In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, the protagonist, John, is torn between two opposing worlds. Over the course of the story, John goes from the primitive "savage land" to futuristic London, England in his search for a sense of belonging. However, he comes to find that although the two settings represent opposite ends of the spectrum with regards to ideals, he will never truly belong in either society.
When the reader is first introduced to John, he lives in his native "savage land". Here, the inhabitants lead "primitive" lives, much like that of Native Americans. To John and his people, sex should be shared only between married couples, and the gods govern the lives of the people. Although born and raised in the "savage land," John is considered an outcast, so when the opportunity arises, he eagerly moves to London in hopes of finding acceptance and a sense of belonging. Upon arriving in London, though, John faces a huge culture shock. In this new, futuristic society, intercourse is a virtually mandatory social activity, science has extinguished the notion of a God, and marriage is a taboo subject. Since the ideals John was raised with clearly oppose the ideals of the people who now surround him, John is one again pushed out of society. In this way, the different settings used in Brave New World represent the identity crisis that John endures over the course of the story.
To John, the vivid contrast between the "savage land" and London present two distinct opportunities to assimilate into society. However, the conflicting societal ideals of the two settings carry a much deeper meaning for the reader. On one hand, the "savage land" represents a very traditional way of life, much like modern day society. On the other hand, life in London represents a more promiscuous and unorthodox set of ideals. Through the use of symbolism, Huxley aims to personify the conflict that modern societies must face when attempting to find a balance between tradition and innovation.
Throughout Brave New World, Aldous Huxley utilizes his protagonist, John, as the mediator between conflicting societies. When John attempts to find his place in the "savage land" and London, representing the past and the future, respectively, he comes to find that neither way of life suits him. John's struggle allows Huxley to convey the idea that it is necessary for societies to integrate tradition with change in a powerful and personal way.
