In the book Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, John, also known as Mr. Savage, has an encounter that is so influential on him he is never quite the same. This experience severely distances him from what he has known his entire life. Thus, by fracturing his worldview, messing with his idea of right and wrong, and exposing him to an irreconcilable philosophy, the experience reflects one of the main themes of the book, exile. Before leaving his reservation, John had always viewed the civilized world as a “wonder” (page 139). When given the offer to see it, “his eyes shone”, “his face was brightly flushed”, and he laughed for “pure joy” (all page 139). This shows that he had great expectations of what he would see, and how wonderful he thought
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He believed that one person can only belong to another, “for ever” (page 139). But upon being exposed to the reality of “everybody belongs to everyone else” (page 121), he started to wonder what the world is really like. He slowly learned how different his culture was from this “Brave New World”. The feely only confirmed that this society revolves around things that John considers “base” and “ignoble” (page 170), leaving John feeling “defiled” (page 241), and starting his downward spiral. In “pained bewilderment” (page 162), he learned that the civilized world finds his culture to be “extraordinarily funny” (page 162) and that they do not care for his beliefs. When it comes to the fact that his mother is dying, not only do they consider having a mother to be “an obscenity” (page 153), they do not show any empathy or sympathy for him. And to add insult to injury, the mocking of his mother wasn’t considered “disgraceful” (page 202), and that his mother’s dignity was less important than the children’s death conditioning. With Lenina’s advances, the society’s sacrilegious behavior, and Linda’s defacing, he could stay no more. The civilized world’s morals were too distinct from what he grew up with, and directly contrasted from what he believed to be right. He decided to leave London, to atone for what he believed were sins during his exile from his
He believed that one person can only belong to another, “for ever” (page 139). But upon being exposed to the reality of “everybody belongs to everyone else” (page 121), he started to wonder what the world is really like. He slowly learned how different his culture was from this “Brave New World”. The feely only confirmed that this society revolves around things that John considers “base” and “ignoble” (page 170), leaving John feeling “defiled” (page 241), and starting his downward spiral. In “pained bewilderment” (page 162), he learned that the civilized world finds his culture to be “extraordinarily funny” (page 162) and that they do not care for his beliefs. When it comes to the fact that his mother is dying, not only do they consider having a mother to be “an obscenity” (page 153), they do not show any empathy or sympathy for him. And to add insult to injury, the mocking of his mother wasn’t considered “disgraceful” (page 202), and that his mother’s dignity was less important than the children’s death conditioning. With Lenina’s advances, the society’s sacrilegious behavior, and Linda’s defacing, he could stay no more. The civilized world’s morals were too distinct from what he grew up with, and directly contrasted from what he believed to be right. He decided to leave London, to atone for what he believed were sins during his exile from his