From an early age, we are socially
constructed to conform to the boundaries of society. There is an external
pressure that society forces on us while the instinctive inward questioning
acts as the internal force pushing back. In Brave
New World by Aldous Huxley, the character called Bernard Marx displays this
clash between inward questioning and outward conformity. To showcase this
conflict, Huxley utilizes the literary techniques of characterization and
symbolism.
When
Bernard is first introduced to the audience, it is obvious that he is facing an
imbalance of internal and external pressures. Huxley uses indirect
characterization by creating the conversation between Henry Foster and
Assistant Predestinator overheard by Bernard himself. Bernard listens to the
conversation, disgusted by the two “talking about her as if she were a bit of
meat.” Bernard’s character is defined here as he doesn’t allow his internal
pressures to be noticed by the other characters. When Henry does notice Bernard
and offers him soma for his “glum” look, Bernard resists to conform showing
some backbone and denies Henry’s offer. Through Bernard’s decision to dismiss
the offer of soma, the reader can take notice to how Bernard makes more
decisions than the other characters who seem to take it whenever they please.
Another
example of how Huxley uses characterization to show the tension between outward
conformity and inward questioning is when Bernard is with Lenina after the
fight match. Bernard watches the rushing water of the English Channel while
Lenina urges him to take soma. The external pressure Lenina forces on Bernard
is contested with his internal questioning. Bernard doesn’t want to conform to
the social pressure because he wishes to be an individual and separate from the
sex-crazed soma addicts. This external pressure proves to be more powerful than
Bernard’s internal pressure to resist conformity.
In
addition to the use of characterization to show the tension between outward
conformity and inward questioning, Huxley also employs symbolism. Symbolism is
most evidently present in the magical drug of soma. Soma is perhaps one of the
most industrial elements in Brave New
World because of its versatility and lack of negative consequence. The utopian
society is almost adhered together by the drug because of its widespread use
and social popularity. It is most comparable to marijuana today in the way it
provides joy and relaxation, that is, except for Bernard. Bernard is one of the
few characters who refuses to take soma when presented because he doesn’t want
the emotion of happiness to be in the form of a small tablet. The symbol of artificial
happiness is what Huxley uses to show the genuineness of Bernard and his
struggle between outward conformity and inward questioning. Bernard troubles himself
with the idea of soma because of his inward questioning which causes him to endure
the external pressures of conformity.
Brave New World is a book about questioning
social traditions and individuality. Bernard’s characterization reflects upon
the work as a signal that the external pressures of outwards conformity are
usually more dominant that the inward questionings. If the internal pressure
and desire is the opposite of what the external pressure is, the more powerful
force is usually going to be the external. Bernard is Huxley’s tool of
portraying this through his use of characterization and symbolism in the story.
