Theme Of Happiness In A Brave New World

Aldous Huxley’s A Brave New World A Brave New World is a thrilling combination of both malicious and brilliant morals and symbols. This “Brave New World” is a dystopian society set in 2540 A.D. or 632 A.F. (After Ford). It is a novel about how happiness cannot be artificially grown or taught, it is one’s own and is different for everyone. Bernard and Helmholtz are the only people in their dystopian society to really think for their selves. The most significant characters in the book are Bernard Marx, John the Savage, Lenina Crowne, Mustafa Mond, and Helmholtz Watson. The setting of this novel is primarily in London, England, but changes to New Mexico as well. Huxley’s Brave New World incorporates characteristics of his childhood, critical

One huge theme that is reiterated throughout the novel is the pursuit of happiness. In the World State, happiness is attempted to be achieved to an extreme. Everyone in the community is almost forced to be happy. Their life styles are determined before they’re born, and intelligence is altered to what their jobs will be. Children are hypnotized into hating certain things to “benefit” their lives. An example of this is when babies are shocked if they touch flowers or books. These babies will grow up to be labor workers and if they hate books, they most likely will not be very smart, and if they hate nature, they will want to stay in the city instead of adventure. If anyone is unhappy at any time, drugs such as soma can help cheer them up, or sex can be found at the local churches whenever one chooses. In the end of the book, John the Savage is driven mad by this “perfect” way of life and commits suicide. This shows that the extreme pursuit of happiness cannot truly be achieved artificially, and has to be one’s own belief of joy. Another key theme is Identity, Stability, and Community vs. Freedom. All of citizens of the World State think they are free, when they really are not at all. This Identity, Stability, Community motto is the prime goal of the World State. Even though everyone is technically free, in reality, they are not at all. One motif that is used very frequently to describe two certain things is

Everyone in the World State takes soma. Soma is a drug used to create artificial happiness to whoever is feeling sad or lonely. This drug symbolizes many things. It symbolizes the control the World State has on its people, and also symbolizes the control science and technology has over the entire community. Character such as Bernard, John the Savage, and Helmholtz refuse to take soma because they do not believe that the drug can solve their problems and they desire to be true, independent people, in this strange world. Sex is both a symbol of many things in Brave New World. It is constantly reiterated throughout the novel. One of the core roots to the World State’s control is sex. Without reproduction, families cannot be created and therefore no problems for the World State. Families cause conflict. Another symbol is the people’s faith in their god “Ford.” Ford was known for his famous mass production and assembly line in the 1920s. In this world, all humans are mass produced and grown in an assembly line the same way Ford’s automobiles were. Everyone worships Ford and his assembly line, stating he is the reason they live the way they do