Brave New World The Paradoxical Connection Of Control And Freedom

Hunter Merryman

Ms. Dolan

British Literature

1 May 2023

The Paradoxical Connection of Control and Freedom

Is there any possibility for genuine happiness in a world where pleasure rules supreme, individuality is stifled, and the people are under the influence of technology and addiction? The perils of a society based on shallow pleasure and materialism are explored in Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World," E.M. Forster's "The Machine Stops," and Guy Debord's The Society of the Spectacle. The government of the World State in Brave New World uses a variety of methods to maintain control over its citizens, including technology, conditioning, and the "perfect" drug Soma, which induces a state of euphoria and ensures that the population remains docile.

Forster's "The Machine Stops" likewise examines how dependence and power are related. In this dystopian tale, a machine in charge of meeting everyone's fundamental requirements runs society. However, this dependence on technology leads to a loss of individuality and a lack of human connection. As Forster writes, "The Machine did everything for them, except breathe, walk, and live" (Forster, 16). The lack of human connection is especially present in how everyone only bothers to speak through video calls, and almost never in person. This idea of the machine controlling every aspect of people's lives and pushing them away from other people is similar to the government's influence over addiction and pleasure in Brave New World and is further explored in Guy Debord's The Society of the Spectacle, wherein Debord argues that the modern world is characterized by the creation of artificial desires (like Soma) and the promotion of consumerism which is again similar to the World State. This leads to a society where people are unable to find meaning and purpose in their lives. As Debord writes, "The spectacle is the sun that never sets over the empire of modern passivity" that the government's control over addiction and pleasure creates a society of passivity (Debord, 17). In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, the government's use of addiction and pleasure as a means of control has significant social implications, leading to a society where individuality is suppressed, human

The quest for knowledge, uniqueness, and independence, as portrayed in Brave New World, is one of these routes. Characters like John show that the search for the truth is more essential than passing comfort by rejecting the government's use of addiction and pleasure as a technique of control. Similarly, in "The Machine Stops", Forster highlights the importance of human connection and individuality, which are often sacrificed in a society that is overly dependent on technology. By staying vigilant against the temptation to sacrifice our individuality and freedom for momentary pleasure, we can strive to create a society that values authentic human connections and personal growth, ultimately leading to a deeper, more genuine sense of