Brave New World Alienation Analysis

Between the Reservation in which John grew up and the modern world surrounding it, there are many differences which John finds both alienating and enriching throughout the novel. Through these differences, John feels alienated in the Brave New World that conflicts with his personal beliefs. However, John also finds enrichment in making the case for a life containing work and misery. This combination of alienation and enrichment experienced by John serves to juxtapose basic ideals about how individuals ought to live. From the beginning of John’s experiences with the new world he encounters, the society alienates him as an outsider. Indeed, as soon as John yelled out “Father” to the Director, “laughter broke out, enormous, almost hysterical, peal after peal, as though it would never stop” (Pg. 151). John soon feels alienated on a personal level in his disagreement with the society’s ideals in a conflict with Dr. Shaw. While John argues that “shortening [Linda’s] life by giving her so much” soma isn’t right, Dr. Shaw claims that

John disagrees with Lenina about relationships, but is enriched by his own realization of what a relationship means. He defines true love as being permanent and an integral part of marriage, and explains that love meant a willingness to work through meaningless labor just because a loved one wishes for it (Pg. 191). Towards the end of the novel, John finds himself enriched by creating a life for himself in direct contrast to the lifestyles of others he experienced in the Brave New World. When buying basic needs for his new home, he swore to himself that “he would never eat” the processed foods of civilization, and thought to himself that his restraint against luxury would “teach them” and also “teach him” (Pg. 247). Ultimately, John creates enrichment from alienating experiences by defying the ideals he was presented