Chapter XI - Overall Analysis

In this chapter, Bernard is ridiculously egotistical after being seen as a self-proclaimed 'hero' for bringing back the interesting and queer Savage (there is barely any mention of Linda as she is seen as monstrous and obscene for her outburst of motherhood). He walked around like his head was three sizes larger - which is understandable I suppose. Once someone who was casted aside as a black sheep becomes the center of attention, one gets conceited and takes full advantage of such status - such as Bernard having as many woman as he wants now without being laughed at such proposals. It is a pure humanistic instinct to flaunt and brag about such new-found glory.
However, we find out that the people in the society find him annoying and that his egotistical gloating is being subdued with politeness because there was only the 'first' Savage. It is even said that, 'he won't find another Savage to help him out a second time' and that they were only being polite due to the fact there was a Savage. I found this terrible! However, once again, it is the childlike attitude the society partakes; they have what I want so I will be nice to get it.

The people in society are not the only ones who are miffed at Bernard's new attitude. The World Controller receives reports from Bernard about the Savage's reactions to the society, and he stumbles upon Bernard criticizing and lecturing Mond about the society.

There are a few foreshadowing tidbits in this chapter of Bernard's new-found success. One is that he will come to a bad end because the people in the society would make sure that it would come to a bad end.
The second is that perhaps once they tire of the 'first' Savage, they would bring a second one. The people in the society mention that this is the 'first' Savage...so are they waiting for another one? What will happen to John the Savage? Quite possibly something terrible, as his fate is interlinked with Bernard's, now that they are 'unofficially' partners.
The third is when Mond is angry and then laughs at the fact Bernard is lecturing him about the society. He comments that he should 'give him [Bernard] a lesson' which ends with 'for the moment, at any rate, the lesson would not be given', thus making us believe that soon enough, Bernard will get his 'horrible end' or 'lesson'. All because he has a grotesque egotistical attitude.

I've decided that Bernard must be emotionally unstable. He has such wicked mood swings - in the beginning he was depressed and lethargic, and now he is euphoric and sees himself as above everybody. It's quite annoying really.

The Savage, John, however is interesting and realistic. When he first sees the Bokovansky twins in all their working glory, he starts vomiting. Although I cannot blame him; I'm sure anyone would have had the same reaction. It is so abnormal and disturbing that their society is majority of twins.

I found the fact that Linda came back to the society just to take soma. As soon as she returned to the society, she instantly begged for soma and throughout the chapter is on a permanent soma-holiday. Obviously she must have felt that the Savage Reservation was unbearable and that the rest of her life must be spent in an eternity of euphoric dreams.
It's a bit disappointing for me, because I had hoped that she would have returned to the society as a stronger woman, but it appears she is broken. I do wish she could have fought the urge to return to the society's moralities and rose above such nonsense, but I suppose it is more realistic for her to slide into a soma slump than to rise above it.

One of the more interesting points in the chapter is when the Savage sees Beta-Minus children watching a video on the Savage Reservation about their religion and how they beat themselves with the knotted whips whenever they feel they have failed their morality or have bad thoughts. The children were laughing almost hysterically at the sight of it. Apparently pain and brutality is one of the most hilarious things they have ever seen. John is pained to watch and see them laugh at such a thing, and I don't blame him. How terrible it must be to have someone laugh hysterically at your religion and way of life right in front of your face!

Lenina and John obviously like each other. Lenina is just as infatuated with John as he is with her - however he is able to explain such feelings more easily than she can, or ever will be able to. John and Lenina are such complete opposites that themselves are almost an oxymoron in comparison. John hated the feelies and felt that it was disgusting. Lenina was euphoric and glossy eyed after the feelies and loved every moment of it. John is emotionally matured and realistic, while Lenina is extremely childish. She even cries after John practically runs away from her suggestion of spending the night and takes soma to get rid of her tears. I suppose this would seem the right thing to do in their society, but I feel that the constant running away from your problems is not right. What does not kill you only makes you stronger, right?