In the novel Brave New World Aldous Huxley depicts a society where legal hallucinogens keep people happy and the government has disregarded common social norms in favor of a peaceful community. Huxley uses the title Brave New World ironically to emphasize the lack of bravery within the fictional society and the behavior of the main characters within his book. Conditioned to fear deep emotions, individuals within the civilized communities quickly learn “when the individual feels the community reels.” (94, Huxley) Consequently, the people of this society naturally avoid deep thought, alone time, and use pills to increase their happiness. There is not anything brave about this society, not when its member refuse to suffer through mild discomfort without the help of the drugs provided to them by the government. However, …show more content…
Despite the lack of conditioning, John acts similar to civilized people. Uncomfortable with his feelings towards Lenina John “[turns] away from her” (117 Huxley) and continues to do so throughout the story. Abiding by the social norms of his village, John manages to give Lenina the impression that he does not like her. Even when she comes to him, he allows his jaded past and fear of unworthiness control him. This situation represents another way the term brave does not describe the novel. After Lenina’s loose morals come to light John’s anxiety turns into anger. Due to his past in the Indian village, loose women bring out an anger so intense he whips himself “without knowing, he [wishes] it were [Lenina]. The whip serves as a punishment for not just himself, but for Lenina for being an immoral temptress. Eventually he lashes out, and then commits suicide due to his shame for acting on his anger. In conclusion, the savage, John represents the irony in the title of the book perfectly, seeming to avoid the difficulty of his inner thoughts and