I have to first say that I did enjoy reading this book.
Mainly because I like science-fiction type literature...or more likely
science-fiction type movies. In any case, this book really wasn't something I
took to heart. Yes, Huxley was trying to show his opinion of our future, but it
doesn't appall me like some others in our class. To me, it is a piece of
literature that someone created in order to make a good read. I do not necessarily
take his words literally or feel offended in any way.
That begin said, I do think that what he imagined happening
has begun to happen in our society. The one thing that seemed to be most
shocking was the idea of people being created in test tubes. I think that this
is unfortunately very possible in our future. We already have people who are conceiving
other people’s children and same sex couples having genetic-linked children
through surrogates and donors. This is a huge political and ethical debate,
which I am not going to get into. However, with technology and 'great' advances
come some serious consequences and side effects. To me this is a great idea to
help those that need it, but it is not a natural way. Things are bound to go
wrong. We also have scientist working hard to clone animals. How long until
they begin to clone people? What is going on now was not heard of one-hundred
years ago... what will happen to our scientific and medical advances in another
one-hundred years?
The book also is full of characters that constantly run away
from their problems and the truth. They use soma to escape the reality in which
they live. This has become America to perfection. Everywhere you look people
are getting surgeries to look or feel better, without having to do the 'hard
work', or they are taking drugs or drinking alcohol to escape from their
troubles. This is something I'm sure Huxley saw first-hand at the time he wrote
this book, but it continues today and at an even higher rate. There are more
pressures in our society to be the best, to be perfect, and to be better than
the next person that sometimes people cannot keep up and are consumed with the
'soma' of their choice.
This book also touches on the thought that a government that
controls everything is a slippery slope. If you ask me, that is exactly what
our government wants here. They want complete control over everything, even
though they already have much control. Is there any way to escape this? At
times I feel like we are all living in a world that is someone else's utopia.
We are all working hard every day, following the rules of the government, and
having the privileges to the America life... but at what cost? Don't get me
wrong I love living here in America. Lately, though it seems like freedom is a
distant piece of our past as the government tightens its reins on us.
I also liked how Huxley brought John into the book. Here was
a person who was unlike anything the society had seen before. He was a breath
of fresh air, someone who made them think if there was something more than what
they had. Many people in today’s society often question this same thing. Is there
something more than what I have here? Is there life on another planet? Are
there better opportunities for me in other places of the world? There is always
that inner nagging question of bettering oneself. I think that it is human
nature. Even in a utopia people are bound to search for more.
I think that I am pretty content with the life that I have.
Although I do question the government and some of the radical ideas that are
being presented with the technological advances, I am willing to hear about it
and learn about it.
I think this book was unique and interesting, but I did not
take it to heart. It is after all… fiction.
Word count: 680
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