Here, I must prove if, or if not the novel "Brave new world" is a classical novel. To do this first we must define what a classical novel is, the classical novel is an abstract idea so defining one can be difficult. A classical novel is, according to Esther Lombardi, an expression of some artistic quality, life truth etc. But what is that? How does one know if such a quality is present? What is the difference between the presence of such a quality, and the definition of it? And does “Brave New World” define such an expression?The novel "Brave new world" is most definitely a classical novel if one judges based on said criteria.
"Brave New World", printed first in 1978, remains a book people know and read, despite its ageing. Perhaps 1978 is not so long ago for a book, but this is something of a special case, the kind of book that should pass its prime rather quickly. "Brave New World" is a book that predicts a future, and now, that future having never come to pass why should we bother with this book? Well firstly, its very well written, without being long enough to deter your average person, but that is not the whole reason, nor even a major part. The reason "Brave new world" has outlived its welcome, is because it is so human. That is what makes this book relatable, that is why "Brave New World" will continue to stick around despite what should have been its end. Now does that make "Brave New World" a classic novel? Perhaps not quite, being relatable is not so new, and it certainly does not define some abstract idea as Lombardi suggests it should, however we have not looked deeply enough.
One could argue this novel is home many such abstract themes and that alone would make it worthy of being a classic novel. That is not the truth unfortunately, to be a classic novel in this sense the novel needs to define the idea. So what is it, what is the main theme, what is this books point, its moral? Here is where things become less clear, but the moral of this story could be contrast, the comparison of two sides neither being wrong, or right just different. Much like the philosophy of yin and yang, which states that polar opposites are interconnected and dependant on each other. "Brave New World" shows this in throughout the whole of the story,"no conditioning...monstrous superstitions...extinct languages..." (88, Brave New World). Still however the definition of contrast is not argument, and as much this novel is enveloped in contrast it does not define it. Contrast is not the moral of this novel however, perhaps it could have been, but it is not so there is hope yet for "Brave New World" to reach classical status.
The real moral of this novel is a simple one, one that one could find in many a children's story, it is " Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it", an old proverb, but, in this case at least, it couldn't be more true. The setting of "Brave New World" is a utopia, a "perfect" world where everybody is happy, the sort of world anyone could wish for. However it is not perfect, it is in fact terrifying, because to have this world the people have given up their freedoms, everyone is controlled. To have happiness you must give up freedom, must think of others before even considering oneself, that is what the world in this novel is. So well defined is this world that the reader can find themselves questioning which is right, to live free of burden at the expense of individuality, or the world in which " {we are} shown how to feel good, and told to feel bad" (Your possible pasts, Pink Floyd), but I digress. The point is that by the end of the novel, the reader knows how horrible this "utopia" is how cruel, and inescapable. Thus "be careful what you wish for" as anyone would want a perfect world, but does that wisher know what said world entails? Does anyone, could anyone?
So "Brave New World" does define an idea, so according to Lombardi it should be a classical novel. That is, while true, not the only reason the novel is a classic. Looking back as a reader, you will remember it, it made you react, made you feel, drew you in and drew a whole new world for you. It made the reader question what is, dream what could be, and fear it as well. The reader will not forget it, that is why "Brave New World" is, and shall be for many years to come, a classic.
Works Cited
The real moral of this novel is a simple one, one that one could find in many a children's story, it is " Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it", an old proverb, but, in this case at least, it couldn't be more true. The setting of "Brave New World" is a utopia, a "perfect" world where everybody is happy, the sort of world anyone could wish for. However it is not perfect, it is in fact terrifying, because to have this world the people have given up their freedoms, everyone is controlled. To have happiness you must give up freedom, must think of others before even considering oneself, that is what the world in this novel is. So well defined is this world that the reader can find themselves questioning which is right, to live free of burden at the expense of individuality, or the world in which " {we are} shown how to feel good, and told to feel bad" (Your possible pasts, Pink Floyd), but I digress. The point is that by the end of the novel, the reader knows how horrible this "utopia" is how cruel, and inescapable. Thus "be careful what you wish for" as anyone would want a perfect world, but does that wisher know what said world entails? Does anyone, could anyone?
So "Brave New World" does define an idea, so according to Lombardi it should be a classical novel. That is, while true, not the only reason the novel is a classic. Looking back as a reader, you will remember it, it made you react, made you feel, drew you in and drew a whole new world for you. It made the reader question what is, dream what could be, and fear it as well. The reader will not forget it, that is why "Brave New World" is, and shall be for many years to come, a classic.
Works Cited
Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. New York: Perennial Classics, 1998. Print.
Lombardi, Esther. "A Classic - Defining the Term or the Concept of Classics in Literature." Books & Literature Classics. About.com. Web. 05 Dec. 2011. <http://classiclit.about.com/od/forbeginners/a/aa_whatisclass.htm>.
"PINK FLOYD - YOUR POSSIBLE PASTS LYRICS." Lyrics. Web. 05 Dec. 2011. <http://www.metrolyrics.com/your-possible-pasts-lyrics-pink-floyd.html>.
"Yin and Yang." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 05 Dec. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_and_yang>.
