In Chapter 15 of “Brave New World,” John is at Park Lane Hospital for the Dying, where his mother, Linda, has just passed away right in front of him. Disturbed by the hospital’s cold, detached atmosphere and the citizens’ indifference to death, John passionately protests the distribution of soma, the drug used to pacify people. He throws the soma on the ground and urges the patients to reject it, seeking genuine human emotion and freedom. This act sparks a chaotic confrontation, with the hospital staff and patients turning on John. Helmholtz and Bernard arrive and only Helmholtz joins John in resisting, while Bernard Marx stands by passively. Eventually, the police intervene, dispersing soma gas to calm everyone down and arresting John, Helmholtz, and Bernard. This scene underscores the conflict between individuality and the World State’s control, highlighting the struggle for authentic human experiences.
In “Brave New World,” John’s insistence on rejecting soma mirrors the modern call for people to disconnect from their screens and embrace real-world interactions. Just as John challenges the numbing effects of soma and urges people to feel genuine emotions, we often encourage others to put their phones down and experience life directly. In both scenarios, the goal is to break free from artificial distractions and to reconnect with authentic human experiences. The conflict in both cases arises from the tension between superficial comfort and the messy, but meaningful, reality of human emotions.
In essence, both John’s rebellion and our modern-day calls for mindfulness serve as reminders that true connection and genuine experience are vital to our humanity. #BraveNewWorld