Artificial Happiness in Brave New World
True happiness and artificial happiness are two similar, but very distinct emotions. The society in which one lives and the surroundings draw a fine line between the two. Happiness is pleasurable satisfaction which results from the possession or attainment of what one considers good, while artificial happiness can be defined as a state of happiness because it is the effect of relying on a substance to make one happy, therefore making it artificial since it does not come naturally. Happiness is not tangible, but can be achieved through many experiences. The famous American philosopher, Ronald Dworkin, criticizes meditation for artificial happiness in his book. A patient escapes her own consciousness through meditation and keeps her unhappiness at bay, but this also postpones any serious analysis of her situation. In Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, the state’s goal is to avoid emotional instability; however there are cracks in the perceived happiness of this seemingly perfect society where there cannot be true happiness. The characters have no concept of love or any other passion and actually scorn the idea, where they are supposed to find artificial happiness in eternal youth, the comforts of technology, and soma.
From the very beginning of the story, societal restrictions are placed on the characters. Due to the advanced technology, all of the citizens are assigned a social caste. The caste structure consists of the Alphas, Betas, Deltas, Epsilons, and Gammas. Alphas, being the highest class, are predestined to become intellectuals. Some of them work in the hatchery, and enjoy domination in their lives. Epsilons, on the other hand, are inferior to everyone else. They may work as elevator operators and coal miners. The people of each class enjoy their job and are supposed to find themselves happy with their occupations. Bernard Marx, being an important character, does not like the class to which he belongs. He thinks to himself; “I am I, and I wish I wasn’t’; his
From the very beginning of the story, societal restrictions are placed on the characters. Due to the advanced technology, all of the citizens are assigned a social caste. The caste structure consists of the Alphas, Betas, Deltas, Epsilons, and Gammas. Alphas, being the highest class, are predestined to become intellectuals. Some of them work in the hatchery, and enjoy domination in their lives. Epsilons, on the other hand, are inferior to everyone else. They may work as elevator operators and coal miners. The people of each class enjoy their job and are supposed to find themselves happy with their occupations. Bernard Marx, being an important character, does not like the class to which he belongs. He thinks to himself; “I am I, and I wish I wasn’t’; his