How is Huxley’s depiction of happiness in conflict with meaningful existence also present in contemporary society?
Aldous Huxley’s 1932 novel Brave New World demonstrates the implications of a pleasure-oriented society and its clashes with the ideals behind living a purposeful life beyond pleasure. By exploring this through the division between the ‘civilised’ people of England and the ‘savages’ of New Mexico, Huxley’s conveyance of this prevalent dichotomy is representative of the state of contemporary society. With the subtle indication of a capitalist-enforced market and its inherent consumerist foundations, Brave New World presents a stark contrast to the economic and social structures of modern Western civilisations and offers insight into the future of capitalism. To demonstrate this nuanced concept and its similarities, this essay will discuss the conflict between both perspectives of the ‘civilised’ and ‘savage’ on the removal of hardship through soma and how this drug-induced form of escapism is under debate today. Furthermore, the absence of religious guidelines and the segregation it creates among the people of England and New Mexico draws resemblances to the current incompatibility with the ethics of religion and capitalist ideals. Finally, the abandonment of reading past literature creates tension among both the opposing factions in Brave New World and thus, mirrors the distractions of the digital-age of today that consumes our attention and only perpetuates Huxley’s predictions of a capitalist-driven society.
The extinction of hardship through the daily ritual of consuming soma presents conflict between the ideals of the ‘savages’ and ‘civilised’ people of Brave New World which represents the contemporary discussion of the drug-induced form of escapism. Huxley’s portrayal of the mass dependence of soma outlines the outcomes of recreational drug usage being accepted throughout, as a result of the consumerist needs implemented from capitalist economic structures. This is evident currently in the legalisation of recreational drugs such as marijuana in some American states, which has also spiked the growth of the industry and produced large companies to dominate. Subsequently, this has sparked a division between the pro-legalisation and opposing people in America, which is representative of the ‘civilised’ and ‘savage’ people in World State. Huxley’s microcosm shows the inherent dangers of a societal-endorsed and reliant drug through the experiences of John, who acts as the opposing individuals of legalisation. Soma, being the Greek word for ‘body’ and Hebrew for ‘blind’, combines to form Huxley’s perception of the drug-reliant people of London and further represents the inevitable popularity of drug-use in America. This then adds the notion of escapism, which is also evident in modern society where the depressant attributes of drugs such as marijuana slows bodily functions and enables the user to view their current situation in a superficial happiness, as shown through the implementation of soma. Hence, the correlation between current reality and Brave New World addresses the effects of a mass-endorsed recreational drug usage and shows the conflict between opposing parties which questions the true happiness found when using soma.
Furthermore, the lack of religious and moral guidelines creates a segregation between those searching for meaningful existence and the majority who seek ‘happiness’. While showing the superficial sense of happiness obtained by soma, it is ultimately the result of consumerist demands that makes it attainable through capitalistic economic structures. The central foundations of London are built on the constant needs and production of goods that satisfy the consumers. The traditional religions being replaced with the worship of ‘Ford’ represents society’s shift towards the consumerist and ideals of production that came by during Henry Ford’s advancement in car manufacturing. Huxley presents this in a satirical manner through the recreation of the Christian holy cross with a symbol ‘T’ representing the Ford Model T that came from the first assembly lines. This is further shown through the labouring of the Epsilon workers, which draws contrasts to the workers on the production assembly line of the Model T, thereby reinforcing the importance of all the components of the assembly line where ‘every one works for every one’. This is symbolic of the centralised nature of London, where this notion is the foundation of the ‘stability’ existing in Brave New World. However, John’s ‘savage’ background questions the lack of morality in this and attempts to deny the immoral implications of the consumerist-driven society. But his efforts become futile and he involves himself in the ‘orgy-porgy’ endorsed by the people of London, which detracts his purpose to lead a life with purpose and ultimately leads to his demise. This acts as a commentary to those in modern society who wish to reduce the effects of consumerism, however, the construct of the Western capitalist economies render their purpose to be impossible. Thus, John’s experiences are emblematic of the struggle between those in the contemporary Western world who wish to reduce their impacts in consumerism and forms a separation with those who continue to pursue their consumerist needs.
Finally, the replacement of historical literature for the distractions of the digital products of the modern world is indicated through the absence of literature in Brave New World. The missing presence of literature denotes the absent-minded nature of the London inhabitants by showing their prioritisation of pleasure over knowledge. Once more, the soma acts as a source of blindness in a symbolic form, but this blindness is also expressed through the lack of appreciation of knowledge in books, which John confronts. This event is also quite emblematic of the current situation with digital technology, which consumes our attention and removes the concerns of reality. Technology is shown to be a contributor to the pleasure-oriented focus in society that diverts one’s actions from the physical world to the virtual. These properties draw contrasts to the effects of soma, and poses a greater danger for the future of education. The neglect for literature in London further demonstrates this with the inhabitants lack of interest in studying the past that mirrors the mentality of many in the world today. Through John, Huxley shows that the understanding of literature enables people to find discover more profound purposes in life that go beyond the constant consumption of goods that are praised in the London society. Consequently, the lack of interest in literature is the product of society’s prioritisation of consuming sources of pleasure that divert their attention from the dilemmas of reality.
Therefore, Brave New World presents the conflict between happiness and meaningful existence to be evident in contemporary society. Through the exploration of external influences such as drugs, consumerist demands, introduction of distractions to divert the mind from issues of the past and present, Huxley depicts that the encouragement towards this superficial sense of happiness is represented also in the current reality of Western Civilisation. This is shown through consumerist and capitalist structures that embody the ideals of the economic needs of societies today. This is demonstrated through the use of depressants in contemporary society that possess the similar effects of soma that form as an escape from the concerns of reality, the deification of industrial influencers such as Henry Ford which shifted civilisation’s purpose to exist to experience man-made pleasures rather than the spirituality and morality implemented in religion, and finally the further distractions of technologies to remove the purpose of understanding past literature for present and future education. Thereby, this enforces a short-term perspective on one’s life that is made for experiencing simple pleasures that distract themselves from the dilemmas in reality, rather than embracing the flaws in society and endeavouring to make a change. This absent-minded mentality and the lack of awareness is the true oppression of consumerist ideals that Huxley warns, and it is quite indeed taking shape in individuals of capitalist Western societies today.
