major character, grew up outside of the World State
the son of the Director and Linda
unable to fit into the New Mexico Savage Reservation society as well as the World State society
his worldview is based on his knowledge of Shakespeare‘s plays
his understanding of Shakespeare enables him to express his own complex emotions and reactions, it provides him with a framework from which to criticize World State values, and it provides him with language that allows him to take part in a profound conversation with the World Controller Mustapha Mond
because he is rejected both by the Indian culture and the civilized World State culture, he is the ultimate outsider
Bernard Marx
central figure in the novel until he visits the Reservation
Alpha male, does not fit in due to his physical stature as well as his attitude towards sexual relationships, sports or community events
he is insecure because he does not fit in and therefore, he criticizes the World State
actually, he is frustrated because he does not fit into his own society, not because he systematically or philosophically criticizes it
in a world where people are similar to one another, he is a character showing lovesickness, jealousy and anger directed to sexual rivals - which makes him human
his character changes after he becomes popular due to his discovery of John the Savage
Bernard is a critic whose deepest desire is to become what he criticizes
Helmholtz Watson
Alpha lecturer at the College of Emotional Engineering
well liked and respected, comfortable in his caste
prime example of his caste but feels that his life and work are meaningless
friends with Bernard because they are both outsiders and discontent with the World State
while Bernard merely complains about a system in which he does not really fit in, Helmholtz criticizes the World State on a more philosophical and intellectual level
the conversations between Helmholtz and John illustrate that even the most reflective and intelligent World State member is defined by the culture in which he has been raised
Lenina Crowne
normal and happy citizen of the World State, vaccination worker at the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre
object of desire for several major and minor characters (John, Bernard, Henry Foster, Benito Hoover)
sometimes behaves abnormally (dates one man exclusively over several months, is attracted to Bernard, develops a passion for John)
when she meets John, it is the first time in her life that she desires someone she can’t have
she responds with making mistakes at work
when Lenina tries to seduce John, he slaps her and calls her a whore
her unstable and unpredictable emotions (stemming from sexual desire) and love threaten the stability of the World State
Mustapha Mond
most powerful and intelligent supporter of the World State; Resident World Controller of Western Europe
used to be an ambitious young scientist doing illegal research
had to choose between exile and becoming a World Controller when his work was discovered
chose to give up science
has a secret collection of banned literature (Shakespeare and religious texts)
thus, Mond is able to lay out the fundamental difference in values between World State society and the kind of society represented in Shakespeare’s plays
paradoxical character
The Director
administrates the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre
powerful, can send people into exile when they misbehave
also vulnerable because he is the father of John (scandalous in the World State)
Linda
Beta World State citizen, John‘s mother
got pregnant with the Director‘s baby when they visited the New Mexico Savage Reservation
was lost in a storm, suffered a head injury and was then left behind
Indian people found her and brought her to their village where she continued to live
because she could not get an abortion at the Reservation, she felt shame in returning to the World State with a baby and thus decided to stay with the Indians
in the Reservation, she lives as an outsider because of her promiscuity which the Indian people cannot tolerate
when offered the chance to return, she takes it - back at the World State, she becomes addicted to soma
Henry Foster
perfectly conventional Alpha male
one of Lenina‘s lovers
talks derogatory of Lenina‘s body
Fanny Crowne
Lenina‘s best friend
Fanny as the voice of the conventional values of her caste and the society in general
