Desire and choosing to conform

Amna Hussian
December 13, 2021
ELA 20
What makes you crave something specific? Is it a want, a requirement, or a combination of the

two? To various people, this one word might mean a million different things. However, all

definitions agree on one thing: desire is expensive. People's natural tendencies urge them to seek

a more straightforward answer. To prevent a lawsuit, solve an issue, or pursue a passion, it is

sometimes unavoidable to give up one's self-identity. It's conceivable there was a

miscommunication. It may look to be a lovely place to wish, similar to the one depicted in

Aldous Huxley's masterwork Brave New World, but it isn't. The terms utopias and dystopian

scenarios are frequently interchanged. Everyone in Brave New World, no matter how different or

alike they are, discovers simple ways to avoid conflict and jumble their conflicting interests in

order to keep their paradoxical society running.

The human mind is capable of being so enamoured with a want that it will go to extraordinary

measures to fulfil it. Whether it was their morality, their assets, or their time, that goal would be

worth it to them. In Brave New World, civilization is founded on human needs, and those in the

old society accept it primarily out of obligation, but partly because the new world offers limitless

opportunities for personal fulfilment. It was a tiny price to pay to be brainwashed, followed, and

coerced into having multiple sexual partners, orgies, and, of course, narcotics. The irony here is

akin to a salesperson attempting to persuade you to make a purchase. They only mention the

products' benefits and appealing characteristics, not their drawbacks. It is also expected that a

new perfect civilisation with unfathomable aims will emerge. This offer is conditional on the

individual's concept of desire, which could include sex, drugs, or other vices.
 They believe the government is giving them a better deal and that they can have whatever they

want, but in reality, they have been socialised to place such a high value on particular lifestyle

features that they are unable to voice their true preferences. Individuals who live in a hierarchical

society essentially give up their entire existence; their minds are brainwashed, and they are

forced to accept and obey an absurd set of norms. In the milieu created by the founders, citizens

feel free to make their own decisions, even if they are unaware of their own preferences.

Individual liberty is a goal and a luxury in today's culture, but it is incompatible with the World

State, according to World Controller Mustapha Mond, who feels liberalism has rendered "liberty

inefficient and unpleasant."(3.138)Individual liberty is a goal and a luxury today, yet it is a

paradoxical term in the World State. Liberty, rather than making you feel free, makes you feel

afraid and miserable. As the Environment State civilisation illustrates, people are basically

imprisoned in a perfect environment that is actually a paradox. People in the World State are

more focused on their objectives than on their own identities or reality. Throughout the novel, the

use of drugs, particularly soma, is a persistent theme. This could be seen as a desire to use

recreational drugs or to temporarily forget about reality. Soma pervades the body, providing the

feeling that it is a panacea for all ailments. In this new society, there is no such thing as suffering

or misery, according to Mustapha Mond. Everything now has a "solution" thanks to Soma: either

ignore the problem or flee it.Viewers expect Bernard Marx, a more dynamic figure, to fight

uniformity, but he, too, succumbs to conformity and finds Lenina, his obsession, through soma.

Bernard takes soma to relax and cope with his anxiousness.

a distinct image It's John's way of expressing his discontent with the situation. It's odd since he

notices flaws in the new society while conversing with those who set out to change the World
State in the first place. Bernard, who stands out among the Alphas because to his physical

appearance, and John, a barbarian who doesn't fit in, both take soma to conceal their true

identities. This is especially true in today's society, as people are under constant peer pressure

and various forms of social pressure to "fit in."Bernard's primary goal is to blend in with the

crowd, and when his first goal of enacting change fails (due to his inability to modify the basics

of his new society), he just follows the crowd to blend in more easily. Soma is a gateway drug

that allows users to "return without a headache" after a "holiday from reality." (3.225) Soma is an

essential and painstakingly developed medicine that helps people avoid issues by allowing them

to escape the reality in which they are bound, and it has no bad side effects. To put it another

way, it appears to be a fun and effective conflict-avoidance tactic with no negative effects. The

distinction between personal desire and a consistent way of life is essentially non-existent in this

civilisation.Conformity is a desired consequence rather than a requirement for both John and

Bernard because they are outsiders. Because some human classes are obliged to mature at a

faster rate, their inability to deal with the consequences appears immature, undermining the

technological system described in the book. Immaturity is instilled in children by exposing them

to immature themes at a young age, allowing humanity to avoid the dreadful feelings that come

with making difficult decisions, which could be seen as a defect in this paradise. Every person

who comes into contact with society eventually fails; their self-interest drives them to become

like everyone else, content with being compatible with everyone else, and soma looks to be a

feasible alternative for escaping issues.

 The World State society is an irony in and of itself; it appears to be a wonderful place to live,

but it has significant defects that could influence a person's decision to leave (unless they were

conditioned to admire it, of course). At the start of the storey, Henry Foster decides to "have" (a

World State euphemism for "date") other girls for variety, and Lenina's companion, Fanny, is

surprised that Lenina does not have a broad array of sexual partners.The goal is to prevent falling

into a pit of despair. Given the society's stunning lack of variety, this is odd. Higher castes have

higher diversity, whereas lesser castes have been cloned, jeopardising diversity. People's lives are

also repetitive because they engage in the same behaviours and maintain the same views.

Individuality is undervalued, resulting in a lack of uniqueness.What good is a beautiful setting if

it restricts one's freedom to express and experience themselves? Another person who challenges

common wisdom is Helmholtz Watson. Finally, he eliminates "sport, ladies, and social

activities," claiming that "something else, but what?" piques his curiosity. (4.2.15) Helmholtz is

the only one who recognises that society is more than what he is given, and his inquisitiveness

aids him in seeking information and discovering that he is not like the uniform society in which

he lives. Furthermore, the caste system is a hierarchical system in which certain people are

considered superior to others. When power-hungry individuals compete and create strife in many

civilizations, the existence of a hierarchy is what causes problems. The Power of the State in the

World Unlike the Epsilons, the Alphas have both intelligence and muscle, as Mustapha Mond is

a founder or controller, for example. This well-planned and well-established Destiny is a form of

servitude in which those in positions of greater power are imprisoned rather than having a

choice. The level of power a person possesses determines who he or she is. Because it is all they

have, the setting appears to be a utopia. People are no longer recognised as individuals, but rather

as robots or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that have been exposed to and are familiar
to more than half of the world's population.Desirable fruits, vegetables, and animals are

devoured in today's culture. Humans are made in a unique way. Their significance is evident, yet

it is contingent on the powerful's demands. Throughout the book, there is a disdainful attitude

toward "the lower caste," who are dealt with "the shorter the O2," according to the Director

(1.70-4). People in positions of power deny others a basic human need, justifying their acts with

their caste, which they, tragically, created. Individuals continue to assume that this is the society

they want to live in, but in reality, uniformity takes precedence over personal preferences.A

civilization concerned with hierarchy, lack of diversity, and coerced set lifestyles is a veiled

nightmare, not a utopia.

Instead of a confrontation between personal desire and conformity, the final outcome is a

scenario in which both forces are intertwined. In Brave New World, people begin to mix the two.

Because they have been socialised to value civilisation and are disconnected from reality, this is

the case. Because they live in conformity, they haven't been exposed to what desire entails. They

make an effort to fit in with the rest of the world. On the surface, those with conflicting

viewpoints who can blend in with the rest of society appear pleased. People can also use the

World State to deal with problems caused by excessive soma (a drug) without having to face the

repercussions.This option is for those who want to make a mess rather than clean it up. Most

human castes are unaware that avoiding side effects is a sign of immaturity because they've

"matured faster," but soma helps them escape such intense emotions. Because the border

between desire and obedience is blurred, people acquire a love for their environment.

Whether we like it or not, we live in an ironic culture because the appeal of disregarding reality

and its barriers is so strong.

A. Huxley. May 18, 2002. Brave New World. Retrieved on December 6, from

http://www.idph.com.br/conteudos/ebooks/BraveNewWorld.pdf