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Dramatic Irony
Key Examples in Brave New World
Chapter 16
Explanation and Analysis—Labor:
Over the course of Chapter 16, Mustapha Mond attempts to rationalize the existence of the totalitarian regime, arguing that the only way to eliminate suffering is to impose a caste system and exercising complete control over the population. Mond's argument is rife with logical fallacies, the most prominent being that industry must be curtailed for the benefit of humanity:
"The Inventions Office is stuffed with plans for labour-saving processes. Thousands of them.’ Mustapha Mond made a lavish gesture. ‘And why don’t we put them into execution? For the sake of the labourers; it would be sheer cruelty to afflict them with excessive leisure."
Related Themes:
Chapter 17
Explanation and Analysis—Circular Reasoning:
In Chapter 17, Mustapha Mond discusses civilization with John in a conversation that contains multiple logical fallacies. Most, if not all, of these fallacies originate from Mond, who uses illogical rationale in an attempt to defend the current civilization he controls:
Unlock with LitCharts A+"‘Degrade him from what position? As a happy, hard-working, goods-consuming citizen he’s perfect. Of course, if you choose some other standard than ours, then perhaps you might say he was degraded. But you’ve got to stick to one set of postulates. You can’t play Electro-magnetic Golf according to the rules of Centrifugal Bumble-puppy.’
Related Themes:
