a citizen’s entire life is to constantly feed individuals idioms that represent key ideals patronized by the world state such as “ending is better than mending” (49) and “One cubic centimeter cures ten gloomy sentiments” (Assisstant Predestinator Brave New World 54). These idioms are engineered to be as trendy and easily remembered by Alphaclass men such as Hemholtz and Bernard. The maxims shown throughout the novel are used to further reinforce Hypnophaedia and fill in more complex concepts into the minds of the people without the need to think for one’s self. Huxley in Brave New World Revisited would later relate the idioms used in Brave New World with “singing commercials” (Brave New World Revisited 69) and subliminal messages, both of which would begin seeing use in the U.S with the advent of television.
Adages are used by both Pala and the World State to reinforce the main ideas supported by the
two novels’ dominant body of government. Through constant reminders and repetitions, the adages are ingrained into the individuals that live in these two worlds. While the base intentions of doing so differ drastically, the methods of instilling these proverbs are quite similar.
The World State of Brave New World makes strong usage of hypnopaedia and simple
proverbs as methods to restrain its citizens’ capabilities of free thought. This is done through two methods, “INFANT NURSERIES. NEOPAVLOVIAN CONDITIONING ROOMS” (19), and
simple idioms. Infant Nurseries, as its name may suggest, use various methods of psychological conditioning on newborns to shape basic behaviors that persist for the rest of an individual’s lives. It is noted by Mr. Foster that Infant Nurseries are not to meant to instill complex ideas, but “ ‘instinctive’ hatred” (22) towards dispositions not related to them. Subliminal messages, also known as Hypnophaedia is repeated incessantly throughout a child’s life while going through the NeoPavlovian Coniditioning rooms. This instills a rigid and obvious class system that ingrains an idea into an individual that one’s disposition and class is much better than that of other social standings, regardless of whether one is a member of the Alpha upper class, or the low, nearly slavelike Epsilon. The other method of adages, one that takes place throughout a citizen’s entire life is to constantly feed individuals idioms that represent key ideals patronized by the world state such as “ending is better than mending” (49) and “One cubic centimeter cures ten gloomy sentiments” (Assisstant Predestinator Brave New World 54). These idioms are engineered to be as trendy and easily remembered by Alphaclass men such as Hemholtz and Bernard. The maxims shown throughout the novel are used to further reinforce Hypnophaedia and fill in more complex concepts into the minds of the people without the need to think for one’s self. Huxley in Brave New World Revisited would later relate the idioms used in Brave New World with “singing commercials” (Brave New World Revisited 69) and subliminal messages, both of which would begin seeing use in the U.S with the advent of television.
The methods used by Pala in Island are much more subtle, but still equally prominent as those
used by the World State. Genetically engineered birds are flown around the island to state key words
that symbolize principles supported by the Pala’s government body. Unlike the idioms of the World
State, which are quickly and often replaced, the phrases said by the birds are fewer in number,
alternating between “Attention” (Mynah bird Island 1), and “Karuna (compassion)” (Mynah bird Island
37). Unlike the Hypnophaedia and Singing Commercials of Brave New World and its reflective
counterpart, the adages that are sung by Mynah birds serve to emphasize self discovery and living in the
moment, the two activities the World State attempted to quell the most.
Ultimately, adages and maxims serve to keep an ideology dominant in a society, constantly reminding citizens of important tenants of their communities. By doing so, the two bodies of governments are able to continue without real social criticisms brought against them. It is impossible for a community to be free of criticism or counterculture, even if said participants of that community are free of suffering and are prosperous. That is, unless drastic measures such as ones practiced by Pala and the World State are not taken.
Ultimately, adages and maxims serve to keep an ideology dominant in a society, constantly reminding citizens of important tenants of their communities. By doing so, the two bodies of governments are able to continue without real social criticisms brought against them. It is impossible for a community to be free of criticism or counterculture, even if said participants of that community are free of suffering and are prosperous. That is, unless drastic measures such as ones practiced by Pala and the World State are not taken.
Wide Distribution and Usage of Drugs
The usage of hullucinogens is a prominent aspect present in both Brave New World and Island,
and, while one is made artificially and other genetically engineered, the drugs consumed by individuals in both novels serve nearly identical purposes and intentions.
Soma holds as much significance as Hypnophaedia, if not more in maintaining stability and happiness in the World State. World Director Mustapha Mond himself states that Soma has “All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol” (Brave New World 53). This is especially momentous as Mond expresses that old world religion was destroyed along with history and literature in order to make room for the doctrine of the World State. Hypnophaebia is widely used to encourage individuals to use Soma whenever they are stressed or at a moral dilemna, the strength of each pill easily adjusted based on a person’s needs. Due to Soma’s fundamental nature as a replacement of mysticism in a world completely devoid of it, Somainduced drinks are liberally used during Solidarity Service to enforce a state of bliss in whoever attends it. It should also be noted that the various perspective characters introduced throughout the novel refuse to use Soma, and in some cases enjoy the loneliness and suffering their actions bring. This is especially so for the protagonist Bernard Marx, who begins to take increasing doses of Soma as he indulges into the excesses of sexuality and society that was previously unavailable to him.
Unlike Soma, which presides in the entirity of Brave New World, Mokshamedicine is only referred to at the concluding chapters of Island, after Will Farnaby comes to learn and embrace the enlightening culture of Pala. Moksha shares similar properties with Soma, taken in powdered form, and artificially created by genetic engineering. To outsiders, MokshaMedicine is a typical “dope...something that... no decent person would indulge in” (Murugen Island 166), evoking similar emotions to that of the readers when reading about Soma in Brave New World. Through the usage of different names, such as “thereality revealer... truthandbeauty pill” (Murugen 166), the state of Pala has managed to desenticize the negative perception of Moksha completely in its citizens. As its alternate names may imply, the usage of Moksha is to heighten one’s senses, similar to the way LSD was used during the CounterCulture movement of the 1960s. Notably, moksha is used by the local populace of Pala to make the process of sexual intercourse an enlightening experience in a manner similar to Brave New World’s Solidatary Services. Will Farnaby himself actively uses MokshaMedicine in order to forget about the death of his wife. While it is not known whether or not Farnaby’s intentions of using the drug is shared by other individuals of Pala, the inferrence of Mokshamedicine’s potential usage as a mental pain killer blurrs the difference between it and Soma, other than the intentions of the drugs’ usages.
Sexuality and Role of Family
The usage of hullucinogens is a prominent aspect present in both Brave New World and Island,
and, while one is made artificially and other genetically engineered, the drugs consumed by individuals in both novels serve nearly identical purposes and intentions.
Soma holds as much significance as Hypnophaedia, if not more in maintaining stability and happiness in the World State. World Director Mustapha Mond himself states that Soma has “All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol” (Brave New World 53). This is especially momentous as Mond expresses that old world religion was destroyed along with history and literature in order to make room for the doctrine of the World State. Hypnophaebia is widely used to encourage individuals to use Soma whenever they are stressed or at a moral dilemna, the strength of each pill easily adjusted based on a person’s needs. Due to Soma’s fundamental nature as a replacement of mysticism in a world completely devoid of it, Somainduced drinks are liberally used during Solidarity Service to enforce a state of bliss in whoever attends it. It should also be noted that the various perspective characters introduced throughout the novel refuse to use Soma, and in some cases enjoy the loneliness and suffering their actions bring. This is especially so for the protagonist Bernard Marx, who begins to take increasing doses of Soma as he indulges into the excesses of sexuality and society that was previously unavailable to him.
Unlike Soma, which presides in the entirity of Brave New World, Mokshamedicine is only referred to at the concluding chapters of Island, after Will Farnaby comes to learn and embrace the enlightening culture of Pala. Moksha shares similar properties with Soma, taken in powdered form, and artificially created by genetic engineering. To outsiders, MokshaMedicine is a typical “dope...something that... no decent person would indulge in” (Murugen Island 166), evoking similar emotions to that of the readers when reading about Soma in Brave New World. Through the usage of different names, such as “thereality revealer... truthandbeauty pill” (Murugen 166), the state of Pala has managed to desenticize the negative perception of Moksha completely in its citizens. As its alternate names may imply, the usage of Moksha is to heighten one’s senses, similar to the way LSD was used during the CounterCulture movement of the 1960s. Notably, moksha is used by the local populace of Pala to make the process of sexual intercourse an enlightening experience in a manner similar to Brave New World’s Solidatary Services. Will Farnaby himself actively uses MokshaMedicine in order to forget about the death of his wife. While it is not known whether or not Farnaby’s intentions of using the drug is shared by other individuals of Pala, the inferrence of Mokshamedicine’s potential usage as a mental pain killer blurrs the difference between it and Soma, other than the intentions of the drugs’ usages.
Sexuality and Role of Family
As much as the two novels Brave New World and Island share many similarities in practices,
there are certain key aspects of the societies shaped in Huxley’s novels that differ greatly, one being
sexuality and the role of family in Huxley’s novels.
One of the most popular Hypnophaedic statement in the novel Brave New World is that “everyone belongs to everyone” (Assistant Predestinator 47), and the reasons are self evident; the
World State destroyed nationality and religion due to the conflicting loyalties it would bring upon its citizens. It is for these very reasons that the family, love, and monogamy has been completely erased from the minds of the people. The World State takes active care in turning these fundamental values into taboos, more justification of why the old world fell into chaos and destruction. In the absence of family and love, unrestrained sexuality and polygamy are dominant aspects of people’s lives, intended to be yet another method of controlling the populace’s anxietites. Huxley’s fears of sexuality being used by society to “constantly distract by gratuitous entertainment and reinforced in their good behavior” (Brave New World Revisited 19) is further reinforced in Brave New World Revisited. Huxley feared that, in addition to promsicuity serving to obscure and detract the people from the truth, overpopulation will become an impending problem due to higher birth rates and survival rates. As much as he disagreed with the World State’s decanting procedures modifying and predestinating the stations and social standing of each man, Huxley frankly states that the lack of such procedures may result in inferior humans over a long period of time.
One of the most popular Hypnophaedic statement in the novel Brave New World is that “everyone belongs to everyone” (Assistant Predestinator 47), and the reasons are self evident; the
World State destroyed nationality and religion due to the conflicting loyalties it would bring upon its citizens. It is for these very reasons that the family, love, and monogamy has been completely erased from the minds of the people. The World State takes active care in turning these fundamental values into taboos, more justification of why the old world fell into chaos and destruction. In the absence of family and love, unrestrained sexuality and polygamy are dominant aspects of people’s lives, intended to be yet another method of controlling the populace’s anxietites. Huxley’s fears of sexuality being used by society to “constantly distract by gratuitous entertainment and reinforced in their good behavior” (Brave New World Revisited 19) is further reinforced in Brave New World Revisited. Huxley feared that, in addition to promsicuity serving to obscure and detract the people from the truth, overpopulation will become an impending problem due to higher birth rates and survival rates. As much as he disagreed with the World State’s decanting procedures modifying and predestinating the stations and social standing of each man, Huxley frankly states that the lack of such procedures may result in inferior humans over a long period of time.
Pala of Island thus creates a peculier contrast to the World State. In accordance to Pala’s prime adherence to Carpe Diem, promiscuity is prevalent in the lives of the people. This, however, does
not mean that the values of family has been destroyed. In contrast, the various couples that appear
throughout the novel are shown to be strongly loyal to each other. Children, on the other hand, are
shared by multiple parents through the MAC (Mutual Adoption Club). This is to make sure that children
could seek refuge from other parents when their blood relatives have lost their temper. Like religion,
which is never discouraged but merged to fit with Pala’s beliefs, the value of family and sexuality is
merged with the old Raja’s beliefs to create an ideal society.
The Protagonists
While the protagonists of Brave New World and Island do not necessarily reflect the policies of Pala and the World State, they are important in shaping Huxley’s perceptions towards the worlds he conceived.
There are four characters that are given a chance to express their ideologies in Brave New World: Bernard Marx, Hemholtz, John and Mustapha Mond. These characters share one thing in common, in that they were through varying circumstances given the benefit of doubt, a room to build their own ideas. Bernard and Hemholtz are both members of the upper class tasked with brainwashing indivduals; Bernard works with the operant conditioning of children, while Hemholtz is famed for creating fine Hypnophaedia. Having a significant part in the shaping of individuals lives, both of these individuals are painfully aware of the drastic measures the World State takes, and as a consequence their harrowing limitations as well. John Savage spent his childhood in an Indian Reservation, a world untainted by Soma, still rife with jealousy, hate and passion. Mustapha Mond, prior to becoming a world director, was a prodigial scientist who eventually gave up the joys of innovation and discovery for ultimate authority and the greater good. Their knowledge of a world gone by and distortion of what humanity used to represent serve to give these characters endless suffering which Soma and promiscuity can never fill. Their suffering is a pessimistic testament by Huxley that even happiness in endless supply can never truly replace the crevices of the heart which the World State so desperately tried to ignore.
The Protagonists
While the protagonists of Brave New World and Island do not necessarily reflect the policies of Pala and the World State, they are important in shaping Huxley’s perceptions towards the worlds he conceived.
There are four characters that are given a chance to express their ideologies in Brave New World: Bernard Marx, Hemholtz, John and Mustapha Mond. These characters share one thing in common, in that they were through varying circumstances given the benefit of doubt, a room to build their own ideas. Bernard and Hemholtz are both members of the upper class tasked with brainwashing indivduals; Bernard works with the operant conditioning of children, while Hemholtz is famed for creating fine Hypnophaedia. Having a significant part in the shaping of individuals lives, both of these individuals are painfully aware of the drastic measures the World State takes, and as a consequence their harrowing limitations as well. John Savage spent his childhood in an Indian Reservation, a world untainted by Soma, still rife with jealousy, hate and passion. Mustapha Mond, prior to becoming a world director, was a prodigial scientist who eventually gave up the joys of innovation and discovery for ultimate authority and the greater good. Their knowledge of a world gone by and distortion of what humanity used to represent serve to give these characters endless suffering which Soma and promiscuity can never fill. Their suffering is a pessimistic testament by Huxley that even happiness in endless supply can never truly replace the crevices of the heart which the World State so desperately tried to ignore.
In contrast, most of Pala’s characters are twodimensional, serving to effectively describe the
philosophies and values Pala stands behind. Thus, it is only Will Farnaby, a stranger to Palanese culture
like the readers, that receives the benefit of perspective as he is slowly integrated into Palanese culture.
Farnaby is a journalist and often the diplomatic voice of petroleum firms. He is deeply scarred by regret
and death of his loved ones, the death of his exwife serving as a paramount to his self depreciation. The
ability to forget about his pains using Pala’s methods serves as the fundamental reason why Farnaby
would abandon his previous affiliation despite having doomed Pala by helping erecting an alliance with
Colonel Dipa and Murugan. Farnaby’s downfall proves that Huxley’s pessimistic sentiments still
remained, even after two decades of dedication to spirituality and humanity. It is through Will Farnaby’s
eyes that the readers realize that the world does not have to remain tainted in blood. However, it is also
through Will Farnaby that the readers are reminded by Huxley that the world of Pala is hopelessly
optimistic, and that if it truly did exist, it would be engulfed by a depraved beast called greed and
capitalism. The lessons that are taught through Will Farnaby is not completely pessimistic though; literary
critic Alex Macdonald in his article Choosing Utopia: An Existential Reading of Aldous Huxley's Island firmly states that the existence of Pala itself is simply a picture of reality. According to him, Pala is
a public experementation of an utopian idea, achieved through both intelligence and good luck. While it
is true that Pala was eventually overtaken by excess of human vices, the significance lies in that an utopia
did exist, a sentiment held by many occupants of Pala. Also, Will’s enlightenment painted throughout the
novel demonstrates that, even if public enlightenment may prove very difficult, personal enlightenment
was readily achievable through education and effort. Huxley, by writing Island, was hoping that each
individual would make the rational choice of making the world an utopia.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Famed deconstructionist and literary critic Jacques Derridas stated that all novels are
meaningless, specifically that the intentions of the author mean little when compared to what he has
written. This does not mean that a prospective reader should completely ignore the social context of
what has been written, but that the interpretations made by Huxley is just as important as the
conclusions drawn by the readers of Huxley’s novels. Brave New World Revisited and Island, while not as critically acclaimed as Brave New World itself, are fundamentally important to our understanding
of Brave New World as seperate interpretations and conclusions made by Huxley much later in his life.
Huxley’s attempt at reinterpreting the policies of the World State through analogies with his current
world and through a seperate entity demonstrate the author’s base belief that the end does justify the
means. As an individual who in his younger days wished to become a scientist, Huxley considered
technology as a double edged sword. The application of science, such as using hullucinogenic drugs,
itself is not evil. It is only the intention and application of such technology, whether it be for suppression
of man’s virtue or for personal growth and individual enlightenment, that matters in the end. A genuine
case of when Ends do justify the Means.
Works Cited
Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. New York: HarperCollins Books, 2006. 26. Print.
Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World: With the Essay "Brave New World Revisited" New York: Harper Perrenial Modern Classics, 2010. Print.
Huxley, Aldous. Island: A Novel. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1962. Print.
"Huxley, Aldous Huxley." The Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th ed. 2013. N. pag. Columbia University . Web. 21 Sept. 2013.
"Aldous Leonard Huxley." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 21 Sep. 2013 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.
Macdonald, Alex. "Choosing Utopia: An Existential Reading of Aldous Huxley's Island." Utopian Studies Spring 12.2 (2001): n. pag. Questia. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.questiaschool.com/read/1G183582928/choosingutopiaanexistentialreadingofaldous >.
Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. New York: HarperCollins Books, 2006. 26. Print.
Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World: With the Essay "Brave New World Revisited" New York: Harper Perrenial Modern Classics, 2010. Print.
Huxley, Aldous. Island: A Novel. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1962. Print.
"Huxley, Aldous Huxley." The Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th ed. 2013. N. pag. Columbia University . Web. 21 Sept. 2013.
"Aldous Leonard Huxley." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 21 Sep. 2013 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.
Macdonald, Alex. "Choosing Utopia: An Existential Reading of Aldous Huxley's Island." Utopian Studies Spring 12.2 (2001): n. pag. Questia. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.questiaschool.com/read/1G183582928/choosingutopiaanexistentialreadingofaldous >.
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