Chapter 15: Summary and Analysis

John leaves the hospital, oblivious to his surroundings until he is drawn back to reality by a crowd of workers jostling for their daily soma ration. The workers are ordered by an upper class employee to be quiet.

As the jostling continues, the crowd is told that they would not be given any soma unless they can maintain decorum. The crowd is instantly on its best behavior, and John, who is reciting Shakespeare in his head, compares them to a swarm of fully grown maggots. He sees them as creatures worse than animals, bereft of any sense of individuality.

John then urges the crowd to give up soma, calling it a poisonous substance. When he calls for a revolution, the Delta superiors order security to take him away.

Bernard and Watson are concerned that they are unable to locate John. Soon, Watson receives a call from the hospital, requesting his immediate presence as “the Savage has gone mad.”

When he is captured, John retaliates by throwing away fistfuls of soma tablets. When some Deltas try to contain him, he punches them fiercely. When Watson arrives, much to onlookers’ surprise, he joins John in throwing away the tablets and resisting the Deltas.

Though Bernard wishes to help his friends, he is afraid that doing so might only earn him the crowd’s disapproval. Bernard is deeply concerned for his friends’ safety when the police arrive. They douse the crowd in soma vapors and broadcast the calm voice the workers had been subjected to during “sleep conditioning.” Things are soon brought under control. Watson and John have endured minor injuries, and are arrested. Bernard tries to flee the scene, but is also caught by the police.

Deprived of the chance to properly mourn his mother’s passing, John’s grief bursts forth when he sees the workers jostling for soma. However, John’s rebellion and call for revolution are not minor transgressions; they are serious, punishable offenses. When he throws away the soma pills, he is mauled by the crowd and nearly killed.