In Huxley's novel, Brave New World, almost all of the characters accept the way of life. They go by the book and follow the rules. One individual, however, doesn't feel secure in this 'brave new world'. Bernard Marx is a lonely character who feels isolated from his society. He is often seen as different and weird. In the beginning of Brave New World when Lenina tells Fanny that she is interested in Marx, Fanny says that he has a "reputation", a reputation of spending time by himself. He doesn't seem to fit in with their society. In Huxley's world, everyone spends time dating and taking soma. Bernard Marx, however, does not believe that these behaviors are adult like. Later on in the novel, the Director criticizes Marx's antisocial way of life and threatens to exile him to Iceland. Bernard Marx is definitely a 'diamond in the rough'. He is someone who has qualities that are often overseen by first impressions. He may be seen as weird, but once someone starts to analyze his ideas, Marx can bring new ideas to mind... perhaps even life-changing ideas.
Bernard Marx can relate to the way society is today. There are always people in the world who like to challenge the rules that govern us. They sometimes go to extreme measures. Protests and going on strike are just a few of the many ways people express their oppositions to society. When we first hear about these absurd people, we think to ourselves that they are crazy. An example of going to extreme measures is John, in Brave New World. He practically went off his rocker when he threw the soma tablets out the window, demanding everyone to set themselves free. It is hard to understand someone when they go against society, or do something out of the ordinary, just for the sake of making a point. Why do we judge people, even if deep down we know they could have good intentions?
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Joey, will you explain your last question, about judging people? What are you thinking about? Are you thinking about how the majority will judge those who go against the grain? Like that earlier Amish post? Something along those lines?
ReplyDeleteThat "deep down" business too...work on articulating what you mean. Are you saying our tendency to judge goes against our "deep down" better selves? What evidence do you have of such a "deep down" place in humans? Are you talking about conscience? Moral values? Religious faith? All of the above? None of the above? Does everybody have a "deep down" place, or just some people?
Your post prior to that last little sentence seemed enough, to me. The question at the end sounds like a "wrap up," or "the moral of the story is" kind of gesture.
Bernard Marx is lonely and alienated, but acts aggressively towards others because of his own feelings of inadequacy. He speaks rudely to lower caste members because he fears they won't respect him because he's physically small. The Director is mean to him, so Bernard relishes the idea of humiliating him by revealing his relationship with Linda and John. He has no wisdom or understanding. I want to like him because I tend to root for the underdog, but I can't like him because he's such a creep.
Yes, you are correct, Mrs. Fletcher. The question doesn't really make sense. I was talking about moral values. People assumed Bernard was weird because of his way of life. That's the point I was attempting to make.
ReplyDeleteJoey, it makes sense, but you have to remember we are not in your head with you, so you have to make the connections you see clear for the rest of us living here outside of your head.
ReplyDeleteI like your thinking, and I'm going to push you all year to take it farther, and to say what you need to say more clearly. You don't NEED to make a quasi-deep question to end your post if you don't want to. Just throwing Bernard Marx out on the table for examination is enough. He's a strange character.
(Do you feel like I'm picking on you? I'm not. I feel like I've established relationships with several of you kids out here on the blog that makes it possible for me to engage you directly, and critique your work a little bit. I don't do that with everyone, but you and I have interacted on the blog so much that I feel like we are already in partnership. I hope you can somehow feel that I respect you as a thinker and a learner, and I'm anxious to work with you.)
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't feel like that... In fact, I am grateful for the advice. I know it will help in the future.
ReplyDeleteYou're lucky, Joey. I wish Mrs. Fletcher would point out my mistakes. Or maybe I don't have mistakes to have pointed out. Either way I win. Hey, I've been meaning to ask you, were you in Mr. O'Brien's class?
ReplyDelete