Entry 1: Analysis of World State’s Motto in Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

“A SQUAT grey building of only thirty-four stories. Over the main entrance the words, CENTRAL LONDON HATCHERY AND CONDITIONING CENTRE, and, in a shield, the World State’s motto, COMMUNITY, IDENTITY, STABILITY.” Is the very first thing said on the first page of Aldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World. The placement of this motto at the very beginning of the book shows its importance in the context and setting of the story which warrants it thorough understanding and attention from the reader. It’s clear that the motto ‘Community, Identity, Stability’ is a part of the brainwashing going on in this society. The meaning that its creators likely wished to convey is the need for each person, the importance of knowing who you are, and the concern for a stable society. This is potentially to hide the fact that almost none of these virtues are truly present in this world. The use of Community could be to indoctrinate the idea of serving the greater good and ignoring individual needs into the minds of the people. Community is often about finding your place among your neighbors and peers and being an important piece of the group. However, in this society, these roles are assigned to people even before their birth, and there is little to no individuality that would make each person a unique and pivotal part of a community. This feeds directly into the fallacy behind the Identity part of the motto. People’s identities are being predetermined for them by “World Controllers;” they are telling them their identity and leaving no room for them to change it. There is total management of each person’s being, in personality, intelligence, and physical capabilities, and people are meant to know their place. I think that the word Stability is in the motto to reassure people of its necessity and importance. It conditions people to consider stability and order as greater than freedom, individuality, and even the natural processes of life, which is necessary if the government in place is going to stay in power.