When reading about soma in the novel, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, I thought to myself about why they abuse the substance in their daily lives. I believe that the government uses this drug to suppress any troubles or worries the people have and to ensure that their lives are stable. With soma, the people are calmer, happier, and believe that everything in life is fine. For example, the two characters Lenina and Benard have fallen victim to it's usage.
This seems too good to be true. A miracle drug that makes everything in life better? That's what everyone seems to believe but people like Bernard and John can see the hidden consequences and troubles of soma use. Bernard doesn't take soma when with Lenina because he wants to be himself around her, not some drug altered personality of him.
We can also see this during the time when John's mother was dying with John beside her. He tries to speak to her but because of the high dosage of soma she can't fully understand and connect with him. After she dies, John becomes outraged and sees the drug as a chain on everyone, calling them slaves to the drug. Though soma can be a brief escape from reality and increase well being, the way the drug hides your true thoughts and personality isn't worth it in the end.
-Phillip Chan
Good points Philip! I agree with your thoughts and think this can be connected to how our society uses drugs. Of course the government doesn't neccessarily encourage use of drugs but people still use them excessively. People in our society also use drugs as a way to escape reality and to have an illusion of happiness. And of course they get addicted to it and feel as if they need it stay stable.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you on this, I believe this drug was used as a tool to help create stability, but as you said, people cannot really be their true selves and interact with others fully as you mentioned. I believe that although the drug creates stability in some ways, it also may cause grief for someone like John, who is not accustomed to the use of soma.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you when you say it is not worth it, because I see it as it takes you away from reality too much when abused as they do. People need that reality and need to face reality at at least some times in their life and soma is preventing that.
Personally, I see the soma as a drug but at the same time as medicine. Because the characters use soma when they are scared or surprised or shock. They use it as a way to escape pain that they feel. It calms them down and helps them in a way. Though, I see it as a drug as well because it has the same consequences if you were to overdose on a drug.
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