14 Great Essay Topic Suggestions About Brave New World
Aldous Huxley’s dystopian fiction classic, “A Brave New World,” is the subject of many essays both in high school and in college. It’s a landmark novel that introduced the fear of, among other things, sleep-learning, manipulation in psychology, and reproductive technologies. Coming up with a great essay topic makes writing about the novel a lot more fun, so we’ve collected some ideas for your consideration:
- In what ways does Bernard pose a problem for the World State for not being infantile enough in accordance to regulations?
- Discuss the process in which the World State assigns castes and specific social functions for its citizens before they are even born.
- In what ways is John conditioned in his own way? Does this mean he is freer than other citizens of the World State?
- If most of the citizens of the World State seem happy, then what are the major criticisms for how the society has been conditioned?
- People like Bernard, Helmholtz, and John are the only ones that seem critical about the lives they hold within the State. Why do you think this is?
- What is the purpose of conditioning the World State’s citizens to develop infantile-like dependence? Does this place greater burden on the State?
- Provide a critical analysis of Mustapha Mond’s arguments against the ideals of freedom? Do you believe there is any validity to them?
- How is infantilization achieved in the novel? What case is Huxley trying to make about Pavlovian processes in psychology and learning?
- Discuss the relationship between religion, science, and political power in the society that exists within “A Brave New World.”
- Describe the ways in which castes are distinguished from one another. Are there any similarities in how they are presented with other aspects of modern society?
- Compare and contrast Bernard, John and Helmholtz. Do any of these characters reveal something about Huxley’s own personality?
- Discuss the ways in which the World State treats its citizens like commodities to benefit the greater good of the State as a whole.
- Do you think there is some validity in the way the castes are described or are they merely a hypothetical presentation of what a society under the World State look like?
- What are the major themes discussed in the novel, and how do these play into the fears of Huxley and to a greater extent society in the time of its publication?