Josh answers “What is the significance of soma in the...”

Matthew Broman asked this question about Brave New World:

What is the significance of soma in the book? Is it suppose to be like a Sodium Floride/Mind Control type substance to keep the people submissive or what? If someone could help clarify that for me I would appreicate it...thank you

Josh It doesn't answer your question, but I find Soma fascinating. Ancient cultures consumed a ritual beverage they called Soma that was brewed from indige…moreIt doesn't answer your question, but I find Soma fascinating. Ancient cultures consumed a ritual beverage they called Soma that was brewed from indigenous plants. We still don't know what it contained, but we think it was a drug of some sort. Some speculations include cannabis, ephedra, or even hallucinogens. Even today we have a pharmaceutical drug we call Soma which is a very strong muscle relaxer.

Now to try to answer your question. Huxley's Soma is quite simply a catch all. It's the glue that holds his utopia together. It's a device he uses to eliminate any possible discomfort that the world he created does not otherwise control. I don't see it as a form of mind control but I see mind control as a result of the total conditioning that people in this world experience.(less)

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