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Unit 19: Aldous Huxley—Brave New World: Detailed Study of Text-II

Analysis Notes
Both Bernard and Helmholtz receive warnings about their behavior in this chapter. Bernard
feels inferior to other men, and when he returns to reconcile with Helmholtz, he dislikes that
Helmholtz generously still wants to be friends. The friendship between Helmholtz and the
Savage also makes Bernard feel displaced. The contrasting emotions of generosity and selfishness
depict the differences between these characters.
Bernard’s character may also be Huxley’s critique of the hubris of socialist government. Bernard’s
last name Marx alludes to Karl Marx, whose economic theories later contributed to the communist
revolution and whose ideas underlie much socialist thought. Like socialist theory, Bernard
longs for deeper meaning in human experience. However, Bernard’s taste of power corrupts
him, much as power corrupted many socialist governments in the twentieth century.
Bernard’s constant and petty interruption of John and Helmholtz’s conversations reflects his
inferiority complex. Like a child, he will do anything to be the center of attention. He thus
shows that he cannot extricate himself from the ideals of the society. In addition, where he
used to refuse soma, he now uses it whenever he feels depressed. Consequently, the state has
the power to corrupt completely. By contrast, Helmholtz transitions from being a robotic,
emotionless member of society to being a thinking, emotional individual, as he writes poems
about being alone and allows Shakespeare to stir his emotions.
Unlike the other characters, Mustapha Mond has dedicated himself to maximizing societal
happiness despite his awareness of other possibilities for life. Mond reflects the inability of
attempts at utopian society to resolve all problems, as conflicting ideas of human behavior and
purpose will always remain. He immediately condemns any report that might hurt society’s
goals, but Mustapha unwillingly censors many of the reports. He proclaims, “What fun it
would be if one didn’t have to think about happiness!”
By this chapter, Lenina has begun acting in ways that belie her previous behavior. Her inability
to get John Savage to spend the night with her causes her to think about him constantly and
to fall into a state of depression that she cannot cure with soma. For the first time, Lenina
experiences love, with both the euphoria of wanting to be with a particular person and the
unhappiness of not having him, as opposed to pleasure or lust. As a result, when the Songster
leads her away from the party, she does not want to go, and when he wants to sleep with her,
she requests more soma than usual.

19.1.2 Chapters 13–15

Chapter 13

Summary
Lenina’s crush on John the Savage becomes increasingly uncontrollable for her. At one point
Henry Foster tells Lenina that she appears sick and asks what is the matter. While he talks,
Lenina becomes irritated and finally tells him to shut up. Later, Lenina discusses her sole
desire for John and no other man with Fanny. Fanny, ever practical, tells Lenina she must
either forget about John and sleep with other men or take the initiative and go directly to
John’s room.
Lenina agrees with Fanny, so she takes some soma to bolster her courage and goes to visit
John. After she arrives, she tells him that she likes him. John, with images from Shakespeare
in his head, tells her that he feels unworthy of her and begs her to make him worthy of her.

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