Brave New World has made an impact on the social consciousness of the readers. Aldous Huxley’s brilliant novel which he published in 1932 brings us closer to our social ills and how they have been impacting us. Especially in today’s era when technology is ever so evident in our lives and enveloping our actions. Brave New World is a dystopian novel, to begin with. It presents a society in the future where genetic engineering is common. Human mental conditioning is also prevailing. The author conceived a drug, Soma, that the people from the elite or the ruling class use. They use it to pacify the citizens of World State, the place where the story is set. Soma alters the mood and induces euphoria. It takes the person away from reality. Interestingly, soma is made an integral part of the lives of the people of World State. They are made to see soma as something that they need. While it is a tool for social control, Soma is available in various quantities for consumption. The character of John the Savage is seen as a rebel, for he did not agree to take Soma.
“One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them.”
aldous hUxley, brave new world
Brave New World talks about conformity, consumerism, and pleasure – three aspects that are ever-growing in our society. In the novel, these were the qualities humans were conditioned with since birth. Imagine the vision of Huxley who thought about these traits in 1931 when he published the book. Huxley also explored the perils of science and technology and how they impact society when ethical limitations are breached. He also talks about a time when human life is seen as not more than a commodity. The novel shares a social commentary on the threats of how humans can be conditioned to accept any ideology unless it is presented to them as a norm.
Scifiers explores science fiction narratives that enliven our imagination and compel us to think about the “what-ifs” of creative world-building. It is on a mission to discuss ideas about sci-fi in its various forms that keep the genre in a state of continuous expansion.
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Image Source: Bukhari Books