“ ‘But I don’t want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin.’ “ Brave New World (p. 240)
Ever since I was in first grade, we have been taught that Jesus loves us and sin is bad. But after reading this book, I’m not so sure if sin is such a bad thing. I mean, why would God put sin on Earth if it didn’t advance humans in some way? I think sin allows us to learn more about ourselves and grow from our mistakes.
In the above quote, Huxley uses a hyperbole (purposefully exaggerating for effect). Of course, John does not want real danger or sin, and he knows that God wants a world free of sin. However, he realizes how the New World does not change. Everything stays the same because there is no experimentation or no sin. Sin causes people to move forward. Without progression, people cannot mentally mature or discover things about themselves or God. No true relationships can form, and a true life cannot be lived.
This hyperbole shows how John wants a life that we all lead today. It may not be perfect, but at least it can lead to real happiness. He wants to experience things for himself in order to discover himself and the world.
Huxley probably is also trying to warn people of what they wish for. John wished for a perfect life; he soon found that a life of perfection is boring and dull. Sometimes, we should just be happy with what we have.
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