The last
chapter paints a hopeless portrait of the future for the Savage, and indeed mankind in
general. The Savage chooses to live as a hermit, alone in a deserted area where only an
old lighthouse remains. Its this location where the Savage plans to purify himself
and "to escape further contamination by the filth of civilized life." He does
this by carrying out a traditional Reservation religious ceremony in which he calls on God
for forgiveness for his lust for Lenina and lack of concern for Lindas troubled
death. Soon the Savage begins to beat himself with a whip, punishing himself for the
worlds transgressions. At first, he is undisturbed and left to live in peace, but
soon inquisitive visitors find him, wondering what on earth hes doing. Soon noisy
reporters camp out on the land in order to make a feely about him. Huxley admits,
"Pain was a fascinating horror."
Eventually the Savage becomes so disgusted
with the whole situation he retreats to the lighthouse, hoping to find solitude. When
eager reporters follow him inside, they find his corpse hanging on the stairway. Despite
his best efforts to change it, it seems the world will never know the same freedom he has
grown to love. Now that world has convinced him that its pointless to live. The
system has overcome this individual, in spite of his liberty-seeking intentions. |