Brave New World 10

"O brave new world," he repeated. "O brave new world that has such people in it. Let's start at once." pg. 139

After accepting Bernard's invitation to go to London, John is eager to encounter civilized people. I think that is completely normal and expected given the life he has lived so far. Through flashbacks to John's childhood, we learn how truly savage these Indians are. When they were first referred to as "savages," I thought that Bernard was just over exaggerating, but I now think they really do fit their description. The Indians whipped and stoned John just because he was different. There is really not much difference between the civilized and uncivilized people in their treatment of outcasts. They both resort to abuse. The uncivilized use physical abuse, where as the civilized use mental abuse. Either way, it is still very hurtful to the individual that is different. As if the abuse from the Indians wasn't enough, John was constantly reminded of how he ruined his "mother's" life and how unwanted he was. I don't blame John for his optimism about the Other Place, as Linda calls it. If I experienced the childhood John had, I would dream of going to a world that was described as pure happiness too.