When analyzing a dystopian piece of literature like Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, it is easy for one to pause and think, “Well, my society will never become that way.” These fictitious dystopian societies, at a glance, seem far too extreme to be considered too seriously. After all, dystopian societies tend to maintain their stability by stripping citizens of their freedoms and individualities—two things that no contemporary American would ever relinquish. This is what prompts readers to underestimate the true merit of these dystopian works of literature today. The harsh reality, however, is that they themselves are brainwashed to the truth: dystopian societies exist, to a degree, in the world today. The United States itself, in fact, even
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Brave New World’s Bernard Marx, Lenina Crowne, and Helmholtz Watson live by one based on self-indulgence because their society has brainwashed them to do so. Happiness and pleasure, they are told, are good and must be continuously pursued for the good of society. When stressed out, just take some soma, a stress reliever drug to make the citizens of Brave New World calm and happy. Leisure time should be spent doing fun activities with others and enjoying the fruits of modern life in general. Sadness, on the other hand, is uncomfortable and must be avoided at all costs. As one minor character puts it near the end of the novel, “[p]ain’s a delusion” (Huxley 251). Therefore, all social interaction is dictated solely by one’s inward desires. Alphas like Helmholtz and Bernard are expected to nurture a blissful love life that comprises of regularly going on a date with a woman (or women) and then having sex with her (or them) afterwards. Romantic affairs are not meant to be serious and can consequently be disposed as one wishes. Furthermore, friends are not viewed as necessities; everyone is everyone else’s friend, so it does not matter who accompanies who on any given vacation or recreational afternoon outing, and, ultimately, if one does somehow manage to upset or anger another, there is always soma to keep the peace. They use each other as nothing more than tools to fuel their own prosperity and lead lives void of true meaning because of
Brave New World’s Bernard Marx, Lenina Crowne, and Helmholtz Watson live by one based on self-indulgence because their society has brainwashed them to do so. Happiness and pleasure, they are told, are good and must be continuously pursued for the good of society. When stressed out, just take some soma, a stress reliever drug to make the citizens of Brave New World calm and happy. Leisure time should be spent doing fun activities with others and enjoying the fruits of modern life in general. Sadness, on the other hand, is uncomfortable and must be avoided at all costs. As one minor character puts it near the end of the novel, “[p]ain’s a delusion” (Huxley 251). Therefore, all social interaction is dictated solely by one’s inward desires. Alphas like Helmholtz and Bernard are expected to nurture a blissful love life that comprises of regularly going on a date with a woman (or women) and then having sex with her (or them) afterwards. Romantic affairs are not meant to be serious and can consequently be disposed as one wishes. Furthermore, friends are not viewed as necessities; everyone is everyone else’s friend, so it does not matter who accompanies who on any given vacation or recreational afternoon outing, and, ultimately, if one does somehow manage to upset or anger another, there is always soma to keep the peace. They use each other as nothing more than tools to fuel their own prosperity and lead lives void of true meaning because of