The latter in each case represents the shrouded shadow in each individual.

This is demonstrated in each character’s dilemma: Lenina and her tendency of monogamy (Huxley 36), Bernard and his loneliness stemming from physical shortcomings (Huxley 55), and Hemholtz and his feelings of repressed greatness (Huxley 59).

The persona in each of them struggles to maintain a sense of community, identity, and therefore stability as the societal slogan states. “‘What would it be like if I could, if I were free – not enslaved by my conditioning’” (Huxley 78). To a lesser extent, we see Bernard, Lenina and Hemholtz all having inner conflict, as presented by facets of the shadow shown to the audience. There are many cases throughout the novel where these aspects of Jung’s psyche become evident. There is also a shadow that Jung identifies the good or bad aspects of an individual that are ignored/repressed by the ego due either to societal or parental disapproval (Gale, 27). Hidden behind this mask is the conscious ego which is comprised of our thoughts and feelings (McLeod, 1970). Jung determines that there is a persona, which takes the role of the “mask” we wear in public, and that often dictates our conformity to society’s expectations (McLeod, 1970). These theories govern the characters and through them give life to the assortment of philosophies introduced by Aldous Huxley.Ĭarl Jung adopted some of the concepts from Freud to create his own model of the psyche “the persona, the shadow, the ego, the collective unconscious, the personal unconscious, the anima/animus, and the self” (Gale 31). Brave New World is influenced by Carl Jung and his theories of the psyche and of the archetypes, which are embedded throughout the plot. The plot stands within a controversial spectrum of mindsets with regard to primitive and modernized living. What makes up a positive and functional mindset? How should an individual behave, think, talk, or feel? Even more, what should they believe? The novel Brave New World bombards us with these unavoidable questions as we delve deeper into its context.

Brave new world toms river