Brave New World
Chapters 14-18 Questions
Chapters 14 and 15

1.  Explain John’s behavior after his mother dies: What does he do; why does he behave this way? How do the people react to him, and why do they react in this fashion?

2.  How does John act in the incident about the conditioning of the children? What does he do; why does he behave this way? How do the people react to him, and why do they react in this fashion?

3.  John’s experiences with the soma distribution and the Bokanovsky twins are disruptive. What does he do; why does he behave this way? How do the people react to him, and why do they react in this fashion?

4.  What is the mental picture you have of the Hospital for the Dying? Do you consider this death with dignity?

5.  What is your opinion of Bernard and Helmholtz’s behavior? What do you expect to happen now that all three have been taken away by the police?

6.  What is ironic about the fact that the new world still has a police force, which appears on the scene quickly?

Chapters 16 and 17

7.  What do you learn about Mond that is potentially surprising?

8.  What does Mond say is the reason Othello could not be the same in the new world? Do you agree with his reason?

9.  What happened to the experiment of an all Alpha society?

10.  What does dialogic mean? As Huxley summarizes his ideas via the conversation between Mond and Helmholtz, how is the dialogic quality of the novel is heightened?

11.  The Controller insists that tragedies cannot be written in the New world. He explains, “You can’t make flivvers without steel—and you can’t make tragedies without social instability.” What does he mean? What other reasons does the Controller give for the inability of people in the new world to understand tragedy?

12.  As this debate progresses, with whom do you find yourself agreeing?

13.  Do you see any evidence of Mond’s viewpoint in today’s world?

14.  Why is Bernard ignored?

15.  What is the Controller’s position on each of the following topics: simple-minded people, leisure time, science, individuality, happiness, religion and belief in God, and passion?


Chapter 18 and beyond

16.  What is your impression of the final scene with John, Helmholtz and Bernard?

17.  Describe John’s new home.

18.  What is your opinion of John’s treatment of the people who come to taunt him?

19.  How does Huxley describe John’s suicide? How do you feel about John’s death?

20. What ideas about humans, society, life, or science have you formulated as a result of reading this novel?