Happiness is something that everyone can experience but, in the novel Brave New World the only emotion that the citizens can feel is happiness. The characters take a drug called Soma, something to prevent the people from being unhappy. Soma was created for the citizens to be under control and live the “ideal” life, which is to be happy forever and instead of working people would just have sex or take drugs. However, the people are unaware of the fact that the government has taught them “being happy is good, everyone should be happy” this was engraved into their minds because if the citizens were happy, they would be oblivious to the crimes the government is committing. The author specifically depicts the effects of the drugs have on the people, “Swallowing half an hour before closing time, that second dose of soma had raised a quite impenetrable wall between the actual universe and their minds.” (pg. 77). The government has brainwashed the people into thinking that there is nothing wrong in society, and like the author says, “impenetrable wall between the actual universe and their minds” the author specifically states that the soma acts as a blockage from the real world and the people’s minds. Also, the government creates a barrier between reality and people’s ability to feel mistreated, therefore the people are unconscious of the decisions that they are making. Through this process of false happiness people are blind to the reality of corruption in society.
