Individuality In Brave New World

Soma is a means of mind control in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. Soma is a drug given to the citizens of the World State to make them more euphoric and to better accept their fate as citizens in this dystopian society. The scientific basis of soma is that it is an opiate that makes the user feel happy; the user feels happy and is therefore easily manipulated. It could be argued that soma is basically alcohol; people take it to escape from reality and to feel better about themselves. Soma is significant to the novel because the government uses soma to control the World State citizens and take away their individuality, which makes them easier

In Brave New World soma is seen as “the perfect drug”. It has all the benefits that any other drug has (calming, 10-hour high), yet it does not have any of the side effects (brain damage). The citizens of this perfect world have been conditioned to love the drug soma. They can use this drug whenever they feel remotely dissatisfied. John the Savage believes that people who take the drug soma are constantly “absent” (Huxley 104). He believes that soma makes people emotionless human beings.

Even prior to birth, they are genetically and physically conditioned to a certain degree, depending on their predestined caste and occupation. Once born, they are conditioned, by caste, to each bear identical morals using a technique called "hypnopaedia", or sleep-teaching. These morals are indoctrinated into their brains, and follow them throughout their entire lives. The people's existence is now secured, as there is little the individual can do to change anything about his or her life. Even a person's emotions have been decided for them, primarily through the use of the quick fix "happy" drug, Soma. Happiness, however shallow it may be, prevails over any other emotion. "And that," the Director explains sententiously, "that is the secret of happiness and virtue-liking what you've got to do. All conditioning aims at that: making people like their inescapable social destiny" (Huxley 16). Only the individuals whose conditioning has been flawed, such as Bernard for example, have the ability to see beyond the workings of society and question their lives and surroundings. John the "savage" also notices the defects in the New World Society. Defying the moral values of the New World Society, John wishes for "god…poetry…danger…freedom…goodness…sin" (Huxley 237). Although these individuals may not always be happy, Huxley uses them to represent a more humanistic and benevolent type of existence, which is

In Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World the use of soma clouds peoples ability to experience natural human emotions. It deprives people from understanding who they are as a human being and what they value. The drug is used as a hallucinogen and an antidepressant. Soma was designed for people to consume it when they got into tough situations or just needed a quick “holiday” away from reality. Even Bernard, who was once against the use of soma, began taking it and acting just like everyone else.

Soma was used in Brave New World as a means to escape all worries and anxieties. It was the choice of drug for society one that was mass produced by the government to maintain control and stability. Everyone in society took soma the only difference were the amounts, the lower classes took soma daily, while the upper classes chose when and how much to take. In an interview from 1958, Huxley stated: “I postulated a substance called soma which was a very versatile drug would make people feel happy in small doses, it would make them see visions in medium doses and make them sleep in large doses but I don’t think such a drug exist but there are some drugs that will change our mental states without doing any harm.” There were only two drugs that

In Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, there is a drug used and mentioned throughout the story called Soma. The characters have been conditioned by birth that Soma is always the answer when you feel alone or sad. This drug is used so people can go on "holidays" from their reality and is used as payment for the lower caste groups. People want Soma because they go on these highs and live in their "Heaven" to escape reality. After all, they do call Soma "All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects"(Huxley 54). Soma becomes a tool to control the people in society.

In Brave New World, a drug is disturbed in mass amounts by the government and is called soma that is a hallucinogen. This new ‘World State’ has been computerized to love this new drug, which causes an individual to escape an instance of displeasure. The protagonist is infelicitous with this society controlled by drugs as he, ‘rather be unhappy than have the sort of false, lying happiness you we having here’ (Huxley 179). John realizes he would rather have things be imperfect and make his own choices than be forced to do things under laws and not ever acquire happiness as he did not grow up in the new world as he immediately identified the lies the leaders of the community spread to the citizens. Individuals are stripped of their identity as, ‘The birth and childhood of Brave New World inhabitants is

Huxley reflects the consequences of totalitarian World State, upon the concern of oppressed citizens. Provoked by Freud and with Mendel’s work on genetic engineering and consumerism early 20th century, Huxley chose a science fiction medium to warn the audience as they venture into the political beliefs and attitudes of the World State and identify its dehumanising effects. The imperative verb, ‘unescapable’ as Huxley states “All conditioning aims at…making people like their unescapable social destiny” (Ch 1) illustrates the loss of freedom due to scientific means which have constrained them into accepting the ideology taught by the World State. Huxley provides ‘John the Savage’ a sense of freedom from the Mexican Reservation where he is given thought, emotions and choice. Although he exclaims “How beauteous mankind is!” in the metaphorical “O brave new world” (Ch8) compared to the Reservation’s society, after seeing the oppression and nothingness of the World State he feels the oppression. This is stressed by the asyndeton of his desires using the personal pronoun ‘I’ in “But I don’t want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin” (Ch 17) as John identifies the powerlessness and mindlessness of the citizens. Though Huxley through John’s anti-thesis “I’m claiming the right to be unhappy.”

As man has progressed through the ages, there has been, essentially, one purpose. That purpose is to arrive at a utopian society, where everyone is happy, disease is nonexistent, and strife, anger, or sadness is unheard of. Only happiness exists. But when confronted with Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, we come to realize that this is not, in fact, what the human soul really craves. In fact, Utopian societies are much worse than those of today. In a utopian society, the individual, who among others composes the society, is lost in the melting pot of semblance and world of uninterest. The theme of Huxley's Brave New World is community, identity, and stability. Each of these three themes represents what a Brave New World society needs

Throughout the book, multiple characters indulge in soma, a drug that gives the user a pleasant sensation of relaxation, known as a "soma holiday". Soma holidays allow the user to escape the unpleasantness of reality. The consumption of soma is considered normal and a necessary part of daily life. Ironically, our society considers drug use to be both abnormal and immoral. Like promiscuity, soma usage is considered normal because it is regulated by the World Controllers. Soma’s properties turns into one of the World Controller’s most powerful means of management. After partaking in soma, the people no longer feel the need to ask questions or defy the structures of society. The soma rations are an insurance against any social unrest. It removes initiative and ultimately restricts

The World State forbids the citizens from experiencing any negative emotion, for fear of losing control. Soma, Latin for sleep, renders its users to a coma-like blissful state, which Congdon describes, borrowing the statement from Huxley himself, that soma allows the citizens to,“periodically escape from the pressure of routine and worldly cares”(Congdon). Citizens are conditioned to use the drug at the slightest challenge to the cultural norms, preventing any thoughts of rebellion or contempt against the government.

The novel Brave New World uses soma as a symbol for power and control over citizen’s emotions. Aldous Huxley, the author of the novel uses symbolism to show soma helps user receive a quick fix for their problems and the consequences that comes with the drug. Everyone has their own obstacles to face, some may be harder than others. We cannot experience all the good things in life without some of the bad. Taking drugs and alcohol to escape from problems is not the solution. They might make you feel blissful for a while but sooner or later you will have to face those issue that you were once running away

With detailed reference to the novel, how do you view this in relation to individual freedom?

The future of the world is a place of thriving commerce and stability. Safety and happiness are at an all-time high, and no one suffers from depression or any other mental disorders. There are no more wars, as peace and harmony spread to almost every corner of the world. There is no sickness, and people are predestined to be happy and content in their social class. But if anything wrong accidentally occurs, there is a simple solution to the problem, which is soma. The use of soma totally shapes and controls the utopian society described in Huxley's novel Brave New World as well as symbolize Huxley's society as a whole. This pleasure drug is the answer to all of

The effects of soma are very “drug-like”. Soma is often used by the government to control or condition the members of Brave New World.The use of soma or drugs in Brave New World is different than today and the past’s usage of drugs. During the 1930s, substance abuse and addiction began to rise. In World War II, amphetamines were widely distributed to soldiers to fight fatigue and improve their mood and endurance. Marijuana and a large wave of opiate addiction began to rise greatly. Today, marijuana is the most common illicit drug used.An estimated $193 billion are spent on illicit drugs today. Like today, people during the 1930s used these drugs as “feel good” drugs. Substance abuse and addiction is still a rising problem in today's