Soma In Brave New World

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In Brave New World (1932), Aldous Huxley tries to create a utopian society that lives in a stable world community. On the other contrary, Huxley presents the notion that at first, the world seems perfect, but once one dives deeper into reality society becomes a dystopian community ruled by a controlling state. In particular, a drug known as soma demonstrated one of the many negative sides of this new world. Soma is a drug that is distributed by the government and for the most part, people take as a way to escape any issues they may face during the day. In turn, the role soma and escape play in society can create many issues such as people are never able to face their problems, soma can lead to one’s death, and soma creates a false illusion of happiness. …show more content…

In the new world, the people are trained to take soma whenever an uncomforting or situation that stresses them out comes their way. For instance, while in Malpais, Lenina witnesses less than attractive people and to her other horrifying sights. Instead of trying to face reality she reaches in her pocket in hopes to take soma but finds her pocket to be empty. This only magnifies her delirium, since she no longer has soma to provide an escape (Huxley 111). Soma is ultimately used as a medium to escape the difficulties of everyday life. John eventually criticizes the drug when discussing with Mustapha Mond about civilization. In their dialogue, Mond claims that soma is Christianity without tears. In contrast, John points out that the tears are necessary and in the new world anything that is unpleasant is removed, in order to keep life comfortable (Huxley 238). Huxley uses John to establish the idea that while soma may seem appealing the drug really just takes away suffering, which is a necessary part of life and otherwise makes people ignorant to their own problems that they must

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