Fantasizing a world where every worry, stress, and care disappears has been an ever present part of human existence throughout history. It may even be safe to say that a world where constant happiness is a reality and conflict is not, has been the ultimate goal of mankind since the beginning of time. Perhaps with the astounding speed of technological advancement this far-fetched dream of human beings may soon be a reality. However, in the persistent struggle to create such a perfect world, sacrifices are overlooked or even deemed non-existent, especially in literary works which glorify the ideals of an eternally content society. Yet in the novel Brave New World, written by Aldous Huxley, provides an alarming idea of what a perfect world could
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The World State relies on instant gratification in the form of promiscuity and soma to keep citizens innate and primal needs for interaction and feeling good fulfilled, while using conditioning and hypnopedia to keep deeper feelings at bay. When John proclaims to Mustapha Mond (one of ten world controllers), “‘All right then,” said the savage defiantly, ‘I’m claiming the right to be unhappy.’ ‘Not to mention the right to grow old and ugly and impotent; the right to have syphilis and cancer; the right to have too little to eat , the right to be lousy; the right to live in constant apprehension of what may happen tomorrow; the right to catch typhoid; the right to be tortured by unspeakable pains of every kind.’ There was a long silence. ‘I claim them all,’ said the savage at last.” (Huxley 212), he is essentially claiming the right to a life with which he can choose and experience what humanity is. John believes that the instant gratification people have become accustomed to is unnatural, cheap, and meaningless. Without choosing to feel or think, the people have lost their right to live, and in turn lost the right to a life with happiness that is honest and real. John’s feelings can be justified by author Dorothy Foltz-Grey who wrote in her article “What Really Makes Us Happy”, “One is the pleasant life, full of pleasure, joy, and good times. The second is engaged life, in which you lose yourself in some passion … And the third is the meaningful life: it may not have high moments or blissful immersions, but it is packed with purpose.” (158-163). John desperately seeks to show emotion is the true key to happiness, while the mindless promiscuity and drugs the world state endorses only fulfil engaged happiness. He believes without knowing life’s ups and downs or sorrows and
The World State relies on instant gratification in the form of promiscuity and soma to keep citizens innate and primal needs for interaction and feeling good fulfilled, while using conditioning and hypnopedia to keep deeper feelings at bay. When John proclaims to Mustapha Mond (one of ten world controllers), “‘All right then,” said the savage defiantly, ‘I’m claiming the right to be unhappy.’ ‘Not to mention the right to grow old and ugly and impotent; the right to have syphilis and cancer; the right to have too little to eat , the right to be lousy; the right to live in constant apprehension of what may happen tomorrow; the right to catch typhoid; the right to be tortured by unspeakable pains of every kind.’ There was a long silence. ‘I claim them all,’ said the savage at last.” (Huxley 212), he is essentially claiming the right to a life with which he can choose and experience what humanity is. John believes that the instant gratification people have become accustomed to is unnatural, cheap, and meaningless. Without choosing to feel or think, the people have lost their right to live, and in turn lost the right to a life with happiness that is honest and real. John’s feelings can be justified by author Dorothy Foltz-Grey who wrote in her article “What Really Makes Us Happy”, “One is the pleasant life, full of pleasure, joy, and good times. The second is engaged life, in which you lose yourself in some passion … And the third is the meaningful life: it may not have high moments or blissful immersions, but it is packed with purpose.” (158-163). John desperately seeks to show emotion is the true key to happiness, while the mindless promiscuity and drugs the world state endorses only fulfil engaged happiness. He believes without knowing life’s ups and downs or sorrows and