Chapter 4

This chapter opens with Lenina being greeted by the many men she has had physical relations with. As she thinks of the men’s idiosyncrasies, she finds herself drawn by thoughts of the “melancholic” Bernard Marx. When she asks Bernard about the visit to New Mexico he’d invited her to, Bernard seems reluctant and uncomfortable with the number of people around them, who appear to be eavesdropping on their conversation.

Bernard is a misfit in the society portrayed by Huxley because he appreciates nature and the many things that make us human; however, his emotions, thoughts, and communication are hampered by the training and propaganda he has been subjected to since he was a mere embryo. Bernard’s individuality serves as an example of the resilience of the human species—even when nurtured and socially conditioned to be robotic, individuality seems to flourish nonetheless.

Lenina is on a date with Henry, flying over London, en route to a game of obstacle golf. This is the first time readers are shown a glimpse of the city.

Bernard Marx is wrestling with his thoughts—he feels and looks abnormal for an Alpha; he is in love with Lenina, but love, however, is not an emotion he is trained to understand, recognize, or accept. His inability to deal with love causes him misery.

The chapter then introduces readers to the “Propaganda House” and the “College of Emotional Engineering.”

Helmholtz Watson—a bulky, yet agile, man, who works at the Propaganda House makes his first appearance in this chapter. With strong features and dark, curly hair, he is desired by most women and is a prime example of the Alpha Plus male. Despite their opposing personality traits, Watson and Marx are friends. Watson is a professor at the College of Emotional Engineering, and in his free time he also works as an “emotion engineer.” While Bernard is distanced from his peers due to his physical deficiencies, Watson distances himself from his peers on account of his “over-developed” mental abilities.

The two men are acutely aware that they are “individuals.” They value their friendship and conversations. In fact, Watson sometimes denies the many invitations he receives from women in order to spend more time with Bernard. Watson and Bernard seek to find meaning in their lives even though seeking meaning is a taboo in their society.

Through Bernard, Huxley seems to suggest that, even in the harsh fictional world he depicts, the limitations of physical shortcomings can be overcome with mental application and fortitude. Whereas Watson’s character seems to suggest that unusually high intelligence may lead to asceticism, that intelligence may be an alienating factor, forcing the highly intelligent into isolation.

In this chapter, Watson also asks the type of probing questions that humans in this fictional world have been conditioned to ignore. In one instance, he asks, “Did you ever feel… as though you had something inside you that was only waiting for you to give it a chance to come out? Some sort of extra power that you aren’t using…”

Watson also reveals that he urges his students to write “piercingly.” Bernard is a little edgy and fearful when he hears this; he even imagines that someone is at his door, trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. In this instance, Watson shows the courage and assuredness typical of an Alpha One—he immediately opens the door to check, whereas Bernard finds the situation dangerous and discomforting. Though Watson feels sorry for his friend, he is also ashamed by Bernard’s lack of confidence.

Analysis

This chapter presents a more detailed account of the psyche of the novel’s principal characters. Though Lenina’s attraction for Bernard Marx is frowned upon, she seems unperturbed by the disapproval. Meanwhile, the self-aware Bernard is troubled by the knowledge that many disapprove of Lenina’s interest in him.

Bernard Marx’s humanity and individuality are in stark contrast to the novel’s dystopian landscape. This is especially apparent when he looks up at the sky and experiences a brief moment of happiness.

Watson is pushed away from his social groups for being too intelligent, whereas Bernard is an outcast for his diminutive physical stature and emotional disposition. Both men also seem disinterested in consuming “soma,” a drug touted as the cure for all deviations from norms.

Though Watson comes across as a bright and likeable man, Bernard Marx’s character has a darkness and tragic air to it.