Paths of Rebellion In Aldous Huxley’s dystopian novel Brave New World, there is a varying degree of rebellion displayed by the four main characters in the novel. Bernard Marx, John (the savage), Mustafa Mond, and Helmholtz Watson. Through choices and actions, this novel dives deep into the themes of freedom and individuality. Each of these four has their own way and reasons for how they contest the system. This exploration will dive deep into how each character stood up against their society’s norms and how their rebellious acts shape our understanding of them. John, also known as “the savage” was raised outside of the world state; instead, he was raised at the Savage Reservation, an area where the technologies of the world state have yet to …show more content…
Helmholtz’s rebellion stems from his desire for the freedom of creation without limits, even if it goes against the rules of the new world. The greatest example of this is when he gets arrested for his writing. This highlights his willingness to challenge the world state to express his desire for artistic freedom. Mustafa Mond is a world controller, however he disagrees with some of the principals of the new world. He is an enforcer of societal norms, despite the fact that he has a deep understanding of the flaws in the system. However, he acknowledges that there must be sacrifices made in order to maintain social stability. He states, “Yes, we have to choose between happiness and what people used to call high art. We’ve sacrificed high art” (Huxley 214). Mond's acceptance of the sacrifices mirrors a form of rebellion, which is shown by his willingness to prioritize stability within the new world instead of art. Mond also had the willingness to debate with John and Helmholtz about the key principles of the world state. Mond reveals that he has a deep engagement with the ideas he suppresses. This is reflected when he explains the trade-offs of keeping stability within the new world, saying, “But that’s the price we have to pay for