Alienation In Brave New World, By Aldous Huxley

In, Brave New World, many of the problems that the characters face are a result of alienation. “The quandary of Huxley’s message in Brave New World is that only the alienated individual - or at least the person aware of being alienated - can achieve true human consciousness, if not happiness” (McQuail). Aldous Huxley centers his characters around alienation in order for them to grow. Although, alienation can result in a negative outcome in someone’s life. It could be the cause of dissatisfaction as seen clearly in Brave New World. John also referred to as “John the Savage,” is a character who because of alienation, suffers from depression. “John the Savage, as a true outsider to the Brave New World, embodies the alienation caused by “Freudian”

He is a cowardly, vain, but questioning Alpha Plus psychologist with antisocial attitudes (Macdonald). His cowardly ways come out when he is faced by his superiors. Bernard is very egotistic and he is so hungry for power that he becomes antisocial. He strives to be the locus of control. He is not satisfied with the utopia and likes to be alone in nature. Bernard is faced with exile so he tries to think of a way to save himself. “Predictably then Bernard Marx and his friend Helmholtz, who secretly scribbles poetry, becomes nodes of resistance against the enforced conformity of the Brave New World” (McQuail). The quote helps explain why Bernard is faced with exile. He is faced with exile because he refuses to conform and he tries to lead others to individuality. In a way he gains power because he trying to make others follow him. It works for a while, until the director finds out what he is up to. This is when the director announces that he is to go to Iceland, where he cannot influence anyone. Bernard and his “friend”, Lenina, are visiting a reservation, when they stumble upon Linda and her son, John. Linda is a woman who is accidently impregnated by Thomas, the director of Hatcheries. Bernard believes that if he were to bring Linda and her son back to London, that it will cause a confrontation that will hopefully save him. He sees this as also a way of gaining power. Bernard finally decides

He is afflicted by a crippling self-consciousness. Helmholtz is very outspoken. He wants to become a separate entity. Helmholtz is not interested with sex and soma-taking so he saves his energy for writing poetry. He believes that poetry is a valuable activity. Through his poetry he shoes himself to be more of a rebel. He wants to come up with a new type of poetry that would shake the World State. Unlike others, he voices his opinions because he believes in individuality. Helmholtz is faced with exile. Instead of finding a way to save himself, he accepts his exile. “Helmholtz and John the Savage in Brave New World show that the artist is the ultimate exile in a world lacking introspection and seeking immediate gratification” (McQuail). Helmholtz is the artist because he refuses to conform, which others have given in to. If he was not a rebel and believed in individualism, he would have been able to fit in with the others of