“Even after decanting, he’s still inside a bottle–an invisible bottle of infantile and embryonic

fixations. Each one of us, of course,” the Controller meditatively continued, “goes through life
inside a bottle. But if we happen to be Alphas, our bottles are, relatively speaking, enormous. We
should suffer acutely if we were confined in a narrower space.” (247-248).

This quote represents a metaphor, or an implicit comparison between two elements to assert that
they are identical in nature. In Chapter One, ‘bottles’ are introduced as a way to create and grow
humans. Confinement is a theme that permeates throughout the novel. As the story progresses,
being ‘bottled’ describes their lives being confined in a narrow, controlled space, where they
cannot do much to change their circumstances. Literally, embryos are grown inside a bottle;
metaphorically, adults live within the boundaries, or the rules that were imposed in the Word
State. They persisted to live inside a big bottle otherwise known as their own society.

***

“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.” (80).

This is a good example of imagery, as it creates a visual representation of an idea, or the

prevailing theme in the story. Soma is handed out to all the World State citizens for free, and
while it superficially symbolizes euphoria, the drug really aims to avoid one’s reality. The
‘impenetrable wall’ will help the reader visualize the citizen’s susceptibility to propaganda; once
they take the soma, their minds become impenetrable. They were put in a state where they can
use their imagination to do whatever pleases them, or be who they want to be. This is where the
World State banked on - the false sense of pleasure and contentment provided by soma.

***

“Of course it does. Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-
compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn’t nearly so spectacular as instability. And
being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the
picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt.
Happiness is never grand” (246).

Sarcasm, usually in the form of ironic remarks, intends to satirize a situation. In this line, The
Controller used sarcasm in an attempt to prove a point. He says that happiness always appears
extremely unpleasant compared to being overwhelmed with misery. He believes obtaining actual
happiness has no value, that there is no point in fighting against stiff competition just to acquire
it. The Controller wanted to emphasize that happiness is always flawed with obstruction, but the
more you encounter struggles, and face chances of failure, the more happiness becomes
meaningful. The very concept of the World State suggests that one will acquire more happiness
when he devalues the quality of life, thus being confined in a controlling society.

***

“Well, he manifests himself as an absence; as though he weren’t there at all . . . Call it the fault
of civilization. God isn’t compatible with machinery and scientific medicine and universal
happiness” (261).

Satire is characterized as a means to expose or correct a mistake or foolishness by artful

mockery. Human frailty is commonly discussed in satire, often with the tone of amusement or
indignation to illustrate its flaws. Similarly, the line refers to Mond’s notion of human emotions
that believe in God, or their natural inclination to claim that there is one. He thinks a stable
society is deemed to be sacrilegious, and vice versa. As the Controller, he believes religion - as
part of our political and social structures - is one of humanity’s flaws. God is incompatible with
modernity and progress, and is inessential when you live in a world that practices universal
happiness.

***

“Because our world is not the same as Othello’s world. You can’t make flivvers without steel–
and you can’t make tragedies without social instability. The world’s stable now. People are
happy; they get what they want, and they never want what they can’t get” (244).

This is an indirect reference to another literary work that is not really a part of the novel, but
gives the reader a familiar feeling that further divulges the story, thus an allusion. This is a
reference to Othello, one of Shakespeare’s most popular tragedies. The line aims to compare the
far-reaching differences between a dystopian world, and a world that, in nature, may be unstable
but is filled with passion. Flivvers are created through steel; these elements go side by side.
Conversely, Othello’s elevated status does not mean that he is not susceptible to insecurities; his
braveness and intelligence did not go well with his frailties, thus the comparison.