Individuality: Threat or Catalyst for Harmonious Society?

Both A “Brave New World” and events from our own world disprove the statement that individuality is seen as a threat to a harmonious society. In the book Huxley introduces the characters Bernard, Helmholtz, and John as outsiders. They do not fit into the societies that they are a part of which threatens the system Mustafa Mond and the other world leaders have instilled into the society. The accusation above is flawed and incorrect. Individuality was seen as a threat to a harmonious society however it is not a threat. It is important for civilization to keep moving forward.

Individuality is the quality or character of a particular person or thing that distinguishes them from others of the same kind, especially when strongly marked. According

Just the idea of using the words mom and dad sickens the people of a “Brave New World”. On the reservation, a savage land separated from London, a boy named John lives with mother Linda. They are out of place in this society. The people of the savages are brown skinned with dark complexions. John is tall white and has blonde hair. His mother Linda lives with the savages as well however she lives according to the “Brave New World’s” ways. She sleeps with all of the savage husbands and is hated by all of the people. For that John is not accepted into this society. John’s individuality does not show until he goes back to London with his mother. He sees a world with all these people. “O’ brave new world, that has such people in it.”(Shakespeare) John is overwhelmed by all the people that he sees that are all the same. He tries to fit in by focusing all his heart and energy into Lenina. However when he realizes that she has fully succumbed to the ways of the brave new world and she is truly lost, he realizes that he can’t start a life there with her. Shortly after that John’s mother, Linda, died from soma. All the soma intake caused her lungs to give out. At this point John has fully lost his foundation or family structure he started with at the beginning of the novel. In a “Brave New World” John feels as though he is trapped and wants to leave London and go to Iceland with his companions, Bernard and Helmholtz, the other

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”(Marcus Garvey) Things like religion and other things are frowned upon and totally missing from their knowledge. Everyone was conditioned to think that the only religion or peace they need is soma. Mond argues that “religious sentiment is a response to the threat of loss, old age, and death.”(Spark Notes) Mond tells John that if there are no losses than there is no need for religion and soma prevents losses. Soma is “Christianity without tears” (“Brave New World”) Soma, is used to block out thoughts of individuality and to haze the past. In a “Brave New World” John is so unpleased with the absence of religion or spirituality and individuality, so in order to find a way out he inflicts pain on himself just to feel something. The lack of individuality and spirituality not only kept John from expressing himself but led him to his untimely demise. Sexual freedom is a huge part of the new dystopian society. John wasn’t too fond of the idea of a world where everyone belongs to everyone. This type of mindset got his mother, Linda, shunned in the society of the savages. She slept with all the husbands in the society which led to John not being able to fit in. Even the love of his life, Lenina, was going around town sleeping with everyone she sets her eyes on. John’s moral beliefs and