Chapter 3

The DHC and his band of young followers now arrive at what seems like a “normal” outdoor setting—a bright, sunny day in a garden, with birds, flowers, and the laughter of young children scampering about.

However, this illusion is quickly shattered when readers realize that the young children are indulging in “rudimentary sexual play,” which is considered normal and healthy, and is even encouraged in this fictional society. Nonetheless, the scene elicits a contemptuous nostalgia in the young students following the DHC.

The students are now joined by Mustapha Mond—one of ten men who run the world, he is the Controller of Western Europe. Although he seems less robotic than the others, the students are troubled by his description of parenthood, home, love, and family as alien, despicable notions.

Meanwhile, Lenina, Fanny, Henry, and one of Henry’s male friends wonder if they should step out for “feelies.” Fanny teases Lenina for her exclusive relationship with Henry, which is now four months old. This shows that monogamy and exclusivity are looked down upon. In fact, unlike the real world, the fictional society depicted in the novel encourages free, unattached sex.

When Lenina mentions Bernard Marx, Fanny seems disappointed and responds with raised eyebrows, suggesting that Lenina shouldn’t be interested in a person like Bernard. When Lenina tells her that Bernard has promised to take her to a “savage reservation,” Fanny suggests that Bernard is undesirable and eccentric.

Three different conversations take place simultaneously in this chapter—first, between Henry Foster and the Assistant Predestinator, second, between Mustapha Mond and several young students, and third, between Lenina and Fanny.

This chapter introduces readers to the foundation of the novel’s plot: it is revealed that the Controllers gained control over the world with the Nine Years’ War and the Great Economic Collapse; during the war, the Controllers had sanctioned the use of anthrax bombs, which had resulted in widespread devastation.

Analysis

Readers are introduced to several key characters in this chapter—Mustapha Mond, one of ten “Controllers,” and the normal yet not entirely indistinct Lenina Crowne are especially important characters. It is worth noting that despite the extent of propaganda and the insistence on uniformity, people are given unique and different names.

In fact, as characters’ individual personalities start to become prominent, readers can discern Huxley’s probing of contrasting categories: groups versus individuals (and individual personalities) and social control versus human choices.