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Perfect Society In Brave New World

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At first glance, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World feels quite odd and out of place. Reading a story about a “perfect society” where people do not feel or think for themselves does not make for much lighthearted conversation. However, after taking a closer look, deeper meaning begins to seep through this tale. Through Bernard's initial views on his society's leniency towards casual sex, society's use of the drug soma, and Mustapha Mond's explanation as to why God becomes obsolete in a perfect society, this utopian-set story serves as a warning to modern society of what may come to fruition in the future. Initially, Bernard's place in his society feels very off-centered and wrong. Whereas most people enjoy the casual sex that society allows …show more content…

The government issues soma, a seemingly “perfect drug” with all the goods (great highs, relaxing feelings, and surreal images) and no repercussions (like brain damage, or death from overdose), to all of its citizens. According to the Assistant Predestinator, “ 'One cubic centimetre cures ten gloomy sentiments' ” (54). Other than Bernard, only one man finds the mass use of soma sickening. John, often called “The Savage,” who traveled back to the city from the savage tribe with Bernard, has quite a negative look on the role of soma in society. After a long talk with Mustapha Mond about religion, soma, Shakespeare, and other various ideas, John decides that Mustapha and the other world leaders “ '...got rid of them … rid of everything unpleasant instead of learning to put up with it … [they] … neither suffer nor oppose. [They] just abolish the slings and arrows' ” (238). John feels that society uses soma to blind themselves from true feelings, whether those feelings contain love or pain. John's negative view on the use of drugs acts as another cautionary sign to modern society. Overusing drugs does not bring happiness. It does not put upset people in a jolly mood. It only replaces someone's true problems with a cloud that blocks out any negativity or feeling in

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