Linda Character Analysis in Brave New World

Linda is a Beta-minus woman who accompanied the Director on a date to the Savage Reservation, accidentally got separated from him, and later gave birth to a child, John. She was so embarrassed at becoming pregnant and giving birth that she didn't try to leave the Reservation and spent 20 years there. Her World State belief in promiscuous sex and drug-taking make her and John outcasts in the Reservation. Once she returns to the World State with Bernard’s help, she drugs herself into a permanent soma-stupor until she dies.

Linda Character Timeline in Brave New World

The timeline below shows where the character Linda appears in Brave New World. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

The young man explains to Bernard and Lenina that his mother, Linda, came from the Other Place long ago, with “Tomakin,” the man who was his father.... (full context)

Linda continues to weep, telling Lenina how much she’s missed her former life in civilization, where... (full context)

Outside Linda's house, Bernard and John talk. Bernard is struggling to make sense of John’s life on... (full context)

...embarrass the Director, whom he’s realized must be John’s father. He says he will take Linda with them, too, knowing she will inspire such disgust that the Director will be even... (full context)

Bernard summons Linda into the room, and the perpetually youthful workers are horrified by her sagging, middle-aged appearance.... (full context)

Industrialism and Consumption Theme Icon

...of upper-caste London is eager to see John, whom they begin calling the Savage. Because Linda is old, ugly, and a mother, no one is interested in seeing her. Linda doesn't... (full context)

...world,” breaks away, retching. Bernard continues to report to Mond, expressing perplexity that John visits Linda in the midst of her permanent soma holiday, an impulse he sees as unnatural. Bernard... (full context)

John rushes into the Park Lane Hospital for the Dying, where Linda is staying. The nurse matter-of-factly says there's no hope of recovery, as Linda is in... (full context)

Linda is so drugged on soma she barely notices John. As John weeps at his mother’s... (full context)

John returns his attention to Linda, who, in her stupor, believes he's Popé. This is too much for John: he shakes... (full context)

...for the Dying, 160 Delta staff are assembled for their soma ration. His mind on Linda’s death, John shoulders his way among the crowd. When he notices the twins, John feels... (full context)

...arrow, he catches himself singing happily—an offense to the memory of his perceived unkindness to Linda—he whips himself. When a truck full of Deltas drives by, they watch in wonder as... (full context)

...rushes from the lighthouse and flings himself into the juniper bushes, trying to think of Linda’s death instead, but he can’t get Lenina out of his mind. He starts whipping himself... (full context)