Friday, July 8, 2011

Brave New World: Indirect Characterization

"For whatever the cause (and the current gossip about the alcohol in his blood-surrogate may very likely  for accidents will happen  have been true) Bernard's physique was hardly better than that of the average Gamma.  He stood eight centimetres short of the standard Alpha height and was slender in proportion.  Contact with members of the lower castes always reminded him painfully of this physical inadequacy."  pg.64

In chapter three, the reader is introduced to Bernard Marx, a very interesting character.  Huxley uses indirect characterization quite often to help the reader get to know Bernard.  He is a very strange character compared to the others.  He is described as "ugly" and "small" by the other characters.  He also developed a bad reputation for spending most of his time alone.  Not only does the author show what the other characters think of Bernard, Huxley reveals Bernard's inner thoughts and feelings to the reader.  Bernard is different and as a result he feels alone.  He feels like an outsider because he is physically small for his caste.  he is humiliated around people of lower castes because he has to look level instead of downward on them.  As an Alpha, Bernard is superior, but due to his physical inadequacy he feels like he has to give orders in a sharp, arrogant, and offensive tone when dealing with members of a lower caste.  Huxley does a great job of providing the reader with a better understanding of Bernard through indirect characterization.  Throughout chapters three and four, the reader begins to see who Bernard is through his own thoughts and feelings and through the other characters reactions to him.

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