Hypnopedia In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World

The brave new world has a goal of achieving complete stability, which is why it is necessary to demand productivity in the nation. This society uses sleep-learning, or hypnopedia, to increase human achievement (Huxley, Brave New World 33). According to the findings of Austrian neurologist Dr. Poetzl, the subconscious mind takes in more than what is seen or heard (Huxley, Brave New World Revisited 305). Although people do not consciously learn during sleep, sleep-learning is still possible. Because of this, the use of hypnopedia is feasible.

The new world uses hypnopedia to manipulate the core beliefs of citizens to prevent conflict in the society. This especially applies to the people of the lower class. To reinforce their societal rank, a voice repeatedly gives messages to the lower-caste people during hypnopedia. As stated by Huxley:

In the Brave New World, no citizens belonging to the lower class ever gave any trouble. Why? Because, from the moment he could speak and understand what was said to him, every lower-caste child was exposed to endlessly repeated suggestions, night after night, during the hours of drowsiness

and sleep. (Huxley, Brave New World Revisited 312)
As lower-caste people obtain knowledge from this method early in life, hypnopedia furthers the growth of intelligence in the society. By learning to accept their role, these people can fully contribute to the stable order of society by causing little to no trouble. Over time, the people not only accept their class in society, but they embrace it and do not attempt to rise in power.
While the Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning (D.H.C.) gives a tour of the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre, he tells a story of how sleep-learning works. A small boy is asleep, and a voice repeats facts to him. To be more specific, it tells him, “‘The Nile is the longest river in Africa and the second in length of all the rivers of the globe’” (Huxley, Brave New World 33). Once the boy wakes up, someone asks him what the longest river in Africa is. Although he cannot recall the name of the river, he remembers some of the words said to him while he was sleeping (Huxley, Brave New World 34). This small flaw in the sleep-learning method shows that humans should not learn information this way. People should be aware that they are learning, instead of having it happen subconsciously. The purpose of hypnopedia is to give people greater knowledge to benefit the society instead of the individual. Thus, hypnopedia attempts to make people more productive in society, though it is an unnatural way for humans to learn.
Along with the societal benefits of sleep-learning, this fictional society yearns for continuous societal growth. For this society to advance, it requires productivity. Everyone must work and be a significant asset to society in order to maintain social and economic stability. Therefore, the people of the brave new world believe individual solitude is peculiar since it signifies danger to the society (Diken 154). If people are not notable assets to society, the new world will fall apart because fewer people are contributing to the workforce.
Bernard Marx, an important character, represents this threat of individual solitude. By preferring to spend his time alone, he does not always wish to be a part of the brave new world. This is problematic in a society that requires everyone to contribute at all times. Lenina, another character, disagrees with Bernard’s way of life. Unlike his desire for seclusion, Lenina believes it is satisfying to live in a community that includes everyone. During one of Lenina and Bernard’s dates, Bernard decides he does not want to listen to the radio. He would rather be free from being involved in the lives of others (Huxley, Brave New World 90). Bernard is skeptical of the brave new world’s lifestyle, as he does not connect with it. He even mentions to Lenina, “‘But wouldn’t you like to be free to be happy in some other way, Lenina? In your own way, for example; not in everyone else’s way’” (Huxley, Brave New World 90). Instead of being a part of society by being the same as everyone else, Bernard finds meaning in individuality.
The new world’s goal of stability requires the efforts of everyone. When each member plays their part in society, there is more adequate work. The people disapprove of individual isolation, as it threatens everlasting productivity. Because of its need for constant advancement, this world creates rules that overestimate what humans are capable of. Everyone must socialize endlessly, though Huxley mentions that “Biologically speaking, man is a moderately gregarious, not a completely social animal—a creature more like a wolf, let us say, or an elephant, than like a bee or an ant” (Huxley, Brave New World Revisited 256). Bees and ants are creatures that move in packs; however, elephants and wolves, or even stray dogs, move as independent beings just as humans do. The societal expectations of people, therefore, ascend the nature of human beings, as humans should not be social all the time.
As alone time is a threat to social stability, old age is just as dangerous. When someone is too old to work, others look at them as taking up space that should be used for work. In the new world, people do not show signs of aging. The world has wiped out disease by keeping internal secretions at a youthful equilibrium. Even more so, people get blood transfusions to make themselves look younger. Through this, most people die before they have even the slightest appearance of aging (Huxley, Brave New World 106). Since these people hold a negative view of aging, it is essential to maintain a youthful appearance.
On the other hand, there is a Savage Reservation in this novel, which represents the primitive times before the brave new world.

Unlike the new world, the Savages do not have these advancements in human growth. Dr. Shaw, a doctor in Brave New World, explains that “‘you can’t allow people to go popping off into eternity if they’ve got any serious work to do. But as she hasn’t got any serious work . . .’” (Huxley, Brave New World 143). As Dr. Shaw is speaking, he reveals that Linda, an elder from the Savage Reservation, should die as she is too old and, thus, not fit to contribute to society. Although aging is a natural process, it creates health concerns. Therefore, people must be young and healthy so they can be beneficial to the workforce. The drastic measures to get rid of the elderly make it clear that societal stability requires

productivity.
To maintain a stable structure of classes, the people of the brave new world begin life in predetermined boxes. Unable to choose or change their class, society conditions people to adhere to their assigned caste. By putting people into this caste system, distinguishing person from person becomes simple. In this system, the Alphas are put at the top as society views them as the perfect humans. In contrast, the Epsilons are at the bottom as society considers them subhuman. This lower-caste is constantly distracted by entertainment to minimize the risk of revolt (Diken 154). The work the Epsilons do is not ideal, but its existence is necessary. Not everyone can be an Alpha, as they would get upset if they had to do the Epsilon work (Huxley, Brave New World 200). Because of this arrangement, everyone has a permanent role in the new world to catalyze the productivity. These socioeconomic classes are successful in society but detrimental to individuals. While the jobs bring people happiness, the system values structure above all else. As this is true, the new world conditions people to be impartial to their societal role, which eradicates their intellect and personality.