Edward Said expresses that exile is not only an “unhealable rift” but also an “enriching experience”. In the novel, Brave New World, Aldous Huxley exemplifies this expression of exile through the novel’s supreme outsider, John. Growing up feeling rejected on a “savage” reservation and then moving into the civilized world can give a character an unbearing sense of alienation, and leave him feeling even more alone and disconnected than before. But, it can also provide an enriching experience. During his time in Malpais and London, John learns more about himself and begins to challenge the “Brave New World” that is suppressing humanity.
Although John was born the son of upper-caste Londoners, he was raised on the Savage Indian Reservation in Malpais. Here he was isolated from and rejected by “savage” Indian culture due to the fact that his mother, Linda, slept with several men. He was forbidden from participation in Indian rituals and was never accepted by any of the village people. He was an alien. One day, Pope, Linda’s lover, brought “The Complete Works of Shakespeare” to the house (pg. 87). As an outsider, John used the words of Shakespeare to allow him to verbalize his emotions and reactions. This becomes extremely important upon John’s entrance into the civilized World. Shakespeare’s words symbolize the human values which have
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He is the only one who truly understands the meaning of life and doesn’t let society alter his humanitarian values. In the end, John cannot change the society, not only because he is blocked within but he is also blocked without. Mustapha Mond makes it clear the power of the World can resist any destabilizing force, while John himself is held back by his own destructive tendencies toward violence and self-hatred. His death is the result of his own imperfect understanding as well as the inhuman forces of the brave new
The poem “Exile” by Julia Alvarez dramatizes the conflicts of a young girl’s family’s escape from an oppressive dictatorship in the Dominican Republic to the freedom of the United States. The setting of this poem starts in the city of Trujillo in the Dominican Republic, which was renamed for the brutal dictator Rafael Trujillo; however, it eventually changes to New York when the family succeeds to escape. The speaker is a young girl who is unsophisticated to the world; therefore, she does not know what is happening to her family, even though she surmises that something is wrong. The author uses an extended metaphor throughout the poem to compare “swimming” and escaping the Dominican Republic. Through the line “A hurried bag, allowing one toy a piece,” (13) it feels as if the family were exiled or forced to leave its country. The title of the poem “Exile,” informs the reader that there was no choice for the family but to leave the Dominican Republic, but certain words and phrases reiterate the title. In this poem, the speaker expresser her feeling about fleeing her home and how isolated she feels in the United States.
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was a Renaissance poet and playwright who wrote and published the original versions of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language, and often called England’s national poet. Several of his works became extremely well known, thoroughly studied, and enjoyed all over the world. One of Shakespeare’s most prominent plays is titled The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. In this tragedy, the concept that is discussed and portrayed through the characters is love, as they are recognized as being “in love”.
John Smith, the troubled Indian adopted by whites appears at first to be the main character, but in some respects he is what Alfred Hitchcock called a McGuffin. The story is built around him, but he is not truly the main character and he is not the heart of the story. His struggle, while pointing out one aspect of the American Indian experience, is not the central point. John Smith’s experiences as an Indian adopted by whites have left him too addled and sad, from the first moment to the last, to serve as the story’s true focus.
The adult John comes to civilized society as an experiment by Marx and Mond to see how a "savage" would adapt to civilization. Frankly, he does not adapt very well. He is appalled by the lifestyle and ideas of civilized people, and gets himself into a lot of trouble by denouncing civilization. He loves Lenina very much, but gets very upset at her when she wants to have sex with him. He physically attacks her, and from that point on does not want to have anything to do with her. When his mother dies, he interferes with the "death conditioning" of children by being sad. Finally, his frustrations with the civilized world become too much for him and he decides to take action. He tries to be a sort of a Messiah to a group of Deltas, trying to free them from the effect of soma. He tells them only the truth, but it is not the truth that the Deltas have been conditioned to believe, so to them it is a violent lie and they begin to cause a riot. When the riot is subdued, John is apprehended and taken to have a talk with Mustapha Mond.
Clark, W.G., and W. Aldis Wirhgt, eds. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Vol 2. USA: Nd. 2 vols.
All these “wrongs” to John, were making him upset. John tried to give the hospital workers freedom. He threw away their soma, and made them more upset. The workers rioted against John, and he realized he could not change society. John argued with the Mustapha Mond about the way society was, but it seemed Mond had a response to everything. John decided to indulge himself in the Brave New World’s lifestyle. John tried sex, and soma, and enjoyed it. John knew he had sinned to his own religion, and he felt so wrong, that he murdered himself.
Living with the savages, John feels isolated from the savages as they exclude him from most of their norms. John wanted to attend the ceremonies that the savages held, but they didn’t let him, as he states, “But they wouldn’t let me. They disliked me for my complexion. It’s always been like that. Always” (Huxley 111).
While John resumes his position, he begins to experience “excruciating agony” (Huxley 251). In Foster’s novel, he describes how notions of a Christ figure include “agony”(Foster 119), offering a correlation between John’s crucifixion as well as Christs. As Foster explains, the author may be trying to get the reader to view the character with, “redemption, or hope, or miracle”(Foster 124). Incidentally, John’s characterization contains those three interpretations of a Christ figure as seen when he has an incredible desire to save the people of the Hospital of the Dying from soma. John emphasizes how soma is “poison to soul as well as body” (Huxley 217), therefore he attempts to try and save this rotten world from soma, which acts as the antagonist against John. In this case John wishes to “bring [them] freedom”(Huxley 217), unveiling the purpose for his actions. Foster accentuates how a Christ figure works in order to “redeem an unworthy world” (Foster 120).This same goal is desired by John, which is prominent when he opposes soma. Since soma dominates the world, it allows the population to submit to the unworthy beliefs of society. When John is seen opposing soma, it accentuates John’s purpose--to save the corrupt world from
“If all difficulties were known at the outset of a long journey, most of us would never start out at all” (Journey Quotations). Exile presents itself in many forms throughout Greek and Roman mythology. Regardless of their purpose, however, all Greek and Roman mythological characters realize the above quote by American journalist Dan Rather to be frighteningly accurate. As they step off to begin their ordeal of exile, for some reason, they fail to stay focused on their present, thinking only of their cloudy, uncertain future. These prize-seeking journeyers remain ignorant of what is immediately before them, causing them either great trouble or great accomplishment. Though the dubious reasons why exile is placed (and occasionally forced) upon the benighted characters, they must all undergo this grave and glorious task. In Greek and Roman mythology, many characters of many myths must undergo a period of exile, in order to serve a punishment for a wrong they have committed, to accomplish a task that was appointed to them, or to earn an invaluable prize that is of great significance to them and the world around them.
One distinguishing factor of John is his belief in multiple higher powers. In the Reservation there are many different belief systems acknowledged, whereas in the World State, citizens only believe in the fabricated Ford and Freud. To explain why the World State is without God, the World Controller Mustapha Mond claims, “God isn’t compatible with machinery and scientific medicine and universal happiness” (Huxley 234). Believing in God goes against the World State’s stipulation of its citizens being continuously happy. In addition to believing in traditional religion, John the Savage has a passion for reading and intellect. At a young age John was given the works of William Shakespeare. In the World State no one has the desire for knowledge, so John is seen as outlandish for having read anything other than books of reference. John is told, “We don’t encourage them to indulge in any solitary amusements” when he asks about what the libraries in the World State contain (Huxley 163). Much the same, the character Helmholtz Watson stands out amongst the World State
Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World paints an ugly picture of a dystopia without organized religion. In this fictional world many of the characters feel isolated in a society where "everyone belongs to everyone else". Many of these characters are also experience a form of exile, one of whom is Linda, a Beta that was left behind on an Indian reservation, cut off from her homeland. Although Linda's exile causes her to become an outcast in her society, her experience with emotion and suffering give her the chance to form relationships not possible before. Her separation from home demonstrates two of the main themes of Huxley's novel.
Dutton, R., & Howard, J.E. (2003). A Companion to Shakespeare’s Works.(p. 9) Maiden, MA: Blackwell Pub.
The physical and emotional exile that John deals with alienates but also enriches him at the same time. The physical exile that John experiences is when he leaves for the civilized world with Lenina and Bernard and is considered an outcast in this new world. The emotional exile that he experiences is when he is in his homeland of the savage reservation. He is also considered an outcast in his homeland.
Works Cited:.. Shakespeare, William. The. Romeo and Juliet. Eds. Maynard Mack and Robert Bayton.
Countless people all around the world are familiar with the idea of the famously tragic tale of two star-crossed lovers in William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet. Their heart wrenching love story has been an inspiration for many literature pieces throughout various genres and later cinematic works of art. The young couple was not only memorable for their passionate, devoted love, but also the tragic events that ultimately lead to their death. One aspect of the play that has a strong impact on the audience is Shakespeare’s use of charismatic and compelling language seen throughout the play. The unique personality traits used to describe Romeo and Juliet allows many to relate to the young lovers. Shakespeare’s use of descriptive language, allows the audience to understand the societal expectations, beliefs, and values set out for the men and women of Verona, Italy. Romeo’s character, however, can be been seen defying these expectations and also