Chapter VIII - Overall Analysis

Bernard and John the Savage are walking and Bernard asks if John would share his experiences living as a savage with him.

John loves Linda. Basically in every memory he recalls has Linda in it - whether it be bad or good. And why shouldn't he? She is his mother, and instantly one would feel an emotional bond. Linda however does not share that same connective bond as strongly. She cherishes John but does not understand him, nor does she try. John is just the same as any person in our society - we love our loved ones and would do anything for them. Since Linda was brought up in the 'perfect' society, she does not realize what to do with that bond; she only gets and does not give back.

One of the literary devices, which was used most genially, were flashbacks. All the flashbacks weaved together to create a picture of John's good and bad experiences as being different in his society. He was prejudiced against by the village people and yet brought closer by the sacred 'shaman' of the village. Linda would provide him with support and decent doses of love, but also create conflict in his life as he tried to fit in with his peers (as once again, she would only care about herself and her wants and her needs). The flashbacks were ordered and yet broken at the same time. This was very interesting and created a new sense into who John is and what he is like.

Definitely one of my most favourite descriptive parts in this chapter was when John was shunned from taking part in the 'becoming a man' ritual. He is standing on the edge of a cliff, pondering between life and suicide, "...into the black shadow of death. He had only to take one step, one little jump...drop, drop, drop. Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow... he had discovered Time and Death and God."
John feels and describes things so emotionally that it is a welcomed change from the emotionless talk of those from the society. John is one of my favourite characters in this book for that reason - he talks, feels, and describes things so vividly that it is beautiful. Perhaps it is so vivid because everyone else in comparison is so dull and 'gray'?

Another interesting point in this chapter is when Bernard ponders, after John talks about ways he would try to ease his unhappiness, if there is any sense of there being another way to cure unhappiness than taking soma. Such thinking makes me further believe that the society could live in 'instability' and not immediately 'dumb down' and become useless. Although, I think I may be thinking a little too optimistic on that thought.