What is the significance of Henry Ford's image in the World State?

• A. Ford is venerated as a symbol of mass production; his idolization substitutes for traditional religion and anchors the state's consumerist culture.
• B. Ford's image is invoked to justify state coercion in minor matters.
• C. Ford is treated as a historical curiosity with no present power.
• D. It is used as a commercial propaganda tool but not religious substitution.

Answer: (A)

The key idea this question tests is how the World State sacralizes Henry Ford to anchor its social order and consumer culture. In Brave New World, Ford is not just a historical figure; he becomes a godlike symbol of efficiency, mass production, and standardized lives. The state elevates his image to replace traditional religion, turning the assembly line and consumerism into a sacred mission. Posters, slogans, and rituals around “Ford” give people a shared, nonreligious faith that happiness comes from buying and consuming, not from spiritual beliefs or personal meaning. This worship reinforces obedience, social stability, and the caste-driven economy, making it easier for the state to control and pacify its citizens.

So, the best answer captures how Ford’s image functions as a religious substitute that underpins the World State’s consumerist culture.