Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley

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The story of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley depicts a utopian society conflicted by stability. People are oblivious to the morals and ethics upheld by their ancestors 600 years before and, in turn, are demoralized. Babies are born in laboratories, relationships last no longer than "bedtime", and drugs are provided by government for daily use by their citizens. The drug, "soma" symbolizes estatic rapture experienced by the gloomy looking for escape, material religion for those looking for comfort from a supernatural force, abused aphrodisiac for lovers looking to have a good time, and complete technocracy from a government using a controlled substance to dominate the minds of its people. Soma and its uses reveal a society in ruins using drugs as an escape from reality and life's struggles.

Every character in Huxley's Brave New World uses soma, including Lenina, a frequent abuser of the drug. Lenina goes on a soma trip, "as soon as the got back to the rest house, she swallowed six half-gramme tablets of soma, laid down on her bed, and within ten minutes had embarked for lunar eternity." Lenina uses her high as an escape from the horrors she encounters at the reservation. The soma calms her yet gets her high at the same time. The use of soma takes her to" lunar eternity", putting her in a place of comfort and serenity out of this world. The World Society saying, "One cubic centimeter cures ten gloomy sentiments" defines the primary use of the drug as a temporary relief from depression. The slogan encourages people to use the narcotic instead of continuing to be in a gloomy state. Many characters are on a pursuit of happiness through drugs, believing it will change anything.

Soma also becomes a religion. It serves as a substitute...

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...the crevice, safe on the solid ground of daily labour and distraction” Soma becomes a tactic used by the government to distract people from reality. If someone thinks they should be different, by not taking soma, they will be punished. The controllers maintain a society of such with the mentally controlling and psychologically manipulative properties of the mind altering substance.

Soma and its many distracting uses are all directed to Huxley’s view on the future through symbolism. Soma is a drug issued by the World Society as implementation of a totalitarian omniscient government’s plan to dictate citizens through the absolute ideology that there is no need for god and sex is great. Through this mind control, deleting suffering, therefore an need for a higher being to seek help, the government can and will have full access over its citizens’ minds and decisions.

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