Mathew Eisenschenk
College English
Critical Analysis Paper
Unorthodox Characters in Brave New World:
Brave New World takes place in the year 632 AF (after Ford), where the world is run by a dystopian society. The book starts out with Bernard Marx, an abnormally small built Alpha, who questions the society. Bernard is threatened by the D.H.C. to be exiled to Iceland for his unorthodoxy. Before this can happen, however, Bernard takes a trip to the Savage Reservation and brings back another unorthodox character, John the Savage. The book then proceeds to tell the story of these characters questioning the society. In Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, there are three main unorthodox characters: Bernard Marx, Helmholtz Watson, and John the …show more content…
Bernard doesn’t so much as hate the World State by itself, but rather hates his stature in it. During his short reign of fame, for example, Bernard is content with his life. The driving force in this hate is his unusually small size for an Alpha-Plus, making him appear inferior in comparison. “The mockery made him feel an outsider; and feeling an outsider he behaved like one” (Huxley 65). Bernard also has beliefs that are not in line with the norms of the society. For example, Bernard, does not drink soma, does not like promiscuous sex, and is in love solely with Lenina. The D.H.C. reinforced this in saying, “by his heretical views on sport and soma, by his scandalous unorthodoxy of his sexlife… he has proved himself an enemy of Society” (Huxley 149). All of these nonconformities do eventually catch up with Bernard and he is exiled for being …show more content…
John was an outcast in the reservations, because he was not native, and because his mother slept around with the tribe’s men, “Do you know, they shut me out of absolutely everything” (Huxley 137). When John eventually went to the World state, he did not fit in any better. John was astounded by the social norms of promiscuous sex, and the over dosage of soma among other things. John is arguably the most unorthodox character in the book, as he shares little in common with the World State to begin with. Not only this, but John also is the character to rebel directly against the World State. He speaks out and destroys soma rations when his mom’s death angers him, “Poison to soul as well as body… I come to bring you freedom” (Huxley 211). John’s fate is not as lucky as the others, as he is not able to go to the islands. John is instead forced to seek out solitude in a world that won’t leave him alone. He eventually kills himself after he realizes he has committed acts that are in his own mind
College English
Critical Analysis Paper
Unorthodox Characters in Brave New World:
Brave New World takes place in the year 632 AF (after Ford), where the world is run by a dystopian society. The book starts out with Bernard Marx, an abnormally small built Alpha, who questions the society. Bernard is threatened by the D.H.C. to be exiled to Iceland for his unorthodoxy. Before this can happen, however, Bernard takes a trip to the Savage Reservation and brings back another unorthodox character, John the Savage. The book then proceeds to tell the story of these characters questioning the society. In Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, there are three main unorthodox characters: Bernard Marx, Helmholtz Watson, and John the …show more content…
Bernard doesn’t so much as hate the World State by itself, but rather hates his stature in it. During his short reign of fame, for example, Bernard is content with his life. The driving force in this hate is his unusually small size for an Alpha-Plus, making him appear inferior in comparison. “The mockery made him feel an outsider; and feeling an outsider he behaved like one” (Huxley 65). Bernard also has beliefs that are not in line with the norms of the society. For example, Bernard, does not drink soma, does not like promiscuous sex, and is in love solely with Lenina. The D.H.C. reinforced this in saying, “by his heretical views on sport and soma, by his scandalous unorthodoxy of his sexlife… he has proved himself an enemy of Society” (Huxley 149). All of these nonconformities do eventually catch up with Bernard and he is exiled for being …show more content…
John was an outcast in the reservations, because he was not native, and because his mother slept around with the tribe’s men, “Do you know, they shut me out of absolutely everything” (Huxley 137). When John eventually went to the World state, he did not fit in any better. John was astounded by the social norms of promiscuous sex, and the over dosage of soma among other things. John is arguably the most unorthodox character in the book, as he shares little in common with the World State to begin with. Not only this, but John also is the character to rebel directly against the World State. He speaks out and destroys soma rations when his mom’s death angers him, “Poison to soul as well as body… I come to bring you freedom” (Huxley 211). John’s fate is not as lucky as the others, as he is not able to go to the islands. John is instead forced to seek out solitude in a world that won’t leave him alone. He eventually kills himself after he realizes he has committed acts that are in his own mind