Aldous Huxley - Eyeless in Gaza

Eyeless in Gaza is both a character study and a contemplation on the important issues of life that everyone must either spend time considering, or consciously ignore in favour of the easy pleasures. The two very different main characters and forever shifting time frame allow for clashing perspectives, immature and mature reasonings on familiar problems, and the comfortable, satisfying sensation that we 'know' everyone in the story.

Anthony Beavis is a man given to solitary thought. While he does occasionally succumb to his carnal desire, he has a marked distaste for intimacy, both physical and mental. He is the character we experience the most, from boarding school encounters with bullies to young adult relationships and middle-aged jaunts off to India to fill a hole in himself that he is only just realising exists. Diaries, essays, letters and 3rd-person narratives reveal the workings of Anthony's mind, and while he can be admired for his intellect and wit, he has a cowardly, almost shallow side to him that is distasteful to say the least. Any event requiring a high level of emotional commitment or of adult responsibility, he shirks from, making vague excuses to the people in his life who matter, or simply running away, metaphorical tail between his legs.

Helen is spontaneity incarnate, allowing herself every impulse that enters her head. She likes to test people, pushing them to the limits of their opinions, desires and manners. Her husband Hugh, she especially torments, making a very public event out of what should be a clandestine sexual relationship with Andrew - and others, while Hugh sits alone in his study, writing an ode to her but virtually unable physically consummate their relationship.

Huxley allows us to see these two people - and others - change from children with typically childish ideas and outlooks, into full grown adults. He is unflinching in showing us their deep, real flaws, but he allocates an equal amount of pages to their positive qualities. In essence, we are given a complete and accurate portrayal of two people. By the end of the novel, we can understand Helen's behaviour, and we know why Anthony so desperately wishes for a solitude of thought.

Parties and conversations are plentiful, and it is here that Huxley is able to show his character's - and by default, his - impressive depth of knowledge. Major and minor characters discuss deep philosophical question with ease, comment on the absurdities of social existence, discuss the previous and upcoming World War, and so on. While it is clear that Huxley's level of knowledge is perhaps greater than most of his readers, we are never made to feel inferior, that is, he is not writing 'smart' to impress the academics. Instead, we are able to enjoy the intelligent, witty conversations of the characters without feeling as though it is all flying high above our heads.

The rapidly changing year - one section will be 1914, the next, 1935, after that, 1924, and so on, are at first confusing, but soon fall into an easy rhythm. By using this technique, Huxley is able to foreshadow events extremely well, and a perhaps rounder picture of the character's are created as each layer of their personality is peeled back.

While Huxley could be considered a dry author, the book is a very enjoyable, clever read. There is an easy wit to it that is quite admirable. The characters - even the most horrid - are all identifiable and because of that, lovable. There are no huge plot twists or shocks, which may be off-putting for some people, but the book never tries to be what it isn't, instead relying on its strengths - fantastic characters.