Isolation In Brave New World

Isolation from the New World and the Reservation Can the upbringing of a person distinguish one from the society one lives in? In Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, John faces isolation in both societies that he belongs to. Linda, Shakespeare, and the Malpais religion create a discrepancy between the New World and the Reservation leaving John as an outsider from both. Throughout John’s childhood Linda played the role of his mother. Despite being his mother, Linda considered John an omen. Instead of behaving motherly and nurturing towards John, she neglected him by spending most of her time drinking mescal and sleeping with Pope. Although commonly accepted in the New World, Linda suffered for those actions in the Reservation. Even though John hadn’t done anything wrong, his mother’s actions second handedly affected him adversely in
society. John ended up being penalized for his mother’s deeds. The children in the Reservation started to isolate and degrade him in the Malpais society, “The boys began to point their fingers. In strange words they said that Linda was bad. . . The blood wouldn’t stop; he was covered with blood” (Page 129). Linda’s upbringing therefore, significantly detached John from the Malpais community. Shakespeare’s plays considerably effected John’s view on intimacy and romance.
Shakespeare’s words served as advice and ideals to John. Whenever the children in the Reservation degraded and bullied him, he read Shakespeare to make him feel superior to them. While reading, John learned about many emotions that weren’t explored in the New World. He began to understand and believe in love and commitment. Consequently, when John entered the New World, he refused to accept the morals that the new society followed. Even though John developed feelings for Lenina the moment he saw her, he failed to understand her need for soma and sexual interaction. When Lenina decided to throw herself onto John, he finally expressed his feelings toward her by quoting Shakespeare, “If thou dost break her virgin knot before all sanctimonious ceremonies may with full and holy rite....” (Page 191). John continued to explain the role of marriage and expressed his love while Lenina stood horrified. This scene exemplifies the disconnection between John and the New World. His value for love and marriage drifts him apart from society in the New
World. Religion and customs present themself in the New World and at Malpais. At Malpais, a sacrificing rain dance takes place for the growing of corn and to please Pookong and Jesus. When Lenina and Bernard witnessed their first rain dance at the Reservation, they met John for the first time. John explains how he wished he had been the boy to sacrifice his blood; however, Lenina fails to understand why he would want pain. Lenina didn’t understand because in the New World, society only believed in Ford. In addition, at Malpais, John grew up believing that only marriage was socially acceptable. At the age of sixteen, John had witnessed Kiakime and Kothlu’s marriage. He also witnessed the gruesome beatings that his mother received for disobeying these customs. On the other hand, the New World believes that everyone belongs to everyone. John developed customs and beliefs completely opposite from those in the New World. This separates him from the community in the New World. Although John belongs to both the New World and the Reservation, he isn’t accepted in either. His mother, Linda, love for Shakespeare, and his values and beliefs isolate him from both worlds. Ultimately, his upbringing keeps him from being socially accepted.

Work Cited
Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. New York: HarperCollins Publisher, 1932. Print.