Possible Influences on Blake's 7
By ?
Brave New World
Blake's 7 seems to owe Aldous Huxley's novel some debt of gratitude, although
the Federation is nowhere near as benign a government as the World State, it
does 'homage' some of it's background:
- Grading - People in society are graded according to their intelligence
and ability, even the names given to the grades are the same: Alpha (most
intelligent), Beta, Gamma, Delta (least intelligent). Unlike the World
Government, the Federation doesn't go as far as actually impressing desired
characteristics on embryos, but it would probably do so if it had the
ability. It does treat each section differently, for instance it is clear
that Alpha grades like Avon and Blake led a much more privileged lifestyle
than the Beta Grade Gan, or the officially Delta Grade Vila (he claims he
purchased his grading to remain inconspicuous).
- Adrenalin and Soma. Soma is the the drug that almost the entire human
race is addicted to in Brave New World. It is a specially engineered chemical
which induces feelings of well being and happiness - at least for a short
while. In Blake's 7 Adrenalin and Soma is a popular drink, (Vila, ever the
connoseur, is seen drinking it or demanding it several times). Indeed in one
episode where the crew are feeling particularly stressed out, Cally is
refusing to dispense any more on the grounds of public safety, so it is quite
possible that it has a similar effect to the literary Soma.
1984
This book is perhaps the most obviously connected to the Federation, with
it's ever present thought police, official government surveliance of civil
affairs and opressive methods ofgovernment. Even Blake's brainwashing (which
took place some time before the series actually starts) is analogous to
the sufferings of Winston at the hands of O'Brien. Both end up loving (or at
least succumbing) to the forces which they previously opposed. Both
governments also seem to emphasise the primacy of society over individualism,
all projects, and ultimately all major enterprise are at least indirectly
state owned, and it seems that (from our admittedly limited point of view)
none of the federation characters including the crew have any private
orpersonal interests outside of work.
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Last changed on 17th of June 2000