33 pages • 1 hour read
Aldous HuxleyIsland
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1962A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Western Consumerism
Western consumerism contrasts with the much more authentic, Palanese search for happiness. Murugan embodies Western consumerism. We see this in his desire to industrialize Pala and when reading the Sears catalog, given to him by Colonel Dipa. Will likens Dipa to the serpent from the Garden of Eden, replacing the Tree of Life with the Tree of Consumer Goods (163). Will recognizes that Dipa is grooming Murugan’s desire to possess things. Nothing will lead to Westernization more than initiating people into its consumer culture.
Pala is a foil for the West. In Pala, a citizen’s quality of life is not defined by the accumulation of goods. Envy and greed still exist to some extent, as they are inherent to the human condition. However, they don’t flourish. Pala’s citizens are conditioned from a young age to value themselves and achieve self-actualization. Murugan’s catalog appeals to the lesser aspects of his personality. It exemplifies the ways Western consumerism infiltrates unsuspecting populations. It is a more subtle form of colonialism, conducted by a corporation rather than a government.
The leaders of Pala accept the risk posed by rampant consumerism and concede that perhaps Pala will one day fall to it as many other nations do. However, they believe if the people of Pala find meaning that transcends material gain, they will be far less likely to succumb.
Mynah Bird
The mynah birds have been trained to speak the word “attention.” They act as constant reminders to value the present moment. The word “attention” opens the novel, suggesting its importance. Huxley seems to be telling readers to be aware and take heed of the messages in the book.
Murugan’s new regime at the end of the novel sees these birds as useless and contradictory to the march of modernity. Most likely, the Mynah will not last very long with the new regime in place. Materialist pursuits will presumably take their place.
Moksha Medicine
These mushrooms cause hallucinations. Moksha means “liberation;” the phrase can be translated as “liberation medicine.” Moksha is used to help people experience extreme states of awareness. Through awareness, one can experience Transcendence and Being Present. The medicine is highly valued in Pala. It is not viewed as a “drug.” The people of Pala do not share the derogatory opinions that Westerners have of hallucinogens. We see this when Dr. Robert objects to Murugan’s calling the mushrooms “dope.”
Will’s experience on Moksha is striking. Will does have moments where he sees unpleasant things, such as the female praying mantis who cannibalizes the male. However, Will also feels things more viscerally, such as when listening to Bach. After his experience, he says he knows what it means that “God is Love” (346). The effect of the Moksha for Will is profound and positive. Huxley raises the question of whether this type of medicine can provide benefits worth further investigation.
Related Titles
By Aldous Huxley
