John As A Christ Figure In Brave New World

One of the main protagonists within Brave New World--John--expresses beliefs connecting to the essence of Christ. Therefore, the embodiment of Christ displays John's desire to save the world that criticizes his ideals. John represents this Christ figure through the decisions he enacts. A Christ figure, according to Foster, consists of features such as: self-sacrificial actions, crucifixion, and the redemption of a world that is not worthy.
These features embody the persona of John, allowing the reader to connect his actions to the manifestation of Christ. Lashing at himself with a “whip of knotted cords”(Huxley 255), John emanates an aura of self-sacrifice. Furthermore, Christ was sacrificed for the greater good of man. Similarly, John’s

actions are equivalent in the desire to impact man and spark change in society. The conclusion of the novel embraces this notion when John commits suicide. Dangling in multiple directions, John’s feet symbolize “compass needles”(Huxley 267), providing an interpretation that his death represents direction for the conditioned people. It can be assumed that society may look at this devastating sacrifice as a means to change their ways. John’s figure, representing a symbol of what the consequences are when someone “normal” tries to live in this corrupt society, becomes a symbol for the leaders of this society to reflect on their rulings of the world. The self-sacrificial intentions of John are identified when he thinks about Lenina. When John becomes overwhelmed, he jumps into a juniper bush that is, “sharp, with a thousand points”(Huxley 259). This act of harming himself radiates a notion that in order to eliminate the positive thoughts of the corrupt world, he must eliminate himself. Therefore, in order to cleanse himself of his thoughts, he reverts to sacrificial behavior. The needles prick his body, possibly resembling the crown of thorns that Christ wears to his crucifixion.
Foster explains when is a character is “crucified” (Foster 119), they resemble a Christ figure, supporting John's actions when he extends his arms as if he “were on the Cross” (Huxley 251).

While John resumes his position, he begins to experience “excruciating agony” (Huxley 251). In Foster’s novel, he describes how notions of a Christ figure include “agony”(Foster 119), offering a correlation between John’s crucifixion as well as Christs. As Foster explains, the author may be trying to get the reader to view the character with, “redemption, or hope, or miracle”(Foster 124). Incidentally, John’s characterization contains those three interpretations of a Christ figure as seen when he has an incredible desire to save the people of the Hospital of the Dying from soma. John emphasizes how soma is “poison to soul as well as body” (Huxley 217), therefore he attempts to try and save this rotten world from soma, which acts as the antagonist against John. In this case John wishes to “bring [them] freedom”(Huxley 217), unveiling the purpose for his actions. Foster accentuates how a Christ figure works in order to “redeem an unworthy world” (Foster 120).This same goal is desired by John, which is prominent when he opposes soma. Since soma dominates the world, it allows the population to submit to the unworthy beliefs of society. When John is seen opposing soma, it accentuates John’s purpose--to save the corrupt world from

itself.
John pursues multiple activities that are consistent with notions that embody Christ. These actions allow his behavior to be observed with greater significance in accordance to their purpose. Foster’s description of Christ relates to John through his self sacrifice, crucifixion, and his desire to redeem a corrupt world.