Aldous Huxley, in Brave New World, predicted the overuse of drugs because of changing morals within society, and in turn, the United States has followed that trend.
ANALYSIS:
Huxley had predicted that drugs were going to be used more frequently and used in a self-interest way. Drugs would be used to forget about what happened during the day, to relax after a stressful event, to be away from the real world and into a place of make believe, and much more other reasons. He predicted this by saying, “And if ever, by some unlucky chance, anything unpleasant should somehow happen, why, there’s always soma . . . And there’s always soma to calm your anger, to reconcile you and your enemies, to make you patient and long suffering.” (Huxley 237-8). Soma, the universal drug, is meant to take the character into another world that isn’t real life. As the quote says, it takes you away from sadness, suffering, and stress. They relate soma to hallucinogens used …show more content…
Soma is usually there to help get rid of any hard feelings. With that in mind, they also know soma can cause a shorter life. The doctor said, “’Soma may make you lose a few years in time.’” (Huxley 154). The community understands soma can make the character lose years from their lives. However, they justify it by thinking that it brings them closer to their ancestors because, “Every soma-holiday is a bit of what our ancestors used to call eternity.” (Huxley 154). History is minimal in their society, so they hold on to what they can have. World State has created a community with an addiction to the drug soma. Everyone within the community has access to this drug. To most people, it is available at any time they want. One morning, “Soma was served with the coffee.” (Huxley 75). Their dependence for the drug is so high, that the drug is served with coffee. Community members are unable to make it through a day without a half-gramme or gramme of