Brave New World Epigraph Analysis

The Imperfection of a Utopia:
Berdiaeff’s Epigraph as Theme in Brave New World
The Russian philosopher, Nicolas Berdiaeff once stated “Utopias appear to be much more achievable than was previously thought. But we are now faced with a question far more distressing: how do we avoid actually creating one?... Utopias are achievable. Life marches towards utopias. And perhaps a new age begins there, an age when an intellectual and cultured class will dream of ways to avoid utopias and return to a non-utopian society, less ‘perfect’ and more free.” (Huxley, v) Berdiaeff discusses the desire to achieve a perfect world. Intellect and culture are to be sacrificed in a utopia. However, it is human nature to think, discover and develop independent ideas.

Life in the world state “marches towards [a] utopia” (Huxley, v) after the nine-year war. This is known as the great economic collapse, that leaves a “choice between world control and destruction” (Huxley, 48). It is the turning point that shifts mankind's “emphasis from truth and beauty to comfort and happiness” (Huxley, 228) The war raises the question, “what [is] the point of truth or beauty or knowledge when the anthrax bombs are popping all around [them]?” (Huxley, 228) Once chaos strikes, truth, beauty and knowledge are no longer viewed as important and anything is done to restore peace and order, including sacrificing these values. Due to destruction, a utopia is created. The use of force fails to achieve this. However, “The slower but infinitely surer methods of ectogenesis, neo-pavlovian conditioning and hypnopaedia.” (Huxley, 50) are what contribute to the creation of a utopia. Such techniques eliminate conflict and create stability. The scientific advancements in Brave New World are what make the march towards a utopia possible. The world state represents Berdiaeff's idea of an achievable utopia. In Brave New World, the world state develops science and technology to cultivate embryos in artificial environments, thus removing emotional connections that come with pregnancy. The world state eliminates meaningful relationships as they could result in unexpected behaviour. An artificial environment also allows the world state to adjust physical and mental aspects of each embryo, creating ‘classes’. Hypnopaedia is used to morally educate citizens into being prideful and satisfied with their class in society. If any dissatisfaction or pain is caused, citizens are taught to consume soma. On the other hand, neo-pavlovian conditioning brainwashes the citizens of the world state into “[liking] their unescapable social destiny.” (Huxley, 16). Conditioning