YSunday, September 2, 2007

O Brave New World

Some of you may find this post to be very dull.

I recently read Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.

I am not a Lit student. I read it voluntarily. Much to my literature-studying friend's surprise (wow this is a really complicated sentence), I found it interesting and very thought-provoking. I didn't exactly like it, but this is the sort of book that is, for the lack of a better expression, too screwed up for anyone to really like.

There are many ideas in this book (no wonder it was chosen as a literature text), but the one that spoke the most to me was the one regarding the conflict between happiness and truth.

Perhaps I should give a quick synopsis. The book is set in the distant future. People live in what appears to be a utopian society. They are all cared for, no one suffers from diseases, there are no wars, everyone is happy.

However, drastic steps have been taken in order to achieve this stability. People are given different ratings based on their intelligence levels, which were decided before birth by basically being given different amounts of nutrients. (Sort of like Primary School Streaming... TO THE EXTREME.) This way, everyone has their own place in society. Some are born roadsweepers, others destined for greatness.

Another measure taken to ensure that society doesn't collapse was to have everyone socially conditioned. Essentially, people are brainwashed into believing ideas that are beneficial to their society, such as solitude being bad, that everyone belongs to everyone, and class-specific lessons which ensured the separation of the various classes. You can't have an Alpha Plus mixing with an Epsilon Semi-Moron, can you? Strict censorship has also been put in place, and any ideas considered old, are deemed unfit for the general public. Religion is prohibited.

Despite all these restrictions, people are generally very happy. If they're feeling depressed, people are given soma, which is rather like marijuana in tablet form, which will make them feel happy and relaxed. They are allowed to have sex with as many partners as they can, in fact it is encouraged. (I know of some people who wouldn't mind that.) Those who have been condemned to do the worst jobs are glad with what they have been given, because it is all that they know. No one suffers.

However, many sacrifices have been made to achieve this happiness. It is almost as if humanity had been taken away from the humans. There is no such thing as passion or love, because these sort of feelings make us feel strongly about those around us, which lead to a sense of loss when they are taken from us. Indeed, we suffer for our love, and there is no more need for suffering. The people that live are happy, true, but what exactly is the point of their existence? Their lives have been virtually mapped out from the day they were born to the day they perish. To me it seems as though they exist purely for the sake of existing. There is no such thing as nobility or heroism. After all, in a perfect society, what need do the people have for heroes? There is no evil tyrant to overthrow. Happiness is never grand, but then again, everyone is happy. However, is it true happiness? Isn't it true that the bitterness of tears only makes the taste of joy that much sweeter?

This was the main argument between Mustapha Mond, the World Controller for Western Europe, and the Savage, who had only been thrust into the society recently. I found both arguments very compelling.

In the end, the Savage claimed the right to be unhappy, tried to escape from society, and ended up killing himself.

How much are you willing to sacrifice for happiness?

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