What is Soma in Brave New World?
In Aldous Huxley's 1932 dystopian novel, Brave New World, soma is a government-issued drug serving as a tool for social control. It provides immediate euphoria and eliminates negative emotions, ensuring the population remains content and compliant with no apparent side effects. Different doses offer effects from calming to hallucinatory "holidays". The state encourages its use to maintain stability, effectively replacing personal struggle with chemically-induced contentment. As a World Controller in the novel states, "Christianity without tears—that’s what soma is".
The Rise of Modern Psychopharmacology
The mid-20th century saw the emergence of psychopharmacology, leading to the widespread use of medications for altering mood and mind, a development Huxley seemed to anticipate. Antidepressants and anxiolytics are the primary real-world parallels to soma.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs, such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft), are common antidepressants for depression and anxiety. They work by increasing serotonin in the brain, improving mood and reducing anxious thoughts. SSRIs reflect soma's role in promoting long-term mood stability and social functioning. Antidepressant use in individuals aged 12-25 increased by 66.3% from 2016 to 2022, largely due to SSRIs.
Benzodiazepines: The 'Holiday' from Anxiety
Benzodiazepines like diazepam (Valium) provide rapid relief from acute anxiety by enhancing the effect of GABA, a neurotransmitter with calming effects. Their fast action is comparable to taking soma for an immediate escape. However, unlike soma, benzodiazepines risk dependence and are not for long-term use. Early tranquilizers like meprobamate (Miltown), which has sedative properties, were noted by Huxley as resembling his fictional drug.
The 'Soma' Coincidence: A Muscle Relaxant
A prescription drug named Soma (carisoprodol) exists, but it is a muscle relaxant for musculoskeletal pain, not a psychotropic drug like Huxley's creation. The real-life Soma works by altering pain perception in the spinal cord and brain and metabolizes into meprobamate. Due to its abuse potential, it is a Schedule IV controlled substance.
Comparison Table: Fictional Soma vs. Real-Life Medications
| Feature | Fictional Soma (Brave New World) | SSRIs (e.g., Prozac, Zoloft) | Benzodiazepines (e.g., Valium, Xanax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Induce happiness, social stability, and eliminate negative feelings. | Treat depression and anxiety disorders by regulating mood over time. | Provide rapid, short-term relief from acute anxiety and panic. |
| Mechanism | Fictional; described as a perfect euphoriant and hallucinogen. | Increase serotonin levels in the brain. | Enhance the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA. |
| Side Effects | None described in the novel; considered a perfect drug. | Various, including nausea, insomnia, and sexual dysfunction. | Drowsiness, dizziness, high potential for dependence and addiction. |
| Social Function | A political institution to ensure a compliant, pacified populace. | Medical treatment to help individuals function and engage with society and therapy. | Short-term medical treatment, but often abused recreationally. |
Huxley's Vision: Pharmacology as Social Control
Huxley warned about drugs as tools for social control, stating that a pharmacological method could make people "love their servitude". He envisioned a society pacified by chemicals, raising concerns about using medication to numb ourselves to life's difficulties. Brave New World suggests that prioritizing painless pleasure risks freedom and humanity.
Conclusion
No single drug is a direct real-life equivalent of soma, but its properties are seen in modern pharmacology. SSRIs show the widespread use of drugs for mood management and social function, like soma's role as a societal stabilizer. Benzodiazepines resemble soma's immediate, escapist effect. The strongest parallel is the cultural trend of using chemical solutions for unhappiness, a phenomenon Huxley predicted. Brave New World prompts us to consider if this reliance leads to well-being or, as Huxley feared, makes us love our servitude.
