63 pages • 2 hours read
Brave New World
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Book Club Questions
General Impressions
Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussions of substance use and suicide.
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. How did your initial perception of the World State's motto ("Community, Identity, Stability") evolve as you read the novel? What does this evolution reveal about Huxley's larger message?
2. How does Brave New World’s vision of the future compare to George Orwell's 1984? How do the novels differ in their respective approaches to control and stability?
3. Which aspects of the World State's society did you find most disturbing, and which, if any, seemed potentially beneficial? What does your reaction suggest about current societal values?
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. How do you navigate the tension between individual identity and social conformity in your own life? Where do you see parallels with Bernard Marx's struggles?
2. Consider your relationship with mood-altering substances (from coffee to prescription medications). How does your experience compare to the World State citizens' relationship with soma?
3. When have you felt caught between two cultures or ways of life, as John finds himself caught between the Reservation and the World State?
4. How do you balance the pursuit of happiness with the pursuit of meaning in your own life? Which characters' approaches resonated with you, and why?
Societal and Cultural Context
Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.
1. How do the World State's methods of social control compare to modern techniques of mass media and social engineering?
2. What parallels do you see between the World State's caste system and contemporary social hierarchies?
3. How does the novel's treatment of technology and happiness relate to current debates about social media and mental health?
Literary Analysis
Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.
1. How does Huxley use references to Shakespeare throughout the novel? What do these allusions symbolize about human nature and civilization?
2. Analyze the character arc of Bernard Marx. How does his initial rebellion against society compare to his later exploitation of John?
3. How does Huxley portray the contrast between simulation and authenticity?
4. How does Lenina's character serve as a lens through which to view the effectiveness of social conditioning?
5. Examine the significance of the novel's ending. What does John's fate suggest about the possibility of existing outside the system?
Creative Engagement
Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.
1. If you were to design a modern adaptation of Brave New World, which aspects of contemporary society would you incorporate into the World State's system?
2. Imagine that you are Mustapha Mond before becoming a World Controller. Write a diary entry explaining your decision to prioritize power over intellectual freedom.
3. Design an alternative ending for one character. How would this change affect the novel's overall message?
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By Aldous Huxley
