Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

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Recommended: Science and technology in a brave new world

Brave New World, a novel written by Aldous Huxley, can be compared and contrasted with an episode of The Twilight Zone, a fantasy, science-fiction television series, called “Number 12 Looks Just Like You.” Brave New World is a highly regarded and renowned work of literature as The Twilight Zone is considered one of the greatest television series of all time. Brave New World and The Twilight Zone’s episode “Number 12 Looks Just Like You” can be compared and contrasted on the basis of science, youth, and the government.
The use of science can be used to compare and contrast this work of literature and television series. In Brave New World, Mustapha Mond states that science is suppressed in order for society to be happy and stable. According to the World State, science reveals the truth and the truth undermines happiness, which is unacceptable in the novel’s society. The government uses hypnopaedia and soma to suppress the citizen’s mentality on certain subjects and their emotions. Hypnopaedia is sleep teaching that is used for moral education. It is known as the “greatest moralizing and socializing force of all time” (28). This use of science allows the World State to instill suggestions in and controls the minds of the citizens. In addition, the World State uses soma, an anti-depressant and semi-hallucinogenic drug, to subdue the emotions of the citizens. The people are encouraged to consume this drug for instant gratification. Much like in Brave New World, the episode of Twilight Zone consists of similar, yet different, concepts. In the episode, it is evident that science is a huge contributor to the advanced, futuristic society; therefore, science is highly regarded and relied on. The government uses liquid smile, similar to so...

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...cieties, which are dreadful, dysfunctional societies. The citizens appear happy and in harmony; however, their joy is a façade because it is reinforced by science. These societies aim to achieve happiness and harmony through different technological means. Modern-day societies and governments use the media, legislation, and consequences to accomplish their goals, such as equality, harmony, and more. Although, Brave New World and The Twilight Zone reflect extreme utopian societies, they aim to warn people of the following risks: the power of science, the influence of beauty and youth, the function of the government, and more.

Works Cited

Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. New York: Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006. Print.
Tomerlin, John. "Number 12 Looks Just Like You." The Twilight Zone. Prod. Abner Biberman.
CBS. CBS, United States, 24 Jan. 1964. Television.

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