Utopias/Dystopias Senioritas

Humanity is powerful. Many would argue that it exists as the most defining characteristic of people. Without it, our ability to love, feel compassion, or experience community would dull our complexes and alter our moral. With that in mind, it’s no wonder that at the core of what makes a society dystopian is its lack of humanity. Whether it is masked by tyranny, discrimination, or anything in between, without humanity, a true utopia is simply unachievable. Thereby, dystopian novels are notorious for having some form of authority seize control by reducing a people’s sense of humanity.        Consider how the World State in Brave New World exists with the sole intention of oppressing natural human emotions and tendencies – a prime context of a dystopian society. Reading Brave New World , I was constantly waiting for the ball to drop: for Helmholtz and John to speak up and spark a much-needed revolution against the World State. This, however,...

I guess I'm assuming here, but I think that most of us would consider the society in "Brave New World" as something strange/messed up/wrong in many ways (more of a dystopia than a utopia.) I certainly find myself disgusted with many aspects of BNW society, but I also can draw many parallels between it and our own society. Allow me to give a few examples: 1.      Soma When I first read about soma, I immediately thought about how many states have legalized or are in the process of legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes. 50 years ago, virtually no one would have agreed to make it a legal drug. But in the recent years, the movement to legalize recreational marijuana has grown and, in certain states, is seen as normal and sometimes encouraged, especially is somebody is feeling down. Of course, soma may have less complications than marijuana, but the comparison still holds. 2.      Romantic Relationships It’s no secret that the past ce...

In Brave New World , the World State was created in order give people very stable lives. There are no strong emotions, and therefore strong relationships. No family structure, no individuality, no poverty or extensive wealth, no religion, nothing that will cause differences between people and therefore no potential conflicts. If you had a bad day or just want to be happier, you take the drug soma and/or watch a feelie that will chemically make you happier. There’s no struggle in life, or problems you need to overcome, or sadness, or natural happiness. Just soma and feelies and basic jobs you do every single day. The closest you come to fighting someone is in centrifugal bumble puppy. Is this utopia worth it? Is it worth giving up sincere human emotion in order to always have a soma-based happiness? Is it worth giving up human connections and family structure in order to never have conflict? Is it worth giving up the experience of seeing your newborn baby, celebrating successes with yo...