Brave New World Alienation Analysis

Between the Reservation in which John grew up and the modern world surrounding it, there are many differences which John finds both alienating and enriching throughout the novel. Through these differences, John feels alienated in the Brave New World that conflicts with his personal beliefs. However, John also finds enrichment in making the case for a life containing work and misery. This combination of alienation and enrichment experienced by John serves to juxtapose basic ideals about how individuals ought to live.
From the beginning of John’s experiences with the new world he encounters, the society alienates him as an outsider. Indeed, as soon as John yelled out “Father” to the Director, “laughter broke out, enormous, almost hysterical, peal after peal, as though it would never stop” (Pg. 151). John soon feels alienated on a personal level in his disagreement with the society’s ideals in a conflict with Dr. Shaw. While John argues that “shortening [Linda’s] life by giving her so much” soma isn’t right, Dr. Shaw claims that

“every soma-holiday” lasts an eternity (Pg. 154). Later in the novel, John contemptuously disagrees with Lenina about the meaning of romantic relationships. While Lenina sees no problem with ‘having someone’ without any dedication or commitment, John sees it as a requirement. He explains that he’d “sweep the floor if [Lenina] wanted” despite that it wasn’t necessary, to demonstrate how much he loves Lenina (Pg. 191). However, Lenina overlooks the dedication John attempts to show for her and instead focuses simply on whether John wants to ‘have’ her, which creates further alienation for John.
Although John is initially alienated in his disagreements with others in the Brave New World, he also finds enrichment.

John disagrees with Lenina about relationships, but is enriched by his own realization of what a relationship means. He defines true love as being permanent and an integral part of marriage, and explains that love meant a willingness to work through meaningless labor just because a loved one wishes for it (Pg. 191). Towards the end of the novel, John finds himself enriched by creating a life for himself in direct contrast to the lifestyles of others he experienced in the Brave New World. When buying basic needs for his new home, he swore to himself that “he would never eat” the processed foods of civilization, and thought to himself that his restraint against luxury would “teach them” and also “teach him” (Pg. 247). Ultimately, John creates enrichment from alienating experiences by defying the ideals he was presented

with.
Through John’s experiences, the author reveals the theme of hard work’s importance, and juxtaposes it against the Brave New World’s theme of desire for luxury and modern conveniences. John’s alienation and enrichment serves to critique conventional beliefs about what qualifies as a utopian or ideal society, and indirectly proposes arguments and counterarguments on either side in John’s disagreements with others in the modern world.
In the novel, John feels initially alienated by the disagreements he has with others in the modern world. Eventually, however, John becomes enriched through these experiences by offering his own counterarguments and creating a life of his own in which he practices his own personal beliefs. Through the contrast between John’s beliefs and those of the Brave New World, the work is illuminated by arguments which attempt to define a utopian society and a morally upstanding lifestyle. John’s actions and behavior critique the idea that reward should be without sacrifice, and further the theme that hard work and misery make love meaningful.