BRAVE NEW ESSAY

I decided to do my essay on what seems to be the most popular essay question.

 

Essay

 

          When Kate Chopin stated that "the outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions", she was alluding to many future works that would follow this saying. Brave New  World would be considered one of these works because it has a character that fits this exact mold, Bernard Marx. Bernard is a good example because he always questioned how the World State always controlled the population. However he was afraid to speak out because he did not want to get exiled. This is why he then turns to soma to help him stray away from these thoughts.

          Ever since he was an embryo, Bernard was meant to be different from other alpha's by not being like all the others. Once he grew up he decided to do the work of the World State but internally he knew that he was being controlled. This was one of the main reasons he was conforming but at the same time he was internally questioning everything. Huxley wanted to show that even when there is a way to control everything there will always be that one questioner. Through Bernard, Huxley was able to show that a movement is possible starting with even just one person.

          Even though Bernard was against the World State, he still showed fear of being exiled. The warning he received from the director that he would be moved to Iceland was a clear sign that Bernard was still wary of being too outspoken. This intimidation shows that people in the World State were still very petrified of being punished so they would decide to conform to the superior. Huxley was able to show this was a big reason why Bernard was outwardly conforming but questioning internally. He wanted to speak out, but knew the consequences were too dire for himself.

          Bernard, although wanted to speak out, knew he needed to be controlled, so he decided to still take his soma pills. These soma pills, although effective short term, wore off for Bernard and still had these thoughts. He knew these pills were not good for the free thinker, but was willing to take these pills so he would not be exiled. Huxley was showing how people tried to use drugs to suppress thoughts that they believed were not good for their self-conscious through Bernard.

           In conclusion, Bernard was used as an example by Aldous Huxley to convey Kate Chopin's message. Bernard shows that he wants to stop being controlled by the World State, but does not want to risk exile. This is why he turns to soma, to try and ease himself to try to conform. The human race deals with the issue of conforming but internally complaining every day, they do not want to seem as if they are different than everyone else, which can be used as a warning sign.