Contents
CHAPTER—VIII
Overview
Bernard prompts John to recount his life in Malpais: Linda’s neglect and promiscuity, communal scorn, beatings, and John’s solace in reading, culminating in Shakespeare’s profound influence. Rejected from initiation and heartbroken over Kiakimé, John embraces suffering and solitude. Sensing leverage against the D.H.C., Bernard invites John and Linda to London. John joyfully accepts, quoting “O brave new world,” setting the story’s new trajectory.
Summary
Walking outside the pueblo, Bernard asks John to explain his life. John’s memories unfold: men visit Linda; one ejects child-John to force intimacy. Linda fails at weaving, drinks mescal with Popé, and often neglects John. The pueblo women whip Linda and beat John; Linda alternates shame, anger, and sudden affection. Stories of the World State enchant John, while pueblo myths offer different certainties.
John learns to read from wall words and a conditioning manual, finding it hateful. Popé brings Shakespeare, which seizes John’s imagination and gives language to his emotions, especially hatred of Popé. Catching Linda and Popé asleep together, John tries to kill Popé, wounds him, then collapses in tears as Popé laughs him off.
Old Mitsima teaches John pottery, giving him pride in craft. John silently loves Kiakimé, but watches her ritual marriage to Kothlu and flees in despair. Later, when boys descend to the kiva to become men, the adults drive “white-hair” John away with stones. Alone on the mesa, bleeding and desolate, John contemplates death and discovers time, death, and God.
Back in the present, John and Bernard bond over loneliness. John describes self-imposed suffering—standing cruciform in the sun—to atone and to test himself. Bernard, seeing opportunity in John’s parentage, invites him to London and, after a hesitation that turns strategic, includes Linda. John, thinking of Lenina and Shakespeare’s Miranda, exults: “O brave new world,” eager to depart.
Who Appears
- John (the Savage)Recounts abusive, ostracized childhood; learns to read, discovers Shakespeare; attempts to stab Popé; excluded from rites; accepts London invitation.
- Bernard MarxListens to John’s history, shares loneliness, and invites John and Linda to London to leverage scandal against the D.H.C.
- LindaJohn’s mother; drinks mescal, takes lovers, is beaten and shamed; tells stories of the World State; neglectful yet intermittently affectionate.
- PopéLinda’s lover; brings mescal and Shakespeare; wounded by John’s knife and dismisses him with mocking laughter.
- Old MitsimaElder who teaches John pottery and promises bow-making; officiates at communal rites and marriage.
- KiakiméGirl John loves from afar; marries Kothlu in a pueblo ceremony, breaking John’s heart.
- KothluMarries Kiakimé in ritual witnessed by John; part of the community that excludes John.