Why Brave New World Should Be Banned Essay

After its initial publication in 1932, Brave New World was referred to as bland and boring. Critics claimed that nothing could bring the book to life. But now, almost 75 years later, it is referred one of the most acclaimed, and disputed, books of the 20th century, and is considered a classic and must read for any would-be intellectual. However, many people say it should be banned, as it covers topics such as drug abuse, religious promiscuity, political oppression, racial insensitivity, suicide, and brain washing. However, this book should not be banned because it carries a message of how happiness must be preceded by a struggle and you can’t just get rid of anything you think is bad or distasteful.
Brave New World is set in the future, in the year 2540 AD. All religions were abolished, replaced instead with Fordism, the worship of Henry Ford. All the nations of the world have been replaced by a unanimous World State, controlled by ten ostensibly benevolent World Controllers, who control all scientific progress, media, and government activities. The World Controllers design society so that anything uncomfortable is immediately put away, giving citizens a life completely free of stress. The World State also provides its citizens with a hallucinogenic drug called Soma to further allow them to ignore any stress. History and historical …show more content…
Bernard is an Alpha citizen who is anomalously short for one of his rank. He suffers insecurities, feeling he is not up to par with other Alphas, and people spread rumors about him. Lenina, who is a Beta, is contrastly accepted by society. She thinks exactly as the sleep teaching tells her to an thrives in society. Her only catch is that she’s inclined to monogamy, which is heavily tabooed. She has a brief fling with Bernard at the urging of some friends so that people won’t think bad of