Brave New World written by Aldous Huxley is a book about a Utopian Society that thrives on stability rather than freedom. This futile, yet widely accepted society was gone against by one man, John the Savage. John’s mother, Linda, accidentally conceived him in the World State but soon after, moved to the savage reservation to give birth to him. Living in the savage reservation all his life, John had merely heard stories about the World State through his mother. The excitement he once had about moving to the World State was short lived as he was being given a tour of the society. John is accepted in the World State but he begins to have a difficult time dealing with the principles one has to follow in that society. Huxley develops Lenina’s character in such a way where she is described as “pneumatic” and basically, a wrench. Lenina develops a strong sexual attraction towards John. He loves Lenina but their views on love differ, causing more issues in their already troubled relationship. Lenina views love as only having to do with sex while John wants a real relationship with her. The …show more content…
conditioning the World State had done to Lenina makes her fear the same emotional commitment that John is longing for. In conversation with Lenina, John says, “I wanted to do something first… I mean, to show I was worthy of you” (189). Lenina still fails to realize what love is and wants John to fulfill her sexual needs. John cannot bear Lenina’s views on love which eventually takes a toll on their relationship as a whole. John’s frustration with the constant pressure to engage in sexual activities overtakes him and his relationship with Lenina becomes violent. Although he is now living in the World State, the principles the savage reservation had taught him are the only set of morals he follows. The death of John’s mother, Linda, is the changing point in John’s life. The type of relationship he and his mother once had was nonexistent in the World State. Therefore, the citizens of the World State could not express sympathy towards John for the loss of his mother. The members of the society went against him because his principals questioned the status quo of their society. After their unexpected reactions, John began to rebel against the World State. He thinks, “Linda had been a slave, Linda had died; others should live in freedom, and the world be made beautiful” (210). After reflecting on his mother’s death, he throws out the soma. He comes to the conclusion that he needs to free the citizens from this utopian society that is causing more harm than happiness. After his talk with Mustapha Mond, he comes to the realization that the citizens of this community cannot be freed. They have been conditioned to the point where they feel the world cannot get any better than the World State. The society will not change so John feels as he has no other choice but to leave and suffer in a location far away. John originated from a savage reservation who strongly believed in love and marriage.
When he moved to the World State, he was appalled by their lack of love and emotion. Lenina is afraid of commitment as she was conditioned to be. With the help of John, she began to realize that love is more than sex. It is an emotional commitment to someone that they will uphold for however long. John’s relationship with Lenina is the only example of lust and true love in the World State. With the surprising death of his mother, John rebels against the World State which is the climax of the novel. Through his rebellion, John proves that freedom is better than stability. Throughout the novel, he would not alter his principals to fit those of the World State. By moving to a new location, he shows that he is a true savage. He ends up living the savage life he was destined to from the
beginning. Aldous Huxley makes John appear as though he changed a lot throughout the story. Although he might have changed on the outside, his inner self has not changed. The savage reservation he grew up on had the greatest influence on his life. He had the chance to be a part of the Utopian Society but he chose to be a savage. As he was taught, John proves that the morals he set for himself mean a lot to him. Although the reactions he had to the World State were violent and emotional, he still managed to stay true to who he was. The amount of bravery he has increases as the story goes on. John’s true identity was unscathed from the beginning to the end of the story.
The adult John comes to civilized society as an experiment by Marx and Mond to see how a "savage" would adapt to civilization. Frankly, he does not adapt very well. He is appalled by the lifestyle and ideas of civilized people, and gets himself into a lot of trouble by denouncing civilization. He loves Lenina very much, but gets very upset at her when she wants to have sex with him. He physically attacks her, and from that point on does not want to have anything to do with her. When his mother dies, he interferes with the "death conditioning" of children by being sad. Finally, his frustrations with the civilized world become too much for him and he decides to take action. He tries to be a sort of a Messiah to a group of Deltas, trying to free them from the effect of soma. He tells them only the truth, but it is not the truth that the Deltas have been conditioned to believe, so to them it is a violent lie and they begin to cause a riot. When the riot is subdued, John is apprehended and taken to have a talk with Mustapha Mond.
The memory of his father being vaporized also serves as a catalyst for his hatred of Big Brother and leads him... ... middle of paper ... ... y 190). But Lenina doesn’t see. She is too set in her ways and John is too set in his ways.
John’s character had the most violent and dramatic conflict centered around his sexual desire for Lenina, religion and romance.
In the first couple of chapters, Lenina, a young woman, is introduced. When we first meet her, we learn that she has been seeing a guy, Henry, for the past 4 months. The reader can assume that this is normal, since the same happens in our everyday lives, but we soon discover that this is abnormal. In the new world, a regulation is set that men and woman cannot be in committed relationships, but are supposed to have sex with as many men or woman possible. The fact that she is not promiscuous enough can get her into trouble. “And you know how strongly the D. H. C. objects to anything intense or long-drawn… why, he’d be furious if he knew…” (Huxley, 41) As the story progresses, however, she becomes an example of new world regulations, admitting that she had sex with many men. “She was a popular girl and, at one time or another, had spent a night with almost all of them.” (Huxley, 57) Old world r...
For example, on his first date with Lenina, Lenina states ”I’d rather be myself. Just as the Author finishes his elaboration of how despicable the World State successfully disclosed lovesickness, and everything that goes along with frustrated desire. John gives the reader the first glimpse into a character’s private thoughts. This character is one who is lovesick, jealous, and suggestively angry towards his sexual rivals. John subtly expresses his anger towards Henry Foster and Benito Hoover, whom are two characters from the novel that are very different from him.
While much was going on in Huxley’s life, many other events were occurring in the world. In the late 1920s to the early 1930s, life in Europe was not easy (Predas). A worldwide outbreak of the influenza killed more than twenty-million people during the period between the two World Wars (Predas). With the death of so many people, the thousands that were lost during war and those lost due to the influenza epidemic, an incredible level of tension was rising among those in Europe and the rest of the world. Such ...
Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, portrays a future society where people are no longer individuals but are controlled by the World State. The World State dominates the people by creating citizens that are content with who they are. Brave New World describes how the science of biology and psychology are manipulated so that the government can develop technologies to change the way humans think and act. The World State designs humans from conception to this society. Once the humans are within the society, the state ensures all people remain happy.
... suddenly two tears rolled down her cheeks. Inaudibly, she spoke again; then, with a quick, impassioned gesture stretched out her arms towards the Savage, stepped forward."(227). She along with John are the only people to have cried in the world state,this leads us to believe that Lenina has some degree of feelings for John.The changes in the characters of Bernard, Lenina and John occur as a result of some sort of passion or need..
Even the love of his life, Lenina, was going around town sleeping with everyone she sets her eyes on. John’s moral beliefs and
Brave New World expresses the idea that people in problemed societies are constantly trying to justify, avoid, or hide the flaws with their society including, but not limited to, people in the government. Huxley expresses this through the use of repetitive and abundant symbolism.
This central idea is underlined foremost through the use of contrast between the way the citizens of the World State and John the Savage talk. The manner in which John expresses his emotions allows the readers to view the rules of the government from an outsider 's perspective. Moreover, the repetition of the hypnopaedic phrases throughout the novel provides a constant reminder of the control that the World State has on its people. Finally, the exchange between Mustapha Mond and John gives the readers the opportunity to question the values placed on society and find reason behind the decisions of authority. Essentially, in Brave New World, Huxley effectively uses dialogue to highlight the suppression that the World State has on the freedom of society. This thought-provoking novel explores the idea of whether it is favourable to be happy and restrained or to be conscious and
One distinguishing factor of John is his belief in multiple higher powers. In the Reservation there are many different belief systems acknowledged, whereas in the World State, citizens only believe in the fabricated Ford and Freud. To explain why the World State is without God, the World Controller Mustapha Mond claims, “God isn’t compatible with machinery and scientific medicine and universal happiness” (Huxley 234). Believing in God goes against the World State’s stipulation of its citizens being continuously happy. In addition to believing in traditional religion, John the Savage has a passion for reading and intellect. At a young age John was given the works of William Shakespeare. In the World State no one has the desire for knowledge, so John is seen as outlandish for having read anything other than books of reference. John is told, “We don’t encourage them to indulge in any solitary amusements” when he asks about what the libraries in the World State contain (Huxley 163). Much the same, the character Helmholtz Watson stands out amongst the World State
Chapter 4-8 Starting off chapter 4, Lenina and Bernard Marx are sharing a crowded elevator heading to the roof (Huxley 57). While in front of everyone, she tells Bernard that she will go on a date with him. The public display embarrasses Bernard, who would prefer to talk it over in private (Huxley 58-62). Lenina laughs at his awkwardness and then takes off with Henry Foster in a helicopter for a date night (Huxley 63). We then learn more about Bernard and how he deals with his problems. Then after blowing some steam off Bernard gets in his vehicle and flies away to visit Helmholtz Watson (Huxley 66-71). The main reason why these guys are friends is because they both are different compared to everyone else in the world. Watson and Bernard are capable
Aldous Huxley’s most influential novel, Brave New World, fabricated a society with a restrictive government, widely distributed mood-altering drugs, unchaste morals, and suppressed individuality. Under the control of directors, world societies are comprised of genetically altered humans created in labs, that are conditioned into castes and modified for maximum productivity. In Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, a world of manufactured comfort opposes the norms of today’s society. The introduction of John the Savage represents the conflict between present-day society and its satirical counter-society.
Throughout the story, you can see that this character represents a typical human in our society. And finally Lenina, she is the woman who sleeps with every man who will talk to her. She causes both John and Bernard lots of problems throughout the story because of her beauty and way of thinking.