Jungian Theory In Brave New World

In vague terms, SparkNotes also compares Bernard’s feelings of isolation to Helmholtz’s by stating, “Both Bernard and Helmholtz feel different” (Video SparkNotes) and apart of the society, with no indication of how or why. The book, however, depicts why both feel isolated from society, stating that, where Bernard feels separated from others by a “physical defect”, Helmholtz is separated by a stronger barrier of “mental excess” (Huxley, Ch 4). By understanding the differences in Bernard and Helmholtz isolation, readers recognize that Helmholtz’s defiance and criticism of the state branches from his philosophical beliefs to find more meaning in life, and is fueled by curiosity, not greed. John also offers an important perspective on isolation that SparkNotes omits. Rejected from both the savage and civilized states, he is more of an outsider than Bernard or Helmholtz.

His short stature and unusual appearance makes him vulnerable to ridicule by the citizens of London. Along with his incommensurate appearance, he does not conform in all aspects of society. Even minuscular individuality is frowned upon, and with Bernard’s unpopular views, he is seen as nothing more than a nomad. During the Solidarity Service, Bernard fakes his excitement towards the service to fit in. “Feeling that it was time for him to do something, Bernard also jumped up and shouted: “I hear him; He’s coming.”

His understanding bothers him; however, he believes it sets him on a pedestal. Bernard looks down upon others while he still conforms to society making him an outsider to his world.

Yet, these messages they’re impalanting seem to be just normal in this case. Bernard disagrees with others viewing people as items;, he believes they’re more than that, people with compassion, with feelings. He himself, treats himself as not an individual, which he desires to be, but just an Alpha in the World State. Also, he treats people that they are nothing but castes below him due to the pressure of the people around him. He’s going against what his judgement is to conform to what is right normal in the World State.

Like Huxley, Bernard is an outsider, and inherently outsiders have a different point of view than those in the mainstream. Having a character like Bernard adds a dimension to this book that enables Huxley to talk

Charles LP. Silet affirms this by stating, “On the return to his own world, the savage in tow, Bernard continues to think antisocial thoughts, ideas which drive Lenina to break with him and to take increasing doses of intellectually and emotionally deadening drugs” (Silet 495). She fails to see past the physical aspects of men and is confused on how to understand a relationship with emotions. Huxley points out, “Unable to escape her conditioning, she fears his attraction to her” (Huxley 55). Lenina is scared of Johns perspective of her and his view is above measures she cannot comprehend.

His hair, eyes, and overall demeanor stand out to Bernard and Lenina because they’ve never seen anything like him. Even his story is one that they’ve only been told in horror stories (Lenina at least). We finally find someone that is similar to Bernard. Context:

Furthermore, the title “Brave New World” refers to the city. “Brave” and “New” offer positive connotations. But by reading the book, one can understand this is not a positive city at all. This ironic and symbolistic novel refers to what Huxley believes society will become. Huxley believes that society will become putrid and evil, driven by instant gratification.

This is made clear as Bernard showcases the advanced civilization to John and John seems either unimpressed or confused about the whole situation. This is exemplified when John visits both the library and the Television Corporation factory as the savage learns about daily soma rations of the lower castes and the absence of Shakespeare in the World State. (Pg 164-165). As John continues to explore the world around him it is made very clear that he dislikes and is simply a square peg trying to fit into a circular hole, though John isn’t really trying to fit in moreover just blindly following others direction. This becomes clear to John as Bernard begins parading him around at parties as some kind of entertainment and after finally rejecting to go to one of Bernard's party the reader can see how much John is simply a tool that Bernard is using for his own social gain.

174) As, a result of the situation at his party Bernard is humiliated and alone. This causes the conflict to return to his old ways.(pg.175-176) Helmholtz was in trouble with the authorities due to the fact that he was reading unorthodox rhymes to his college students. (pg.177) Bernard is jealous of Helmholtz and John's closeness in Chapter 12.

In this culture, giving birth, and saying things like “mother, father, aging, and death” were frowned upon and tranquility was maintained by constraining infant minds and by subduing adults with the tranquilizer, SOMA. Stability flourishes, but individuality is nearly nonviable. Bernard is an alpha that fails to fit in meets an abundance of people like him. People who think and feel differently than the rest of their society. All sexual relations are designed to blur the distinctions among lovers and between emotions and urges, in a ritual called “Orgy-Porgy”.

In Chapter Six, Bernard represents the point of view that individuals do not need to use soma and be conditioned in order to be themselves or happy. He feels that he doesn't need to be apart of the social body to be content. When talking to Lenina while looking at the ocean, Bernard says, “It makes me feel as though...as though I were more me... Not just a cell in the social body” (Huxley, 90). From this quote one can infer that Bernard does not like the idea of being forced to become somebody that he is not, just to satisfy society's needs.

Once Bernard finds John, he starts taking advantage of John’s uniqueness as an opportunity to fight his internal class struggle. Rather than yearning for change in society as in the beginning of the novel, Bernard is more concerned with impressing others and climbing up the ladder. While there are no monetary stresses in Brave New World, Bernard feels the need to improve his status because of his mistreatment by the lower classes as a result of his physical disabilities. For example, when Bernard is trying to get the lower castes to prepare his helicopter, he has to exert force, even as an Alpha male, to accomplish tasks (Huxley 64). Bernard starts treating John like an object, rather than a person.

Bernards alienation because of his physique and his enrichment from his different moral views illuminates the meaning of the novel overall which is the definition of freedom. The utopia in the novel puts a lot of emphasis on conformity and discourages individuality, which is something Bernard doesn’t follow the rules of. As seen in a conversation in chapter 6 with Bernard and Lenina, Lenina insists that the society has a great deal of freedom represented by soma and its hypnotic state. The author uses this technique to show the reader that the true definition of freedom is not conformity and obedience, instead, it’s the independence to be an individual apart from the rest of

Shadow theory is the understanding and analyzation of characteristics that the subject is unaware of: weaknesses, repressed ideas, desires, instincts, and shortcomings. The side of a any given personality which is not consciously displayed in public may have positive or negative qualities, and this is the Shadow self. When the Shadow remains unconscious, it causes problems for the person that holds that Shadow and the people that interact with them. Baker believes, “The Shadow self also embodies many darker aspects of the main character’s personality as well as deeply repressed impulses that aren’t always conspicuous to the reader” (1). When reading Hamlet, readers may not pick up on Hamlet’s Shadow.