Who Is John's Character In Brave New World

In the beginning of the novel, the story seems to be centred around Bernard until a character named John comes along. As John’s character is introduced we can see how his life, morals, and thoughts are completely different from what is considered normal civilization. The three character traits that best describe John is, Rebellious, Religious, and Contrite. John’s actions and thoughts in the story show how these three character traits are relevant and important to the development of John’s character. The first character trait of John is rebellious, John grew up on a savage reserve (“Malpais”) and is considered a total outcast. When he is discovered by Bernard and Lenina then brought to the “brave new world” (Huxley 72), he does not fit in …show more content…
John is very bad at dealing with his emotions and often looks for help through God, or Shakespearian literature. He easily feels remorseful of his action which causes him great pain and suffering. His guilt constantly eats at him, until it is just too much to handle anymore. John feels that within this society there is a dystopia and the civilization within it is wicked and evil. He tries to clear himself of all the remorse he feels for being a part of it, by making himself throw up. Bernard discovered John making himself sick and began asking him about it, “"you do look ill, John! Did you eat something that didn't agree with you?" asked Bernard. The Savage nodded. "I ate civilization. […] It poisoned me; I was defiled. […] Now I am purified […] I drank some mustard and warm water." […]"Do you mean to say that you were doing it on purpose?" asked Bernard.” (Huxley 130). John believes that in order to purify himself of contrition, he must make himself get sick and cause pain to his body. After John secludes himself in the lighthouse, he is faced with his thoughts about Lenina, he whips himself, cuts himself and purges himself for a quest of self-inflicted pain. Once others discover he is there, and watch a feely that was made about him, everyone wants to come see him. Many people, including Lenina, come to John’s lighthouse and induce John with soma, which leads to a giant orgy. The next day John realizes what he has done and can not acknowledge what happened the night before, the first arrivals appear and go inside the lighthouse searching for John, “The door of the lighthouse was ajar. They pushed it open and walked into a shuttered twilight. Through an archway on the further side of the room they could see the bottom of the staircase that led up to the higher floors. Just under the crown of the arch dangled a pair of feet” (Huxley 139). John takes his emotions to the extreme and does not know how to properly handle