The novel Brave New World written by Aldous Huxley explores the philosophical question of whether truth is more important than happiness. The main characters in the novel attempt at answering this question as they also question the values of the society they live in, even to the point of challenging and rebelling against it. Symbolism and imagery in the novel depicts the ideals of this new society. Among these are drug-induced happiness, desensitization to sex, and the worship of technology. The novel also covers themes such as isolation, but the most important being the choice between knowledge and truth or ignorance and happiness.
The three main characters in the novel are Lenina, Bernard, and John. Lenina was a prime example of a citizen …show more content…
Lenina appeared to be completely conditioned, but at times she displayed a strong desire to only settle with one man. Bernard was an outcast as he was an Alpha plus, yet did not have the physical build of one nor did he share the same mindset as his peers. Bernard often remained in solitude, longing for women but was rejected because of his strange demeanor. Bernard often questioned the teachings of the World State and the existence of the social castes people were put into since birth. “Yes, ‘Everybody’s happy nowadays.’ We begin giving the children that at five. But wouldn’t you like to be free to be happy in some other way, Lenina? In your own way, for example; not in everybody else’s way.” (Brave New World 91). The World State managed to create happiness and peace but at the cost of people’s personal liberty and freedoms. John was a significant character in the novel, as he was perhaps the biggest outcast in the novel. John’s parents were from London, yet he was raised by his mother on a savage reservation after being left behind by his father, one of the world controllers. His
The three main characters in the novel are Lenina, Bernard, and John. Lenina was a prime example of a citizen …show more content…
Lenina appeared to be completely conditioned, but at times she displayed a strong desire to only settle with one man. Bernard was an outcast as he was an Alpha plus, yet did not have the physical build of one nor did he share the same mindset as his peers. Bernard often remained in solitude, longing for women but was rejected because of his strange demeanor. Bernard often questioned the teachings of the World State and the existence of the social castes people were put into since birth. “Yes, ‘Everybody’s happy nowadays.’ We begin giving the children that at five. But wouldn’t you like to be free to be happy in some other way, Lenina? In your own way, for example; not in everybody else’s way.” (Brave New World 91). The World State managed to create happiness and peace but at the cost of people’s personal liberty and freedoms. John was a significant character in the novel, as he was perhaps the biggest outcast in the novel. John’s parents were from London, yet he was raised by his mother on a savage reservation after being left behind by his father, one of the world controllers. His