Huxley Brave New World
A full and meaningful life ultimately rests upon the individual'sability to make choices and to determine the course of their own existence. Even when these choices are wrong, and they make the person miserable, itis the freedom of will that makes life meaningful and worthwhile. In BraveNew World, Aldous Huxley's vision of utopia is a world that is free fromstrife and discomfort, where every need is met, and where anything that ispotentially difficult or disturbing is removed. Through the words of Johnthe Savage, we see the danger in such a utopia, where individual freedomand choice is compromised. In this world, life becomes a sterilereflection of the true diversity and passion that comes from individualchoice. John argues that the freedom to be unhappy is one of the mostfundamental rights and needs that human beings possess. Aldous Huxley's novel, Brave New World, describes a world where
In a passionate debate with Mustapha Mond (the World Controller),John the Savage reveals his true feelings about individuality and the humancondition. In The BraveNew World, true individuality is not an option. I want God, Iwant poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. We decant our babies as socialized human beings,as Alphas or Epsilons, as future sewage workers or future . " TheDirector, of course, has a logical reply, noting the multitude of ills thatcan go along with personal choice, including the right " to grow old andugly and impotent; the right to have syphilis and cancer; the right to havetoo little to eat; the right to be lousy; the right to live in constantapprehension of what may happen to-morrow; the right to catch typhoid; theright to be tortured by unspeakable pains of every kind" (225). Happiness that is based on creature comforts andthe avoidance of pain is merely an illusion. The Savage notes, "But I don't want comfort. Potential unhappiness is treated by a pill, soma, religiondoes not exist, and meaningful relationships are discouraged. Huxley's view of utopia clearly excludes individuality. Instead, humans can only betruly fulfilled when they have the full and complete capacity for personalchoice, and with that, paradoxically, the right and capability to makethemselves profoundly unhappy. He rebels against thestifling constraints of the Brave New World, and finds himself an outcastin this society. The Savage instinctually understands that the consumerismand comfort of the civilized world offer a pale comparison to individualfreedom and personal choice. He goes on to say, "I'm claiming the right to be unhappy.
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Acceptance Essays
