Their History our Present

"Human beings used to be …" he hesitated; the blood rushed to his cheeks. "Well, they used to be viviparous."

"Quite right." The Director nodded approvingly.

"And when the babies were decanted …"

"'Born,'" came the correction.

"Well, then they were the parents–I mean, not the babies, of course; the other ones." The poor boy was overwhelmed with confusion.

"In brief," the Director summed up, "the parents were the father and the mother." The smut that was really science fell with a crash into the boys' eye-avoiding silence. "Mother," he repeated loudly rubbing in the science; and, leaning back in his chair, "These," he said gravely, "are unpleasant facts; I know it. But then most historical facts are unpleasant." (pg.23)

In this part of the book Huxley explains the confusion the students have toward their history. They seem to know very little of it and in a way makes it seem (to the reader) that the way we give birth to humans is wrong and time consuming.They take no effort in remembering "their history" the way we do. Just reading that passage makes you wonder if we, the society, are making a good choice by not adapting to the society in the book. I would think, when reading this book for the first time it, would sound all "fake", I never thought that it would make me actually doubt the present.