Did John "Overcompensat[e] for Misery"?
"In Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World", one may ponder if would-be hero John Savage could have had any other possible outcome other than his unfortunate suicide at the closing of the novel. Although one may argue that suicide is always preventable, because of John's unique conditioning, his ultimate demise could not have been avoided by any other possible situations. His expectations of the new world-his supposed Shakespeare world-are much too extremist. John has no chance of ever fitting in either society because of his mixed conditioning that is deeply incompatible with the new world. His deep seeded idealism and hope of belonging added to his disappointment of the corrupt society. Refusing to be …show more content…
Even though in the new world the individual does not exist, John's decision to commit suicide allows him to take complete control of his individuality. The DHC explains it best when he expresses that " murder only kills the individual - what is an individual anyway?"(Huxley 148). However, John's demise is not created in the Predestination Room; rather, by his own hand. John's suicide should be viewed as an act of defiance-it is the only way out of the new world that leaves the audience with a shred of hope. John will no longer suffer from the prying eyes of society and can finally receive peace. After indulging in an orgy with soma-a heavy immersion into this corrupted world, John is mortified at humanity in general and his own lack of morality that suicide seems to be the only plausible and respectable action to express his …show more content…
Pain and punishment gives him the freedom to prove his manhood and value. The way he dies illustrates his fate again. “The feet turned towards the right; north, north-east, east, south-east…” (259) Huxley used this ending to present his misfortune. Although he is influenced by two societies, there is no real place which accepts him. Huxley states in his "Second Thoughts", "The Savage is offered only two alternatives; an insane life in a utopia, or the life of a primitive in an Indian Village, a life more human in some respects, but in others hardly more queer and abnormal," (Huxley 2). Some may say that John could've avoided suicide by going back to Malpais, but for John, that would make him as miserable as staying in the new
"In Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World", one may ponder if would-be hero John Savage could have had any other possible outcome other than his unfortunate suicide at the closing of the novel. Although one may argue that suicide is always preventable, because of John's unique conditioning, his ultimate demise could not have been avoided by any other possible situations. His expectations of the new world-his supposed Shakespeare world-are much too extremist. John has no chance of ever fitting in either society because of his mixed conditioning that is deeply incompatible with the new world. His deep seeded idealism and hope of belonging added to his disappointment of the corrupt society. Refusing to be …show more content…
Even though in the new world the individual does not exist, John's decision to commit suicide allows him to take complete control of his individuality. The DHC explains it best when he expresses that " murder only kills the individual - what is an individual anyway?"(Huxley 148). However, John's demise is not created in the Predestination Room; rather, by his own hand. John's suicide should be viewed as an act of defiance-it is the only way out of the new world that leaves the audience with a shred of hope. John will no longer suffer from the prying eyes of society and can finally receive peace. After indulging in an orgy with soma-a heavy immersion into this corrupted world, John is mortified at humanity in general and his own lack of morality that suicide seems to be the only plausible and respectable action to express his …show more content…
Pain and punishment gives him the freedom to prove his manhood and value. The way he dies illustrates his fate again. “The feet turned towards the right; north, north-east, east, south-east…” (259) Huxley used this ending to present his misfortune. Although he is influenced by two societies, there is no real place which accepts him. Huxley states in his "Second Thoughts", "The Savage is offered only two alternatives; an insane life in a utopia, or the life of a primitive in an Indian Village, a life more human in some respects, but in others hardly more queer and abnormal," (Huxley 2). Some may say that John could've avoided suicide by going back to Malpais, but for John, that would make him as miserable as staying in the new