The Dangers Of Technological Advancements In Brave New World

Dangers of technological advancements in Huxley

Word Count: 1498

Brave New World a novel written between World War I and World War II reflects on a society crippling, yet hidden, problem caused by the world wars. The world wars caused worldwide technological booms. Huxley, an intellectual, looked at advancements in technology through a negative lens, and interpreted it as a double edged sword, which is reflected in the dark, dystopian society within Brave New World. Aldous Huxley, by incorporating symbolism, reveals the dangers of prioritizing technological and national advancement over individuality in the science fiction novel Brave New World.

In order to prevent distractions, such as conflict, from derailing technological and national advancements,

Huxley references the symbol soma in the dialogue between Lenina and Bernard to show how the citizens of the NWS have become dependent upon soma. The leaders of the NWS have prioritized the advancement of technology and their country, which results in the loss of individuality; every citizen’s default behavior is to turn to soma when problems arise. This not only inhibits the critical thinking one can do, but it allows the NWS to achieve its goal of obtaining a community of content robots who have no conflict. Additionally, the leaders of the NWS openly promote the use of soma, which is exemplified during Mustapha Mond’s conversation with John when he describes soma as “Christianity without tears” (265). Huxley compares and contrasts, the drug, soma with Christianity because it is an important religion that is spread worldwide. By comparing a drug with something as sacred as Christianity, Huxley intends to satirize the symbol of soma because of its immense power to control the masses. From the perspective of Mustapha Mond, Christianity helps people overcome obstacles, but in

Upon arrival to the savage reservations, Lenina questions, “The dirt, to start with, the piles of rubbish, the dust, the dogs, the flies…how can they live like this” (117)? The advancements in technology of the NWS has allowed them to condition their citizens to believe that the standard of living in the NWS is present everywhere else. Within the New World State, people are gifted with soma, technology, and ways to abolish unhappiness in order to prevent conflict. Unfortunately, the “perfect life” experienced by the NWS residents comes at a price; the people of the NWS are forced to give up their individuality and conform with society. On the other hand, the people of the savage reservation don’t have technology, but are able to live lives that have individuality, love, and other human emotions. At a glance, the NWS seems much better than the poor, dirty savage reservations, but Huxley creates a sense of irony to show the major disadvantages of the NWS when Lenina explains, “the lovely music that [comes] out of a box …no one ever sad or angry, and babies in lovely clean bottles” (139). Lenina’s explanation explains the positives of the New World State, but also unknowingly points out major issues with the New World State. She talks about the “babies in lovely clean bottles” and how everyone is always happy, which is only made possible