"'Well, I'd rather be unhappy than have the sort of false, lying happiness you were having here.'"page 179
I just want to reflect on some motifs I've noticed so far.
1.Individualism-This is apparent throughout the book. Bernard, Helmholtz, and John are all alone. Recently, Bernard has fallen back into his loneliness due to a social faux pas. He was to show off the savage at a dinner with very important people, but John refused to go, and thus humiliating Bernard. Helmholtz has violated law by introducing his own rhymes, ones about being alone. This is dangerously bold in a society which has killed the individual.
2. Social Stability-This society has tried to create social stability, a Utopia, where it is thought that everyone is happy. This is clearly not true, because Bernard and others are miserably alone. I think Huxley is trying to say that a banishment of individuality must not take place in order for social stability. I think he is pushing the value of being an individual and the value of solitude. I can sympathize with this because I am an introverted person who needs solitude once in a while to collect his thoughts.
3. Words-I think the power of words is emphasized quite a lot in the novel. For example, John uses Shakespeare's powerful words frequently, and this gives him a sense of fulfillment. John, to express his anger towards Bernard, uses the zuni language. Helmholtz has landed himself into some trouble by writing about the taboo concept of being alone. Mustapha Mond rejects a piece of science, saying it is "not to be published," as it might threaten the citizens' happiness with the current society and might push them to find some bigger purpose, outside of the realm of the society.
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