Chapter 17

Mustapha shares lesser known and banned books on religion and philosophy with John.

He reads out important passages from these books to John and states that only the youth and the prosperous can afford to not believe in God. Which is why, Mustapha adds, his society has ensured youth and prosperity for a person right until their death.

Mustapha believes that there is a God only manifests himself as an absence in the modern world and that people have been conditioned to detest solitude and are never alone.

John thinks of his miserable life in Malpais; he especially remembers being ostracized from communal activities. In London, however, he feels imprisoned by the many communal activities he is expected to be a part of every day.

Mustapha explains to John that the religions imprison man, whereas in the truly civilized world, man is imprisoned by nothing and nobody. He claims that industrial civilization is only possible when there is no self-denial.

John argues that Mustapha’s world has rid itself of many unpleasant, but necessary, aspects that make work and toil rewarding. John prefers having God, poetry, danger, freedom, goodness, and sin.

Mustapha suggests that John’s worldview is not only obsolete but also exacerbates disease, pain, and unhappiness. In response, John says, “I claim them all.”

Analysis

Mustapha believes that science and art are equally dangerous, that they evoke instability by encouraging love, individuality, creativity, and greed.

John believes that to be noble and heroic is the highest form of human life.

Mustapha explains that their world has done away with the vagaries of a moral life—industrial civilization comes with no need for self-denial; John finds this ridiculous and an almost inanimate form of living.

Huxley was wary of unchecked industrialization. This conversation between Mustapha and John amply represents the author’s concerns.

It is worth noting that John is resilient and confident in his conversation with Mustapha, a world leader. They part amicably, politely disagreeing with each other’s way of life, which in a way represents the importance of compromise and tolerance.