Time's Harvest, Fall 1997

Last updated: 11/23/97
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Essay 5 Topics for Brave New World

Brave New World is in Time's Harvest as a contrast with the other writings about the future, and to illustrate that advanced technology, which is present in abundance in Brave New World, is not enough to make an accurate description of the future. If you are in doubt about this, review Toffler's six keys to industrial society in Chapter 4 of The Third Wave. Recall, that as someone remarked in the computer conference, all six of Toffler's keys to industrial society are being broken down, both in The Third Wave, and in society today.

  1. Brave New World is what Toffler would call a second wave vision of the future. What aspects of Huxley's vision make it second-wave?

  2. Toffler sees all aspects of society influencing each other, while Huxley says in the Introduction to Brave New World that he sees science and technology as the dominant forces leading towards this vision of the future. Which view do you think is a more accurate description of the forces shaping the society of Brave New World? Alternatively, if there is neither Toffler's mix nor Huxley's domination of science and technology, what situation do you see?

  3. Rewrite a portion of Brave New World, or a summary of the whole novel, assuming that the Third Wave, or perhaps just a portion of it, has taken over the Second Wave. Your rewriting can be humorous, if you wish.

  4. Which, if any, developments did Huxley correctly foresee, and which, if any, did he miss? Which of those that he missed would be critical in the development of the third wave?

  5. Toffler has claimed that in the future, everybody will be a minority. Is this the case in the society of Brave New World? Describe how today's minorities (women, blacks, etc.) and tomorrow's (Betas, Epsilon's, etc.) are treated in that society. What do you think that Huxley's personal feelings on this issue are, or would be today? This question deals with all of the minorities referred above, not just one of them. NOTE: In English society of the 1930's, Huxley would probably not have had personal contact with blacks. Compare his simplistic roles for blacks with his more complex roles for American Indians.

  6. What is the difference between a racist and an elitist? Which do you think better describes Huxley, or does neither apply? Be sure to include how you think Brave New World supports your views. Also, based on the novel, how would being an elitist or a racist (or whatever else you think describes the author) influence the way Huxley would think about the Third Wave?