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When thinking about our (American) society today, we are not necessarily socially controlled by the government, but more of the media. Some may say otherwise, but in my personal opinion, that is my observation. Celebrities, lifestyle and fashion, advertisement, music and the distribution of other forms of information are a big part of our lives, whether we like it or not. In other societies around the world, government does give a lot of direction and influences the lifestyles of their people. Many nations don't have any separation of government and religion: they believe they should both be governed as one and the same. This is a perfect example of classical government control, because if the "Controller" as BNW calls it, says that Christianity is the way to go and puts a huge influence on its people, chances are most of us are going to be socialized into that structure and we ourselves will go into Christianity.
" . . . As if anyone believed anything by instinct! One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them. Finding bad reasons for what one believes for other bad reasons - that's philosophy. People believe in God because they've been conditioned to believe in God. "
- The Controller This is not a far-out concept. This is happening in our world today, and is a big part of world history. For example, the monarchy of England hundreds of years ago started to set up new rules when a new queen, Mary Tudor, was put into place. The big rule was that all must admit themselves into the Catholic church or you will be burned at the stake. So, the question is, do I give up my freedom so that I can live for someone else's ideals, or do I stand up for what I believe and risk punishment and death? This conflict is what caused many people to secretly build boats and set sail to the Americas to colonize and start a new life as a religiously free citizen.
I am talking about socialization; the way we are molded to "fit". I'm talking about how truly vulnerable we are to control and big government. We are tiny, mindless bugs in the faces of an oligarchy of powerful leaders.
As independent individuals, we are truly intelligent and true soldiers. We think for ourselves, we know what's right and what's wrong, but standing in front of the all-seeing, all-knowing powerful beast of the media, we subconsciously submit ourselves into a lifestyle of dumbed-down culture and unrealistic ideals. Right now, in 2011, the media is more of a societal problem than ever. In fact, it is so much of a brainwasher and leader, that a lot of Americans don't realize it truly is a problem. When we watch white television that promotes skinny blond figures, wealthiness and ownership, beauty and endless fame, we are putting ourselves at risk to strive to be those people.
For example, there is currently a television show on MTV titled 16 And Pregnant. The show exposes unlucky teenage girls who have a baby and what they have to go through because of it. When I watched it one day, I honestly thought that the show had the intention of scaring girls about teenage pregnancy and the endless consequences that follow. However, this show has actually brought in more girls who have gotten themselves pregnant so that they could be on this show. Is that really what it's come down to? Fame no longer has any limits. Even the most destructive and disrespectful acts cause for glory and national acceptance. How can we begin to trust the media if their promotions are anything but moral? There is no way in my eyes.
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So, is there any escape? Can we totally remove ourselves from the culture which is totally destroying every American's ideals about morality and education? Is there any way? According to Brave New World, it is very difficult, but it is possible.
In this book, there is certain structure and rules that every person must follow. The process they use is called "conditioning", and it is nearly inescapable. To ensure that nothing goes wrong, they have a huge system that genetically alters the DNA of someone so that they are born "perfectly stable". Because they are born this way, they don't know any differently from the very beginning. They don't have any idea that what's going on could be wrong or unjust, so society moves along pretty smoothly. And as an addition, to keep everyone in line, a drug is administered to everyone: soma. Soma causes relaxation, sleepiness, and a general feeling of carelessness. Soma is not a made-up drug. It's an anciently used drug, though little is known about it. Supposedly it was used during rituals as an aid to speak with the heavens, attain energy, etc. In the book, there is a specific character whom takes soma every time she even feels a hint of anxiety in her day. She is immediately "cured" and everything goes back to "normal".
Soma in this book is a perfect example of mind-control. We can relate soma in our generation to specifically anti-depressants or anxiety medication. Once someone is feeling needy, they are told to by their doctor to turn to it for false guidance and peace. The reason I'm making that comparison is because I feel that no matter what is considered "right" or "wrong", it's all in the hands of the person in power. Anti-depressants are risky to your health and you may be better off not taking them at all, but the head-honcho aka your doctor, who is a representative of leadership, recommends that you give him your money and that you take these pills. Soma is the same way. These people are conditioned to believe that soma may cure all of their lonliness, unhappiness, what-have-you, but just because it is nationally-accepted means absolutely nothing.
With that in mind, let's talk about the current American legal system and the power behind it. If you notice the list of Schedule I Controlled Substances, some of the drugs listed are: Marijuana, Psilocybin, Peyote, Mescaline, Lysergic acid diethylamide, etc... If you have any knowledge of these drugs, you know that most that I listed are naturally occurring substances. Translation: they occur in nature. No synthetically-manufactured drugs, just plain out there in the world. This fact reflects to me that the government is terrified of releasing a drug to the public that is natural. Hmm, interesting...
This is obviously a pretty bunk ideal, and much research has been done by credible scientists who have discovered that herbs such as marijuana which has healing properties is less harmful than alcohol, which kills thousands a year in America alone and is tagging along a huge addiction problem. In fact, magic mushrooms, the naturally growing fungus has a lower toxicity than aspirin. Aspirin! One of the most widely-used and accepted anti-pain medication in America! Psilocybin, an illegal substance and highly looked down up in our society, is safer to consume than aspirin. The point I'm trying to prove is that nothing, not even the truth, can make an impact on big government and media.
Another striking and somewhat humorous discovery is of the material that the Declaration of Independence was made with. Hemp, we all know, is part of the marijuana plant and has been used for various products such as rope and clothing, was also used to make our countries Declaration of Independence. A country, whom considers marijuana as dangerous and deadly, has their most important historical document made by the most controversial drug known today.
Anyways! I'm getting off track here. . .
Going back to the truth... Is there any truth that lies in the minds of the big "system"? If the people in power will do anything, take any measure, to make sure that they stay at the very top of the pyramid of the all-seeing eye, does truth in any sense stand a chance? If they are willing to exploit lies and false studies to keep the people "in line" and "straight", is there a truth at all? With the new generations spilling in, the truth seems to be slowly slipping away form our fingertips... floating in the atmosphere, and gazing at us in space. What will it take to get our astronaut suits on and go out in the cosmos so they we may rediscover the powerful truth?
The Controller
For example, a scene comes in the book where the Controller is reviewing literature to see if it's acceptable to be published. This is part of his job; to regulate what information comes in and what goes out.
The scene:
A pity, he thought, as he signed his name. It was a masterly piece of work. But once you began admitting explanations in terms of purpose - well, you didn't know what the result might be. It was that sort of idea that might easily decondition the more unsettled minds among the higher castes - make them lose their faith in happiness as the Sovereign Good and take to believing, instead, that the goal was somewhere beyond, somewhere outside the present human sphere; that the purpose of life was not the maintenance of well-being, but some intensification and refining of consciousness, some enlargement of knowledge. Which was, the Controller reflected, quite possibly true. But not, in the present circumstance, admissible.
The Controller has always struck me as an incredibly intellectual and to-the-point character. As you read the book and hear his monologue, you have a feeling that there's something more to him than just the guy in the big chair; a leader who must protect his people from possible destruction. I believe that he himself lives by the laws of truth. He does not believe in his job, in his duties, for lack of a better word. He knows what the truth is, and secretly he believes it. But he cannot let that interfere with the unlimited amount of power that's at stake.
Another quote by the Controller that might provide a better mental picture:
" We believe in happiness and stability. A society of Alphas couldn't fail to be unstable and miserable. Imagine a factor staffed by Alphas - that is to say by separate and unrelated individuals of good heredity and conditioned as to be capable (within limits) of making a free choice and assuming responsibilities. Imagine it! "
Soma: The Powerful Antidote
I've already talked a bit about soma, but it's important that it's discussed further. The influence of soma and it's importance is greatly needed in this discussion, because the whole book is based on this so-called "numbness" and "inability to escape from unreality". Soma is the representation of an influence on human life that can drastically change how you live and keep you in the hole, so to speak.
In BNW, soma is a nationally-used, very popular drug that is pretty much administered to everyone and a requirement to consume on a daily basis. It's an absolute necessity in every day life. The reasoning for the consumption of soma is to relax you. To keep you in a cloudy, dreamy mess where you remain thoughtless and careless for hours. It's simple to understand, and it keeps everyone tied up with its charm throughout the book. The chain of soma never breaks.
... She swallowed six half-gramme tables of soma, lay down on her bed, and within ten minutes had embarked for lunar eternity. It would be eighteen hours at the least before she was in time again.
This quote vividly describes what state you endure when you take the drug.
Soma is such a heavy influence that people will immediately change their behaviors when the drug is mentioned as a reward. This isn't just mind-control, it's also physical and mental dependence that even the people themselves can't even acknowledge. They have no way of acknowledging the problem simply because they were CONDITIONED to live this way, and they simply don't know any better.
Before I let you go, I just want to say thank you for reading this. I hope you liked it and I'll end it with a short quote :)
The Savage stood looking on, "O brave new world, O brave new world..." In his mind the singing words seemed to change their tone. They had mocked him through his misery and remorse, mocked him with how hideous a note of a cynical derision! . . . . . . "O brave new world!" It was a challenge, a command.
