The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley both examine the idea of a “permanent lie” that is spread by those in authority. Huxley’s dystopian society in Brave New World is based on the idea that citizens should be trained to accept their preset social rank, with the state in charge of every aspect of their lives. Contrarily, Solzhenitsyn explores the function of propaganda in Soviet Russia, where the state purposefully spread untruths to deceive and subjugate the general population. Both authors emphasize the perils of a society based on deception, and their writings are still relevant today. In Brave New World, the citizens are conditioned to believe that their way of life is ideal, and they are taught to worship their leaders as if they were gods. The novel’s protagonist, Bernard Marx, begins to question this reality when he encounters a group of “Savage” individuals who live outside the confines of the state. One of the most poignant passages in the novel describes Bernard’s realization that the world he lives in is a lie: “It was as though he had waited all his life for this moment and had been slowly sinking down, down into deep green waters, and now, at last, he was through the bright surface, had once more come up into the air, at the top of a cliff, looking down into the smiling ripples of green below” (loc. 1050). Bernard’s experience is a metaphor for the awakening of those who realize that the world they live in is built on falsehoods. Similarly, Solzhenitsyn’s description of the “permanent lie” in The Gulag Archipelago speaks to the power of propaganda to shape public opinion. He writes, “The permanent lie becomes the only safe form of existence, in the same way as betrayal. Every wag of the tongue can be overheard by someone, every facial expression observed by someone. Therefore every word, if it does not have to be a direct lie, is nonetheless obliged not to contradict the general, common lie” (p. 76). Solzhenitsyn argues that in a totalitarian state, the truth becomes a threat to those in power, and the only way to maintain control is to perpetuate a lie that is accepted by the masses. There are still examples of a “permanent lie” in our society today. To see how quickly lies may be propagated and believed, one just needs to consider the prevalence of misleading information and fake news on social media. The rise of populist movements around the world is evidence that political leaders also employ propaganda to sway public opinion. It is up to individuals to remain watchful and look for the truth since the dangers of a society based on deceit are obvious. In conclusion, The Gulag Archipelago by Solzhenitsyn and Brave New World by Huxley both provide insightful analyses of the perils of a lie-based society. The artwork serves as a reminder that the search of the truth requires vigilance because it is constantly in danger. Even if it’s still difficult for us to tell fact from fiction, the principles these authors taught us are still applicable today. As Solzhenitsyn writes, “The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie” (p. 76). We must all strive to be those courageous individuals, standing up for the truth and resisting the pull of the permanent lie.
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