بازنمایی مفهوم وجود انسان در داستان‌های آلدوس هاکسلی و فلانری اوکانر: مطالعه‌ای تطبیقی بر پایه اندیشه فورد و نظریه «راز الهی»

Drawing on a comparative literature approach, this study examines the representation of human existence in Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” and Flannery O’Connor’s “Wise Blood” through characterization, framed by the literary theory of the Divine Mystery. Employing a qualitative research design and comparative content analysis, the study analyzes the narrative structures, characterization, symbolic patterns, and cultural-historical contexts of both novels to identify their shared concerns and fundamental differences in portraying human existence. The findings reveal that Huxley depicts humanity within a Fordist dystopian society dominated by technology, biological engineering, and social control, where individuality, free will, and metaphysical values are progressively replaced by technological determinism. In contrast, O’Connor presents human existence through a Catholic vision grounded in faith, moral responsibility, free will, and metaphysical truth, emphasizing the possibility of redemption through spiritual awakening. Although the two novelists employ distinct philosophical foundations and narrative strategies, both portray the existential crisis of modern humanity by exploring the relationship among human beings, God, technology, and freedom. The study concludes that the principal distinction between Huxley and O’Connor lies in their understanding of the origin, purpose, and meaning of human existence. While Huxley envisions humanity within a technologically regulated and biopolitical social order, O’Connor proposes that genuine human fulfillment can only be achieved through a return to metaphysical truth, faith, and spiritual redemption. Consequently, this research offers a deeper understanding of the philosophical, religious, and literary dimensions of human existence in modern fiction.
Introduction
This study presents a comparative literary analysis of the representation of human existence in Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” and Flannery O’Connor’s “Wise Blood” through the lens of characterization. The research explores the contrasting philosophical and theological interpretations of human existence in modern literature and examines how characterization reflects these competing worldviews. While Huxley constructs a dystopian society shaped by Fordist ideology, technological determinism, and biopolitical control, O’Connor develops a theological vision grounded in the Catholic concept of the Divine Mystery, wherein human existence is defined through faith, free will, and spiritual redemption.
The study aims to identify the principal similarities and differences between the two authors’ conceptions of human existence and the creation of the world, while also evaluating the explanatory power of the Divine Mystery as an interpretative framework for analyzing characterization in “Brave New World.” By adopting a comparative literary perspective, this research explores how the two novelists use characterization to express conflicting understandings of humanity, God, technology, freedom, and metaphysical truth, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of existential thought in modern fiction.
Method
This study employs a qualitative research design grounded in comparative literary analysis and content analysis. The corpus comprises Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” and Flannery O’Connor’s “Wise Blood,” chosen for their contrasting philosophical perspectives on human existence. The analysis is conducted within the frameworks of the literary theory of the Divine Mystery and comparative literature. Through close reading, the study examines characterization, narrative structure, symbolic elements, and the cultural and philosophical contexts of both novels. The identified textual patterns are then compared to explore similarities and differences in the representation of human existence, with particular emphasis on the relationships among humanity, God, technology, freedom, and metaphysical meaning.
Conclusion
The comparative analysis demonstrates that Huxley and O’Connor offer fundamentally different interpretations of human existence, despite addressing the same existential concerns. Huxley presents a technologically regulated and biopolitical vision in which individuality, freedom, and spirituality are subordinated to social stability and scientific control.  In contrast, O’Connor portrays human existence as inseparable from faith, free will, and metaphysical truth, emphasizing spiritual redemption as the ultimate purpose of life. The findings further indicate that the literary theory of the Divine Mystery offers an effective interpretative framework for understanding the existential dimensions of “Brave New World,” revealing theological implications often overlooked in conventional dystopian readings.  Ultimately, the study confirms that characterization serves as the primary narrative device through which novelists express their conflicting philosophical and theological conceptions of humanity. This comparative perspective enhances our understanding of the relationship between literature, existential philosophy, and religious thought in modern fiction.
Results
The comparative analysis reveals that both Brave New World and Wise Blood address the existential crisis of modern humanity; however, they construct fundamentally different philosophical responses through characterization.
Comparative Findings
 




Analytical Dimension


Brave New World


Wise Blood


Principal Finding




Representation of Human Existence


Defined through technological control and Fordist ideology


Defined through faith, free will, and metaphysical truth


The two novels propose contrasting conceptions of human existence.




Narrative Function of Characterization


Characters symbolize conformity, social conditioning, and biopolitical regulation


Characters undergo spiritual conflict, moral struggle, and the possibility of redemption


Characterization serves different philosophical purposes in each novel.




Relationship between Humanity and Authority


Human beings are subordinated to technology and the World State


Human beings remain responsible before God and moral truth


The source of authority shifts from technological power to divine transcendence.




Concept of Freedom


Freedom is sacrificed for stability and social order


Freedom is presented as a prerequisite for faith and salvation


The novels offer opposing interpretations of human freedom.




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The analysis further demonstrates that Huxley's dystopian narrative portrays human identity as a product of technological determinism and social engineering, in which metaphysical values are gradually supplanted by scientific rationality. In contrast, O’Connor structures her narrative around the theological principle of the Divine Mystery, portraying human existence as an ongoing spiritual journey defined by moral responsibility, free will, and the potential for redemption.
The comparative findings also indicate that the theory of the Divine Mystery offers a productive interpretative framework for analyzing Huxley’s novel alongside O’Connor’s fiction.  Although Huxley does not explicitly use theological discourse, the comparison reveals that the absence of transcendence in his fictional society is a central cause of existential alienation. Consequently, characterization serves as the primary narrative strategy through which both novelists express their contrasting philosophical and theological conceptions of humanity.