“Feel how the Greater Being comes! Rejoice and, in rejoicings, die! Melt in the music of the drums! For I am you and you are I.” (Huxley,86) Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s ideas about totalitarian society share a common theme, the dehumanization of individuals through the imposition of a rigid ideology and the manipulation of technology for social control. Huxley portrays a society that values efficiency, consumption, and pleasure over human emotions, relationships, and creativity. Solzhenitsyn, on the other hand, emphasizes the oppressive nature of a regime that uses technology as a means of surveillance and punishment, reducing individuals to mere objects of production and manipulation. Both authors show how the principles of “survive at any price” and “only the material result counts” are central ethics to the culture of modern techno-totalitarianism, and how these principles can lead to the erosion of human values and freedom.

In Brave New World, the citizens of the World State are conditioned from birth to accept their predetermined roles in society, to consume goods and services produced by the state, and to avoid any form of emotional attachment or individuality that could undermine social stability. The “Controller”, when talking about the eradication of emotions states, “Our ancestors were so stupid and short-sighted that when the first reformers came along and offered to deliver them from those horrible emotions, they wouldn’t have anything to do with them.” (Huxley, 48). Emotions being portrayed as horrible/detrimental to the population illustrates how the government has essentially eradicated humanity in favor of productivity. The idea of wanting to have emotions is equated with short-sightedness indicating how far humanity has distanced itself from the traditional values of society. The New World society is controlled by a world state that has eliminated all individuality and the removal of emotion contributes to the ability to remove individuality. The government controls every aspect of their lives, from their reproductive behavior to their leisure activities, and uses technology to manipulate their minds and bodies for its own purposes. As a result, the citizens have lost their capacity for independent thought, creativity, and emotional depth, becoming mere automatons who live only for the present moment. The character of John is a great example of the inability of an individual with personal beliefs to integrate themselves into this rigid and conformist society. John represents the struggle of conformity and highlights the dissolutions between the new world and traditional values. He is a symbol of the importance of spirituality and human emotion, in a world where such values are marginalized and devalued. His character also highlights the dangers of a society that values efficiency, productivity, and pleasure over human relationships and emotions. 

Similarly, Solzhenitsyn portrays the Soviet system as a machine that treats individuals as interchangeable parts, reducing their humanity to mere statistics and targets for punishment or reward. The state uses technology to monitor and control every aspect of their lives, from their movements to their speech and employs a vast network of informers and secret police to root out dissent and enforce obedience. The ideology of communism demands absolute loyalty and sacrifice to the state, and any deviation from its norms is considered a threat to national security. Solzhenitsyn addresses why the political prisoners do not strike out against their treatments, “All these conditions were absent for the Article 58’s. Having passed through the meat grinder of political interrogation, the human being was physically crushed in body…But it wasn’t only his body. His soul was crushed too. (Solzhenitsyn, 504). The prisoners were cut off from everyone and taught that everything in their life was wrong because it had brought them to ruin. Prisoners were taught that doing anything that opposed the party organizer, the trade-union organizer, or the administration was the greatest wrong, and thieves and other real prisoners were let off for their crimes, unlike the political prisoners. Those imprisoned due to Article 58 were stripped of humanity and scared/ beaten into compliance.

Both Huxley and Solzhenitsyn show how the principles of “survive at any price” and “only the material result counts” can lead to the destruction of human values and the erosion of freedom. In Brave New World, the citizens are conditioned to seek pleasure and avoid pain at all costs, even if it means sacrificing their autonomy and individuality. They have no concept of love, loyalty, or sacrifice, and are willing to betray each other for the sake of their own pleasure or convenience. In Solzhenitsyn’s view, the Soviet regime’s obsession with material production led to the devaluation of human life and the erosion of social bonds. The regime’s emphasis on productivity and efficiency at any cost led to the exploitation of workers, the suppression of dissent, and the neglect of basic human needs.

The principles of “survive at any price” and “only the material result counts” are still very relevant to current society. In our current society, there is a pervasive culture of materialism, where individuals are encouraged to pursue wealth and success at all costs. People often measure their worth in terms of their possessions, status, and accomplishments, rather than their relationships, values, and personal growth. Furthermore, everything in life things to be equated with a price tag, education is a huge example. Additionally, the emphasis on efficiency and productivity has led to a world where people are expected to work long hours, sacrifice their personal lives, and put their well-being on hold in the pursuit of success. In this sense, the idea of “survive at any price” is very much a part of our modern culture, as people often prioritize their careers and schooling over their physical and mental health. The rise of technology and social media has also contributed to the culture of materialism and the idea that “only the material result counts.” Social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook encourage users to present an idealistic version of their lives, emphasizing their wealth, beauty, and accomplishments. People often feel pressure to conform to these standards of success and perfection, leading to a culture of comparison and competition.