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
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