When a person has some physical deformity, it is generally safe to assume that said deformity is just what it appears to be, and has no deeper symbolic meaning. In the book, How to Read Literature Like a Professor, author, Thomas C. Foster explains the idea that in literature, physical deformities most likely have a more symbolic meaning. Several characters in the novel, Brave New World, exhibit this common pattern in literature; their physical imperfections refer to their characters overall, and themes within the book.
Bernard Marx, a main character from Brave New World, is a perfect example of someone who has a physical deformity, that symbolizes a deeper issue. Bernard belongs to the alpha class, which is the top caste in the World State. …show more content…
Bernard, like any other alpha, is very smart, working as psychologist. Though, unlike other alphas, Bernard is short and small, lacking a strong or built physique. Rumours circulate about Bernard that, “somebody made a mistake when he was still in the bottle- thought he was a Gamma and put alcohol into his blood-surrogate. That’s why he’s so stunted (46 Huxley).” Most citizens within the alpha class are not quite fond of Bernard, perhaps due to the fact that he is abnormal compared to everyone else. Foster addresses specifically how physical differences from a larger group are significant, “Sameness doesn’t present us with metaphorical possibilities, whereas difference-from the average, the typical, the expected-is always rich with possibility (102 Foster).” This statement applies particularly well to Bernard. For the first half of Brave New World, he is shown as a character not only dissimilar in appearance but also in thinking. He is not interested in having having sex just for the sake of having sex, he wants to know Lenina, the women he’s pursuing, in more than just a physical way. He declines taking soma, a drug used very frequently …show more content…
Not somebody else however jolly (89 Huxley).” Most of all he contemplates the idea of individuality, rather than complacently accepting his sole purpose of being a part of society. Unfortunately, Bernard’s character changes from an admirable rebel to a pitiful hypocrite. The first signs of his downhill trend, are when he disses the director and then proceeds to brag about doing so to Helmholtz, in a very dramatic manner. Though the tipping moment is when he brings John and Linda back from the reservation to the World State. He encourages John to come and see the World State, for his own benefit so that he will acquire fame and popularity by being associated with the ‘savage’. In the end though, John refuses to make a public appearance at a
Bernard Marx, a main character from Brave New World, is a perfect example of someone who has a physical deformity, that symbolizes a deeper issue. Bernard belongs to the alpha class, which is the top caste in the World State. …show more content…
Bernard, like any other alpha, is very smart, working as psychologist. Though, unlike other alphas, Bernard is short and small, lacking a strong or built physique. Rumours circulate about Bernard that, “somebody made a mistake when he was still in the bottle- thought he was a Gamma and put alcohol into his blood-surrogate. That’s why he’s so stunted (46 Huxley).” Most citizens within the alpha class are not quite fond of Bernard, perhaps due to the fact that he is abnormal compared to everyone else. Foster addresses specifically how physical differences from a larger group are significant, “Sameness doesn’t present us with metaphorical possibilities, whereas difference-from the average, the typical, the expected-is always rich with possibility (102 Foster).” This statement applies particularly well to Bernard. For the first half of Brave New World, he is shown as a character not only dissimilar in appearance but also in thinking. He is not interested in having having sex just for the sake of having sex, he wants to know Lenina, the women he’s pursuing, in more than just a physical way. He declines taking soma, a drug used very frequently …show more content…
Not somebody else however jolly (89 Huxley).” Most of all he contemplates the idea of individuality, rather than complacently accepting his sole purpose of being a part of society. Unfortunately, Bernard’s character changes from an admirable rebel to a pitiful hypocrite. The first signs of his downhill trend, are when he disses the director and then proceeds to brag about doing so to Helmholtz, in a very dramatic manner. Though the tipping moment is when he brings John and Linda back from the reservation to the World State. He encourages John to come and see the World State, for his own benefit so that he will acquire fame and popularity by being associated with the ‘savage’. In the end though, John refuses to make a public appearance at a