Bernard often feels inadequate because he is shorter than other Alphas, making him the same height as the lower castes. Bernard goes to meet with another Alpha, Helmholtz Watson, who has a “mental excess” that keeps him slightly separated from society. Bernard boasts that Lenina has accepted his invitation, but Helmholtz is uninterested.
Bernard goes to the Director and asks for permission to go to the Savage Reservation, which he grants. The Director tells Bernard of his experiences with a young woman in the reservation and how she was lost there. Before leaving, Bernard learns that the director is planning to send him to Iceland because of his unusual behavior.
Bernard and Lenina go on a date before their trip to the Savage Reservation. Bernard, unlike how he wishes to act, treats Lenina with disrespect and refuses to do anything which is considered normal. They attend a wresting match and take a helicopter over a channel of water, which makes Lenina cry out of frustration with Bernard. After they spend the night together, Bernard confesses that he regrets sleeping with her, which she finds odd and ignores.
Lenina and Bernard leave for the Reservation. When Bernard calls Helmholtz, he realizes that the Director was serious in his threat and he may very well be sent to Iceland.
After Bernard and Lenina settle in the Reservation, they go to the town square and witness “the ritual.” An eighteen year old “savage” named John comes to Lenina and Bernard and complains that he was not the sacrifice due to his complexion. There is a strong attraction between the boy and Lenina, although Lenina is disgusted by almost everyone else in the savage community. Bernard discovers that the stranger’s father is the Director.
John and Bernard talk of his rejection from the Savage society because of his appearance and mother’s actions. He is ashamed she has slept with so many men. Pope’, one of his mother’s men, brings John’s mother, Linda, mescal and also brings John a book of Shakespeare, which he reads religiously. Bernard invites John to the Brave New World, and John agrees only if Linda can also come.
Lenina returns from her long and horrific day, takes soma and is knocked out for eighteen hours. Bernard leaves Lenina by herself and takes a helicopter to Santa Fe, where he visits Mustapa Mond and receives permission to bring back John and Linda. Lenina had invited John to see her, but she is on “holiday” when he arrives.
Upon Bernard’s return to the Brave New World, the Director expects to dismiss him in front of all of the factory workers as an example. Bernard invites Linda and John into the room, and the Director is so embarrassed by his family that he resigns and Bernard is able to stay.
Bernard uses John’s popularity to become more accepted into society. As this occurs, Linda continually takes soma “holidays” for her depression, and these trips will eventually kill her. Bernard writes to Mond to inform him of John’s reactions to society, and also gives advice on how to run the country.
Society begins to sicken John and he is disappointed with what he is witnessing. Lenina and John go to a “feely” and John does not act on his impulses. This makes Lenina believe that John does not like her.
Bernard has a party for many people to meet the savage, John, at once. When the party begins, John refuses to come out and everyone’s original opinion of Bernard immediately returns. Bernard falls back into being ridiculed and seeks Helmholtz’s friendship again, where he finds out Helmholtz is being watched because he wrote and read his own poetry and read it to his class. John shares his Shakespeare with Helmholtz and is offended when Helmholtz does not understand parts and laughs.
Lenina runs into Henry and, because of her depression about John, declines an invitation out with him. Henry suggests a V.P.S. and Lenina is very offended saying how she already had hers for this month and needs no more, providing even more reason for one.
Lenina confides in Fanny that she has feelings for John, and Fanny insists that Lenina should force herself on him. Discovering that John really likes her, Lenina expects him to have sex with her. John becomes scared and disappointed, and hurts Lenina by forcing her off of him.
John is called to the hospital where Linda is in a continual soma “holiday” and near death. She mistakes him for Pope’ and he shakes her, causing her to stop breathing. John goes out to the soma ration distribution and begins to talk of freedom, insisting that they do not take the soma “poison”. Enraged, he tells them that the soma will eventually kill them and flings soma out of the window. The people start to attack him, and Bernard and Helmholtz rush to help him. The police come and break up the riot with soma gas.
After, John, Bernard, and Helmholtz are taken to Mustapa Mond’s. Mond discusses his views of society, explaining why things like books are banned to promote consumerism and modern values, and to maintain social stability. Apalled, John feels the citizens aren’t proper human beings. He suggests creating only alphas, but Mond explains that over half of the workers would be unhappy doing degrading work.
Mond informs Bernard and Helmholtz that they will be exiled. Bernard begs not to be sent away, and Helmholtz accepts without protest.
Mustapa Mond and John argue about how religion is only necessary when people need a reason to keep faith, but in the Brave New World, there is no unhappiness, for they have soma, and there is no old age because they keep everyone young.
Bernard and Helmholtz leave John, and, although John requests to go to the island with them, Mond tells him no and says that he wants to continue the experiment that he’s using John for. John decides to live on his own in the countryside where he performs rituals of self-punishment. One day, he is discovered, and reporters come to visit him.
John soon becomes famous, and he sends visitors away by force. Lenina comes to him with open arms, but he just insults and whips her. After a crowd encourages him, he increases the whipping, and soon they are all stupefied by soma. The next morning when John awakens he is so upset that he hurt Lenina that he hangs himself.
