Brave New World John Character Analysis

Throughout Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, John stays true to his unwavering moral values while his utopian view on the Brave New World community changes to total rejection. His first impression of the community comes early on, from his mother, during his time at the Savage Reservation. Linda, as a former member of the BNW community herself, recounts many of her past experiences which give John a very positive, utopian idea of this society. Bernard’s tour of the community is where John’s view on Brave New World, but not his identity itself, change drastically. The major change in John’s character, though, takes place as he seeks to purify himself from the influence the Brave New World community has on him.

While Linda is a big influence on John’s initial view of Brave New World, John forms all other aspects of his identity on his own, from a young age. Growing up with he and his mother being hated by members of the savage reservation, John takes pride in doing something he knows the other children in his community can’t do: reading. He particularly enjoys the works of Shakespeare, which help him express himself when nothing else can. Along with the

strict adherence to his religion, which is required by the reservation, these books help form John’s values and his character. John’s love of Shakespeare is shown through his many uses of quotes from his books, most notably “O brave new world, that has such people in it!” (139) John proclaims this multiple times throughout the novel, the first time in anticipation of the “utopia” that he believes awaits him.

John’s anticipation and excitement of the Brave New World society is shortlived as Bernard shows him its many aspects throughout their tour. His admiration turns to hatred as he is continually disgusted by what he finds in this new community. Things such as soma and the Bokanovsky twins repulse John to the point that he throws up. This tour is the second time he exclaims Shakespeare’s quote, “O brave new world that has such people in it,” (160) only this time in disgust of the Brave New World community. John even rejects the one thing he seems to admire, Lenina, as even he is repulsed by his own desire for someone so impure. This is where John’s character seems to change, as his morals prove to be one of the most important things to him and he remains true to those while seeking to purify himself from what the Brave New World society has done to him.

The major development seen in John’s character takes place near the end of the story, as he seeks a more pure life in a remote location. John feels as though he’s been poisoned by this new civilization, “I ate civilization. It poisoned me; I was defiled. And then, I ate my own wickedness.” (241) He wants to not only live a noble life, but to make this life on his own, so chooses an abandoned lighthouse, far enough away from the disaster of a community he views Brave New World as. John shows the true savage in him, living the life he had been accustomed to before Brave New World. This is a major change from the identity he showed before being poisoned by this civilization, but once again he stays true to his values by leading this new life on his own. John’s strong moral values prove to be the one constant in his character.

While it may appear, on the outside, that John’s character goes though some major changes throughout the course of Brave New World, it’s clear that his inner identity remains the same.

He proves that his time at the savage reservation was a huge influence on his character, seeking a life like the one he had always known, even after being given the opportunity to be a part of what some would consider a utopian society. John also shows that his moral values mean more to him than just about anything, remaining true to them no matter what his character may be experiencing in the real world, and despite all the changes he goes through on the outside. With this in mind, it’s clear that aspects of his character such as strength, bravery, and commitment to his values develop, but his identity is the same throughout the

story.