Brave New World

Within Aldous Huxley’s work of Brave New World, there are two characters, Bernard Marx and Helmholtz Watson that are a part of the world state, but they are isolated and different then everyone else. Bernard and Helmholtz are both Alpha-plus males; they are the highest class within their society. Bernard is physically shorter than all the other alphas, and is insecure about his size and status. Helmholtz on the other hand is very intelligent and physically attractive. Both individuals share a discontent with life in the world state. Bernard is discontent because he does not fit in, but Helmholtz is discontent because he feels that his work is empty and meaningless and he is dissatisfied with life. Helmholtz’ difference, his “mental excess”, within the world state society is the cause for his dissatisfaction of life in the world state and stimulates his desire to reach for something greater.

Helmholtz has everything and more in the world state. He is at the peak in his society; he is very intelligent and he is physically attractive as well, though throughout the book, Helmholtz is not satisfied with his life in the world state. Huxley describes that, “Helmholtz so uncomfortably aware of being himself and all alone was too much ability” (67). Helmholtz’s intelligence is unmatched by anyone in the world state and he realizes this. Knowing that he is smarter than anyone else he sets himself apart from the rest of society; he sees himself as an individual. Huxley describes Helmholtz as “uncomfortably aware” of his differences. He is clear to his differences in the world state. He has had six hundred and forty different girls in four years, which even in their society is quite a feat. He even writes the hypnopaedic rhymes which would ...

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...the first step of change, which is dissenting from the society and all its laws. Also Helmholtz requests a region with bad climate, Huxley is explains how through trials good things come out. Just as through the bad climate, he would be able to write better.

Helmholtz’ “mental excess” causes him to isolate himself from the world. He is different from everyone else and is dissatisfied with life in the World state. Unlike Bernard, he does not simply want to be able to fit into society, but he searches for something more. He has the potential to do more that what the world state offers, and so he tries to grasp it in whatever way he can. He denies society comforts and pleasures so that he may focus on achieving his potential. Helmholtz changes himself, and by the end of the book he is given the opportunity to fulfill his passion to write and is becomes truly content.