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Freedom's State Of Mind In Brave New World

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Freedom’s state of mind in Brave New World 1579 words Freedom or free-doom, it depends on where you came from. In Brave New World, Aldous Huxley further explores this concept through the lens of juxtaposing culture. The novel takes place in a futuristic society where the government has complete control over every aspect of people's lives. A society which values stability and efficiency above all else, and individual freedom is suppressed in favor of conformity. However, the novel also introduces the culture of the Reservation, a place where indigenous people are allowed to live in a more traditional way, free from the constraints of the New World. This serves as a contrast to London, and allows the reader to consider various points-of-view. …show more content…

Citizens of the New World have been conditioned to rely on it and it is a method of regulation of the masses. Huxley incorporates irony and a hyperbole to provide the different perspectives of soma’s use. To citizens caught in societies vice it is magical and can cure anything, but to John from the Reservation it is a joke. When explaining what it was Mustapha Mond held it at a high level saying, “The perfect drug. All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects. Take a holiday from reality whenever you like, and come back without so much as a headache or a mythology. Won't that be nice?" (Huxley) highlighting the drug’s positive effects. The dramatic irony here is that the reader understands the true use of soma and how it is disguised as happiness but really carries lack of freedom. From the perspective of New World citizens, soma is a blast of bliss that shields them from challenges or discomfort in life. In a world where everyone uses it and you are conditioned to flee reality during hardship, you see no problems and will continue that high valuation. However, from an oppossing perspective it is ridiculous. John believes that it strips any true sentiments towards an ideology and that soma is used to control outward thinking. As John fervently discusses his ideas of the drug he says, “I'd like to be a martyr, like the early Christians." "Martyrdom isn't what it used to be. These days it's just an excuse for a good display of bad temper" (Huxley) which is a hyperbole to emphasize how dependent people have become on soma. It implies he is willing to suffer and die for what he believes in whereas soma has made people unwilling to suffer or sacrifice anything. Huxley included this to further justify how important

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Brave New World on Soma In todays society drug use is strongly discouraged, but in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World has shown otherwise. Aldous Huxley wrote what he thought was a new and better life then what we’re living now. The Brave New World is a society in which people are separated by social classes and everyone and everything is controlled. The people would use a drug called soma as another way to control the people.

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according to the author"there always soma to calm your anger to reconcile you to your enemies and long-suffering"(Huxley chapter 17). this quote clarifies why they use soma to feel good and what is explained in context is that there is always soma so when you feel bad or remember a bad thing that happened to you or someone you just take soma to feel better. the point is important because they are not bothered by anything that happens around them. the author explores the idea of the government doesn't what them to know that they are being controlled by their drug soma.in the author's words" Jonn cries out for them to stop taking the soma rations he tells them its poison meant to enslave them and ask them to choose freedom"(Huxley chapter 15). the reference expresses how Jon is seeing reality and is telling the people to stop taking soma because the government has them like slaves and what them to have a different type of life.

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Huxley’s creation of ‘Soma’ and the way it is used in the world state establishes the satirical values accentuated throughout the faulty utopian setting of the ‘Brave New World’. Many characters, in particular Linda and Lenina, are seen to be under the influence of ‘soma’, to replace the distress they experience with pleasure stimulated by the drug-like substance. Chapter seventeen illustrates the power of ‘soma’ on the society through Mustapha Mond’s statement about soma being “Christianity without the tears.” Due to its sedative and calming effects on the users, it is the most powerful tool for the political leaders to control the large population of individuals, by distracting them from the realization of the immoral nature of the society they reside in; hence they are enslaved in a trance of false happiness. The metaphoric use of Christianity replaced by ‘Soma’ indicates the author’s view of the religion offering the same effects of the drug; provide comfort at the expense of individuality.

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The citizens are conditioned from birth to be pleased with their social standing and occupations. If, however, there is some discomfort they can simply take a gram of soma, a perfected drug. It is not only offered to anyone to elevate his or her mood, but refusal is highly discouraged. This is seen in the quote, “ “ (pg. ) Besides soma, the children of this fictional work are taught to engage in erotic play; thus encouraging promiscuity.

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It represent unique individual reactions to conflicts that still sometimes occur in this new world. The people of the brave new world find solutions to their conflict problems by swallowing a few tablets or taking an extended holiday, which is able to mask the negative feelings and emotions that other conclusive techniques might have and it cuts off the possibility of action that might have either disruptive or revolutionary results. Therefore, the society encourages everyone to have soma as a way of social control by eliminating the problems of conflict. John's plea to the Deltas to throw away soma, calls for a cry of rebellion that goes undetected.

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Brave New World.print), is a quote that allows yet another carefree, ignorant attitude of the society to remain, encouraging everyone to have as much fun as possible without the mention of consequences; rules of the World State are strict, and they take away the excitement in people’s lives, but the strict rules leads to another source of fun-soma. Soma is a hallucinogen described as the ideal drug with the benefits of calming, surrealistic and a ten hour high with no side effects(Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World.print). The people of the World State have been encouraged and conditioned to love it. “And if ever, by some unlucky chance, anything unpleasant should somehow happen, why, there’s always soma to give you a holiday from the facts...”(Huxley, Aldous.

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According to the article ¨Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction¨, ¨Drugs interfere with the way neurons send, receive, and process signals via neurotransmitters¨ The article also says, Although these drugs mimic the brain's own chemicals... they lead to abnormal messages being sent through the network.¨ This quote supports the fact that drugs such as soma, can affect someone's behavior. In the novel, when the people took soma, they thought they didn't have any responsibility, they would do some horrible things, such as cause fires, steal things, and hack. As a result, it is evident that drugs can change someone's

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Growing up in today 's society I personally have witnessed much addictions to drugs whether that was through a tv show or in person happening to someone that I know. Many of the main causes for people to use drugs are the same causes that lead people to use soma in the book. The message that is shown through this quote I something that I definitely do not agree with as it is giving people an easy way out of their problems for a short amount of time rather than dealing with them and having them gone forever. The theme of this quote is shown to be through community and common good which is what people think this drug is doing to them is helping them in a way that will make them never feel pain in a way, but what it is really doing to them is hurting them and starting an addiction. The same lessons can be learned from Hamlet as lying to someone about what they have done could come back to hurt someone else in the end which happens in both Hamlet and Brave New World when King Claudius tries to poison Hamlet, but instead poisons his new wife Queen Gertrude.

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1097 Words | 5 Pages

This drug, Soma, is abused although it is required by the government to lead up to the events of the drug taking a negative effect on the people to show how much they have been living unaware of their surroundings. American’s are often found making the decisions to engage in the use of drugs or alcohol which often leads to the abuse of these substance that have a negative effect not only on their bodies and lives but on the lives of people within their families, community or even a slight effect on the world. Although people may not think of these substances as a bad influence one should consider all aspects of their decision before engaging in these activities where it could affect more than just themselves and be considerate to others as

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1380 Words | 6 Pages

In the beginning of the book soma is mentioned quite a few times such as when the students are touring the Hatchery and Conditioning Center the D.H,C. says “...or if ever by some unlucky chance such a crevice of time should yawn in the solid substance of their distractions there is always soma, delicious soma”. This explains that soma is there whenever one is ever distracted or distressed. The people use it as an easy way to solve their problems. Another perfect quote to describe the use of soma is when Benito Hoover and Bernard Marx are speaking to each other about Lenina Crowne, Benito mentions “You look glum! What you need is a gramme of soma”.

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Would the society one day present you with a fancy commercial narcotic that would put an end to all your bad days? Huxley believed so especially with society's growing need for instant gratification seen more and more recently through the use of advertisement. Today it is also seen that the addiction of drugs has gone up amongst people all around the world. Recreational drugs are seen being used to achieve an instant height of emotions and feeling as if all your problems are taken away from you that moment. Seem familiar to Lenina’s need for soma to escape her problems “It’s awful.

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1073 Words | 5 Pages

The Powers of Soma In the book Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, the people of the world state take Soma to keep them pleased. Soma is a very common drug used by mostly everyone, it relaxes the body and keeps everyone happy. Not only does soma make people happy, but it also keeps everyone in the world state oblivious to what's going on around them due to how powerful the relaxant is. In a similar situation, our society's addicted to using technology to distract from real life.

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Black and White, a novel written by Paul Volponi, tells the story of two teenagers by the name of Marcus and Eddie. Marcus, who is black, lives on the rough side of town, while Eddie, who is white, lives on the nice side of town. Despite their differences in looks and social class, the two quickly become the best of friends. The two are inseparable, they share love for basketball and are teammates on the high school squad. Their brotherly bond has earned them the nicknames, Black And White.

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54) Soma, was the drug of choice in Huxley’s novel. This drug seemed to have all of the same effects as antidepressants do in our society. Soma even gave people the false idea that one pill, would cure all negativity in their lives. However if we re-read the quote at the beginning of this paragraph, we come to realize the drug doesn’t physically take the problems away, it only gives a false sense of happiness and security for the time being. In the novel there are some instances that occur when characters become extremely unhappy, vunerable, and even suicidal.

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Freedom is an idea that can be identified and interpreted in a variety of ways. It can be thought of as equality or the simple ability to roam freely. In the grand scheme of things, however, freedom is the idea that anyone can live without doubt that no force is holding them back in any way, shape, or form. In some cases, the idea that people are free can be manipulated, as their perception of freedom may change to suit the likes of others with the ability of manipulation. In the novel, Brave New World, Aldous Huxley explores the concept of freedom and how people can be misled into believing they are free using certain tactics.

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