Just because
My five minute presentation on 'Brave New world' for english class.
Posted by Lams on 8:51 PM
I only put this up here, because I somehow agree with this statement that I chose to present..and also I was too lazy to open up Microsoft Word so I did the assignment here x)Truth and Happiness cannot coexist at most times:
In 'Brave New World', it is suggested that truth and happiness do not coexist in the 'One World State'. The characters of this story try a variety of methods to avoid and deceive themselves of their situations. In other words, they prefer self-delusion.
The wide usage of soma in the 'One World State' is probably the best example for this statement. Soma is a drug which replaces reality with happy hallucinations. This drug is promoted by the 'government' of the 'One World State' so that its citizens would not be aware of their issues or the fact that they are limited from certain rights that another would find 'normal', such as the permission to fall in love.
Also the 'World State' 'conditions' its citizens so well from the beginning that they automatically have the need for soma when they feel that something is not right. They do not think twice about it. They are also 'conditioned' to be aware of things they shouldn't do so that they do not have to face such displeasing situations in the first place.
For example, Lenina is such a perfect example for someone who lives in the 'World State'. She always takes big dosages of soma to relieve her of stress or misery or even confusion such as the time Bernard took her to the sea in the moonlight by helicopter and she was stressed because such 'romantic' things werent considered normal in their world. Her first and ultimate solution was to take soma.
John's view of the world through Shakespeare's words are also a form of self-delusion. He views Lenina as Juliet first and when he sees her in the 'World State' she becomes an 'impudent strumpet' to him. The truth of her behavior was unpleasing to John because he hasnt been conditioned in such ways.
We can also use Bernard Marx as an example. He is one of the few that prefer to face reality sober even though he is miserable. This shows how although he is aware of the truth, he cannot simply accept it and be satisfied.