Post #4

Huxley's first complex and deeply philosophical novel, Point Counter Point, is structurally formed after the musical style of counterpoint. Where musical counterpoint lays complementary musical ideas on top of one another to form a more complex listening experience, Point Counter Point layers the stories and ideas of many different characters together to develop a chaotic and thought provoking overarching story. Huxley based most of the characters on people he had met or admired; Huxley portrays himself ("Philip Quarles") as a writer who struggles with the overwhelming complexities of everyday life. Recurring devices in the storylines include ineffectual politicians, adultery, soul-crushing ennui.

Brave New World is a dark, futuristic piece of science fiction. A trip to the United States allowed Huxley to glimpse into a future of pleasure and convenience without emotion or substance. In the novel, the citizens of the world state are constantly powerchilling on "soma," a powerful drug which sensually placates the masses, facilitates a religionless society, and often incites orgies. "Everyone belongs to everyone," an idea which in conjunction with the mass production/birth of humans, makes romantic relationships, sexual competition, small nuclear families, and mourning obsolete and often obscene. A small "savage" reservation exists outside of the World State. During the novel, a savage enters the World State and is celebrated for his uniqueness, but he ultimately finds the ideal society shallow.

You can listen to Brave New World in its entirety, narrated by Huxley himself, here.



McMillan, Eric . "Point Counter Point." Editor Eric.com. 1 May. 2010. http://www.editoreric.com/greatlit/books/Point.html.

"entry for Brave New World." Wikipedia. 1 May. 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brave_New_World/.