Brave new world character analysis quotes

Here are some quotes from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, along with a brief analysis of the characters and themes:

Bernard Marx

• "I'm not a man of pleasure, I'm a man of pain." (Chapter 2)
  • This quote highlights Bernard's sense of alienation and discomfort with the superficiality of the World State. He is a Alpha-Plus who feels like an outsider, and his words reflect his inner turmoil.

Lenina Crowne

• "I'm not a woman, I'm a citizen." (Chapter 3)
  • This quote illustrates Lenina's complete absorption into the World State's ideology. She sees herself as a mere cog in the machine, devoid of individuality or personal desires.

John (the Savage)

• "I don't want comfort. I want poetry." (Chapter 5)
  • This quote showcases John's longing for authenticity and emotional depth, which is in stark contrast to the World State's emphasis on comfort and pleasure.

Mustapha Mond

• "The world is too much with us; late and soon, getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; little we see in nature that is ours; we have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!" (Chapter 17)
  • This quote is a direct reference to William Wordsworth's poem "The World Is Too Much With Us." Mond's words reflect his own disillusionment with the World State's values and his recognition of the emptiness of the society he has helped create.

Helena

• "I'm not a woman, I'm a mother." (Chapter 10)
  • This quote highlights Helena's maternal instincts and her desire to connect with her son, Bernard. It also underscores the theme of the novel, which is the tension between individuality and conformity.

The Director of the Central London Hatchery

• "The more you are like us, the less you will be like us." (Chapter 1)
  • This quote is a commentary on the World State's obsession with sameness and its attempts to eliminate individuality. The Director's words are a paradox, as they acknowledge the importance of conformity while also implying that true conformity is impossible.

The World Controller

• "The purpose of life is to increase the pleasure of the individual. The purpose of society is to increase the pleasure of the individual." (Chapter 17)
  • This quote encapsulates the World State's philosophy, which is centered on the pursuit of pleasure and the suppression of individual desires. It also highlights the theme of the novel, which is the trade-off between individual freedom and collective happiness.

These quotes offer a glimpse into the complex characters and themes of Brave New World. They highlight the tensions between individuality and conformity, the importance of emotional depth, and the consequences of a society that values pleasure above all else.