by Meredith Andrews

Created on: January 11, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, the theme of the implicit future downfall of our own society is expressed through Huxley's use of character. Huxley uses his characters' ignorance of what life is truly about and their similarity to today's citizens to get his point across.
The characters in Brave New World really are quite clueless about what life is all about. They live their little ignorant lives, thinking that everything is normal and that everyone is happy. If they ever stopped to think for a minute, they might realize that they are not altogether happy with their lives. However, they are too busy leading busy working lives, entertaining themselves, and going about from task to task to ever think about anything. It is for this very reason that Bernard Marx, who does think about things, is so unhappy. He sees the world for the way it really isbut is powerless to do anything about it. Also, as soon as he is swept up in all the glory of being popular and having friends, he forgets all about how bad life is in the BNW. In this story, ignorance really is bliss and the more and more ignorant we become, the closer our world will match this Brave New World.

Huxley uses this increasing ignorance from today's people to really "drive home" the message he is sending out with Brave New World. Today's people are beginning to resemble the people in the BNW to a frightening degree. As our citizens depend on drugs, sex, and the government to keep them happy, we see less of the reality of life and more of what life could be. When we sacrifice our sobriety in favor of our happiness, or use our bodies as empty vessels waiting to be filled, we destroy the integrity with which our ancestors built the very country in which we live. And Huxley's themea cry of warning against such a future tragedyis a slap in the face when we consider how far gone our society already is.
Huxley uses his characters in Brave New World to illuminate his message. His theme of caution against the downfall of our society is brought to light by his characters' ignorance and their similarity to today's people.

Learn more about this author, Meredith Andrews.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.