Brave New World

Although section two of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World introduces and characterizes John, it also highlights the struggles he will face later on in the book. This struggle is mainly between the two worlds he is a part of, but of which he really fits into neither. He grew up in the world of the savages, yet they refused to include him in their society at all. On the other hand, his childhood was also filled with his mother's stories of civilization. Because of these conflicting views, John himself is a happy median between the two. However, this civilization is not one to accept compromises. John first shows  his differences in thinking when it comes to Linda. When it comes to the conflict between self desire and control, in the modern civilization, desire always wins. In fact, there really is no conflict, as they see nothing wrong with desire. However, John shows his ability to use control when confronted with a sleeping Linda. His carnal desires make him want her, but his self-control overrides any action he may have taken. He even detests his desires saying "he was ashamed of himself" (145). This is contradictory to the practices of the civilized society, where one takes whatever they want.