Protagonist (Chapter 4, Part 2/ Pages 63-71)

"With eyes for the most part downcast and, if ever they lighted on a fellow creature, at once and furtively averted, Bernard hastened across the roof. He was like a man pursued, but pursued by enemies he does not wish to see, lest they should seem more hostile even than he had supposed, and he himself be made to feel guiltier and even more helplessly alone."

~ Brave New World, page 63

It looks like we've finally found our hero - a "strange" fellow named Bernard Marx. Bernard is the protagonist simply because he is different. Despite being born of the highest class, Bernard is physically imperfect, unlike his Alpha peers, and therefore is outcasted. However, he possesses several amiable qualities that the others have been taught to lack. In some ways, he resembles a human from today's world and not his own. He has a great gamut of emotion, especially including "bad" (but ardent) feelings like jealousy, insecurity, apprehension, and sensitivity; yet, behind these feelings are good intentions. Different from every other character in the novel, Bernard understands the flaws in the society's system, perhaps because he is an outsider. His instincts guide him towards monogamy, and he recognizes stronger, more intense emotions than the other citizens (especially regarding Lenina, the object of his affections). Bernard is definitely an underdog, but he could have the answer to fixing this new world.

Holding Out for a Hero (Chapter 2/ Pages 19 - 29)

"Books and loud noises, flowers and electric shocks - already in the infant mind these couples were compromisingly linked; and after two hundred repetitions of the same or a similar lesson would be wedded indissolubly."

~ Brave New World, page 22

Everyone has heard of the classic "Pavlov's Dogs" experiment - a scientist trained his dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell by feeding the animals each time it rang. There has even been a reproduction of this scientific discovery in a popular TV show. (Sorry about the quality)

In the novel, this type of conditioning is taken to new, extreme, twisted levels. In the "Neo-Pavlovian Conditioning Room," babies are taught to hate things such as books and flowers by not only shrieking bells and sirens, but also by electrocution. I, for one, find this quite disturbing unlike the observing students, one who found this practice admirable. Ironically, the only unpleasant thing found in this chapter to the people living in this world is the thought of a family - not growing up in a public, controlled environment. We often fear and reject the unfamiliar, but I am pretty sure I would still be reluctant of shocking those babies if I lived in that era. What will they do next, serve them on a platter?

This chapter also stimulates thought regarding something called Hypnopaedia, or repetition of phrases that penetrate the subconscious. This technique is used to teach children morals (ha) and to love, love, love their predetermined conditions. If all the children are taught to think that this new world is perfect and are conditioned to love it, then how could anyone present another perspective? The people living in this world aren't even allowed to think independently. I predict that the protagonist will be someone who rebels against the structure in this society - perhaps Henry Foster (he could have an experience that breaks his spirit and confidence in the system and somehow could prove that it is wrong)? Or maybe another character will be introduced and become the hero. Someone needs to reveal society's "stability" for what it truly is.