Examples Of Utopia In Brave New World

Utopia, is it Possible?

Utopia, a term that appeared in the 16th century, was invented by Sir Thomas More in 1516. Many define utopia to be an idealistic and utterly perfect society. However, theoretically, utopia has nearly perfect qualities, not exactly perfect. In history, there has not been any specific record of a utopian society existing and there has been controversy on that it will never exist. However, a utopian society is possible because a utopia does not necessarily need to be absolutely perfect, society can come together and put aside its differences, and because the people learn how to improve situations that can happen or have happened.

A utopia does not necessarily need to be absolutely perfect to be accepted by all the people. For example, in Brave New World, John says, “But I don’t want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want

real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness.

I want sin”(Huxley 240). In Aldous Huxley’s ‘Brave New World’, John explains that he doesn’t want the “perfect” world that the World State offers. He doesn’t want to become enslaved to a society of total government control, he wants to be free

and live his perfect world: the world where he can be free.

Brave New World shows the dystopia of a society under such control. He shows that being unhappy at some point in our lives, we can see the goodness of life and that’s what’s perfect. Artificial happiness does not make a utopia: rather the experiences, the feelings, and the things we do is what makes the utopia. A utopia that does not have to be perfect, but one that makes us appreciate life and the little things. John wanted life to have meaning. For example, a parent

wants a good future for their children. Parents often say that they want their child to have a happy life. Why not a meaningful one? Living, experiencing is what composes a truly happy life, one that can eventually lead to Utopia. Returning to ‘Brave New World’, Mustapha Mond, a world controller in the book, responds to John by saying that he will “... the right to live in constant apprehension of what may happen tomorrow...” (Huxley 240). Mustapha tries to explain to John that he is claiming the right to live in constant fear of what comes from here on in the future. However, John tells Mustapha that he accepts it all. Life isn’t about living in constant fear. Without the bad, there is no good. A utopia is defined as a “good place” in Greek, with “eu” as good, and “topos” as place. We don’t have to sacrifice all the things in life to reach Utopia. We don’t need to live in fear, utopia is possible, maybe it’s tomorrow that we reach it, we just have to act on that goal. Finally, a society does not to be perfect, because with such perfection there is sacrifice. Gary Schmidt’s, an American novelist, reaction to the movie ‘The Giver’ was a perfect example that without having things in life, our feelings, we just exist. He explained in his essay, ‘Choosing Love: A Reflection on The Giver’ , that “When we live without faith, when we live without hope, when we live without love, we only exist” (Schmidt). Giving up everything, just to end up having a dystopia is not the key to have a utopia. Utopia means diversity, individuality, freedom, not having a world where everything is made in black and white and conformity. In other words, utopia is meant to be spontaneous, filled with joys and laughs, not a world without faith, hope, and love, just as Schmidt said. Those are the things we hold onto the most and we shouldn’t give it up. A dystopia is lifeless and unlike a utopia, is imperfectly perfect. Utopias are meant to be perfectly imperfect, it has flaws, but it’s what keeps us moving forward to try to make it better. It doesn’t need to be a perfect to be a utopia, it doesn’t need to be constant, and we don’t need to just exist.
In continuation, a utopian society is possible because society can come together as one. Howard Zinn, an American historian and social activist, emphasized in his ‘The Coming Revolt of the Guards’ that “If we don’t understand that, and act on it, not only will life be more satisfying, right off, but our grandchildren, or our great grandchildren, might possibly see a different and marvelous world.” (Zinn 18). Zinn explains all the things control and power has done to the world, but he finally states that is we finally rid ourselves from that, “life will be more satisfying”. He proposed that if we finally act and get together to change things, our future generations will “see a different and marvelous world”. Many say that utopian societies never change, however, that is not true. Utopias are all about change, and we need to make change. We can't just conform with society throws at us. Today, we all try to conform to fit into society, thinking that if we do just that, change will automatically be thrown at our faces. However, our different ideas will make the change of the marvelous future up ahead. Utopia is possible if we are willing to “fight” for it. Not physically fighting, but with actions and ideas. Leah Guest, an aspiring singer, rewrote the song ‘7 Years’ by Lukas Graham and exclaims in her rather meaningful lyrics, “I wanna make a change, make this place a little better / We need to live within a world where everybody matters / I don't wanna see anyone's sons or daughters cryin, cause they don't fit in with what society has taught them / I'll watch a generation rise up to change the nation, the past lays down foundations for the future celebrations” (Guest). She does not say one person will rise to make change, but rather a generation. Guest herself would like to be part of that generation, and make the change she would like to happen. She explains that we all need to be in the world where no one is rejected nor judged for who they are, but are accepted. That is where a utopia comes into place; utopia accepts the diversity of the people and individualism we all have. No one is meaningless, society can come together to make a change and in the bright, near future, our actions will be celebrated. Returning to Howard Zinn’s, ‘The Coming Revolt of the Guards’, history has shown that we can come together in our most difficult times. For example, Zinn elucidated, “World War II created a new unity, followed by an apparently successful attempt, in the atmosphere of the Cold War, to extinguish the strong radical temper of the war years.” (Zinn).