Brave New World is Aldous Huxley’s 1932 dystopian novel. Borrowing from The Tempest, Huxley imagines a genetically engineered future where life is pain-free but meaningless. The book heavily influenced George Orwell’s 1984 and science-fiction in general. Read a character analysis of Bernard Marx, plot summary, and important quotes.
Summary
Read our full plot summary and analysis of Brave New World, chapter by chapter break-downs, and more.
Characters
See a complete list of the characters in Brave New World and in-depth analyses of John, Bernard Marx, Helmholtz Watson, Mustapha Mond, and Lenina Crowe.
Literary Devices
Here's where you'll find analysis of the literary devices in Brave New World, from the major themes to motifs, symbols, and more.
Questions & Answers
Explore our selection of frequently asked questions about Brave New World and find the answers you need.
- Why are Bernard Marx and Helmholtz Watson friends?
- Why does John quote Shakespeare?
- Who is John’s father?
- Why can’t John and Lenina have a relationship?
- What is soma?
- How are the castes different?
- What are the sexual norms of the World State?
- How do Mustapha, Bernard, and Helmholtz depart from the norms of the World State?
- Why are Lenina and Bernard attracted to and repelled by each other?
- How do the Solidarity Service and the Indian ceremony compare to each other?
- How does Bernard take advantage of John?
- What happens to Linda after she returns from the Savage Reservation to the World State?
- What happens to John before and after the death of Linda?
- What issues does John debate with Helmholtz and Mustapha, the Controller?
- How does attention from mass media contribute to John’s breakdown and suicide?
Quotes
Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of Brave New World by reading these key quotes.
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By Character
- John
- Bernard Marx
- Mustapha Mond
- Helmholtz Watson
- Lenina Crowne
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By Symbol
- Soma
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By Setting
- England
- The Savage Reservation
Quick Quizzes
Test your knowledge of Brave New World with quizzes about every section, major characters, themes, symbols, and more.
Essays
Get ready to ace your Brave New World paper with our suggested essay topics, helpful essays about historical and literary context, a sample A+ student essay, and more.
Further Study
Go further in your study of Brave New World with background information, movie adaptations, and links to the best resources around the web.
