"'the Savage frequently goes to see her and appears to be much attracted to her-an interesting example of the way in which early conditioning can be made to modify and even run counter to natural impulses (in this case, the impulse to recoil from an unpleasant object).'" page 160-161
Throughout the novel, it is quite clear that Bernard is unique in his unorthodox individualism and his critique of hypnodapic conditioning. Here, though, Bernard is unable to see past his conditioning to realize something important about the nature of human beings. To Bernard, Linda is grotesque and "unpleasant." He finds it astonishing that John is so attracted (not physically) to his mother. It is ironic because the reader knows exactly why John has such an interest in his mother. It is so simple. She is his mother. Human beings grow up to love their mothers very dearly and remain attached to them throughout their lives, especially when they are young. What Bernard recognizes John doing is something he finds so counter to natural impulses is actually a fundamental natural impulse between a child and his mother.
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