Context
Huxley's
book, Brave New World, published in 1932 is giving the world, as
it was then, a warning of what the future may hold 600 years hence.
He later modified this timescale, greatly shortening it, in his
commentary Brave New World Revisited, which is not covered in this
note.
The first few chapters give an introduction to this brave new world
which has been in existence for 632 years. The plot begins when
Bernard Marx is introduced. Huxley describes him as a highly intelligent,
but eccentric man, who is dissatisfied with his existence in Utopia.
In this world there is no family life - children are created for
a specific role in the running of the state. Humans are divided
into 5 castes from Alpha down to Epsilon. Bernard is an Alpha+,
which gives him the authority to go on holiday to the Reservation
in New Mexico. The place is inhabited by people who are useless
to the Utopia Society.
Bernard takes Lenina Crowne with him. There they meet John who has
been labeled 'the savage' as he was born naturally on the Reservation
and "not produced by the state". His mother was the wife of Tomakin,
the Director of Hatcheries who had abandoned her there.
Bernard obtains permission from Mustapha Mond, one of the 10 World
Controllers, to bring John and his mother, Linda, back to London
where he proudly parades the 'primitive' savage before his fellow
citizens. John becomes a sensation but his mother cannot take her
new lifestyle and becomes ill. When she dies, John feels guilty
for having deserted her and he becomes despondent. Even though he
has become a celebrity, he becomes increasingly horrified by the
"brave new world" and retreats into reading Shakespeare's plays.
Meanwhile, John has fallen passionately in love with Lenina, but
has convinced himself that any sexual contact between them would
be a grievous sin--a stance that completely baffles Lenina who has
been conditioned to enjoy promiscuous sex without any emotional
commitment.
In despair, the Savage precipitates a riot and Bernard and Helmhotz
participate. Mustapha Mond is furious with the three and tells them
that they must conform to the requirements of the state. Bernard
and Helmholtz are exiled but the Savage must stay behind. He holes
up in an abandoned lighthouse where he grows food and mortifies
his flesh as penance for his lust for Lenina.
In the end, reporters discover the Savage and photograph his bizarre
rituals of self-flagellation. A nightly carnival ensues as swarms
of London curiosity seekers come to witness the antics of this strange
creature. Finally the Savage, in shame and desperation, hangs himself.
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