In response to the novel Brave New World I would like to explore a variety of topics that apply to the book and what it has to say. In the novel, the citizens and the World Controllers and everyone in society is working so that the wheel of production does not stop turning. Everybody regards this perpetual production as the most important part of their society, but what exactly are they working towards and when are they ever satisfied with what they have done? I want to argue that the citizens of the World State will never be authentically happy with their lives and how they spend it because there is no higher purpose or higher calling in their lives. To satisfy themselves the people take large doses of soma, which the government has provided in order to calm the people. The objective of all people in power is to maintain their power and different rulers do this in many different ways, some use violence, some use force, but in the World State, they choose to calm the people with soma, a much more effective method since people can not revolt if they are "happy". In addition, the argument can be made that if the people in the World State are happy and content with their lives, then let them live their soma-filled lives of sexual promiscuity and never ending labor because they are content with that lifestyle. However, this is a delicate state of happiness, it can be destroyed by one event, such as the introduction of the "savage" John. Lenina's life was basic and nothing was able to interrupt her happiness until John showed up and made her question how their society works. This proves that when someone is not happy with the truth of their life, they can be lured out of their synthetic happiness relatively easily.
In support of my arguments I will use the Sir Ken Robinson's video which describes the educational system we have today and the flaws that go along with it. I will use the video in support of my argument that a society can be focused and hard-working, but what are they working for, is it just to keep the wheel turning? If so, then the question of "Why am i here" will arise in society through people such as John. Also i will use the article we received in the beginning of the year on Postmodernism and any thing else on Postmodernism I can find to talk about how some might argue that if the people in the World State are happy then there is nothing wrong with that society. I think that Postmodernism is in support of this theory so i will be able to use it as a counter to my own argument. We will see how my essay goes, it will probably change, because I could find other sources that fit my essay in a better way.
