The ending

The ending of this novel is like previous works we have read and watched in this class so far. It is in some ways undetermined and up to the reader's imagination to decide wether it is hopeful or hopeless. The novel ends with this: "Slowly, very slowly, like two unhurried compass needles, the feet turned towards the right; north, north-east, east, south-east, south, south-south-west; then paused, and, after a few seconds, turned as unhurriedly back towards the left. South-south-west, south, south-east, east...." (259). The ending describes and visualizes the death of John. He hangs himself because of the shame he feels for having given into the World State for the night before. Is his suicide hopeful or hopeless? Does is show the reader that there are individuals who end their lives as an act of power and to show the World State that is it not in control of their bodies? Or, does is show that anyone rebelling against the World State is doomed to fail? Personally, I believe that the ending is hopeful. It demonstrates how free John truly is. He is free in the sense where he was not told what to do, he acted only on his individual beliefs. John died for something he believed in: rebelling and freeing himself from the World State. John tries so hard to retain his individuality since he arrives at the centre from the reservation. Unlike Bernard, John does not want to conform to the customs and expectations the World State has. He tries so hard to not give in. Even with Lenina, he doesn't end up sleeping with her because is it not how he believes it should be done. John doesn't care about how the World State wants him to act. He doesn't want to be solely an extension from this civilization; an extension without any real significance and one that can easily be replaced. The horrific scene of his mother's death really effects John. After the way he sees the children looking at Linda and calling her "fat" and "ugly," he gives up any hope he has for this society. He begins to realize and later when he talks to Mond that the World State revolves around consumerism and new materialistic things. John can't stand this. Mond truly believes that this is real progress, but it isn't. John throws away the soma portions as a way to help the others realize the oppressiveness of the society, which they never quite understand.