BNW-Blog #3

Justin Enriquez

Mr. Fernando

British Lit/Comp.

17 April 2014

Dystopia Via Thomas

       This novel has introduced us to a world in which Huxley described, as he perceives, what a utopia is. This society is one in which the world is controlled by higher powers via the drug, Soma. However, upon further review of the details contained within the novel, it is easy to fathom that this world is indeed a dystopia rather than a utopia.

      Thomas serves as a direct example in portraying elements of dystopian nature in the novel. As Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning, he holds responsibility in controlling his power to teach (manipulate) students the processes they underwent to become a person, thus his ultimate goal is to make them believe what he states holds truth. His style of preaching his scientific ideals is done in such a swift manner that no student is able to fully absorb the information at hand.  Therefore, the students assume what he says is true, sort of like the citizens living in communistic states such as China.

     Thomas’ role of playing the most important figure in Huxley’s society comes to a halt once Linda and John arrive in London to confront him.  Moreover, as Thomas and Linda ventured upon Savage Reservation, Linda was pregnant, which this utopia considers a burden as they're accustomed to lives being artificially created. In addition, when she disappears, Thomas leaves her to fend for herself. Therefore, serving as more evidence in proving his demise as the most important figure in the novel, his impregnation of Linda and his subsequent departure of her to fend for herself in a dangerous environment has made him the best candidate in representing what a dystopia truly is.

BNW-Blog #2

Justin Enriquez

Mr. Fernando

British Lit./Comp

6 May 2014

Molly to Soma

         Religion in our school is very important as each day, class, and end of day revolves around it. However, some may view it as a form of propaganda utilized to control certain people, like Jim Jones and what he did with the "People's Temple”. In Brave New World, soma is used in controlling the population that is proving to be more effective than the outcomes religious groups may strive to attain.

         Apart from keeping all the people in restraint from creating conflict soma is used to dumb down the thoughts of all the classes within the castes. Moreover, Soma also provides a feeling of joy, much like drugs present today (ecstasy), however being the way this world in Huxley's novel is set up, far more advanced, this variation of X bears no side effects upon the user. In essence, Soma is the flawless drug for a flawless society.

Soma is ingested by all as a way to function throughout the day and deal with the "utopian" lifestyle. For example, Benito is portrayed as always having a joyful nature of being, proving he didn’t need soma to fix him. This can be observed in, “have got through life without ever touching soma” (Huxley, 65). Alongside Benito’s personality, soma never seems to phase him as the drug keeps him content with his robotic-like life, an additional clue that soma is utilized to control feelings of discontent in which lies the potential to arise in the lower castes thus creating conflict within a utopia resulting in a dystopia.