The Control

At the end of the novel, the main focus was completely isolated towards John. This man, also called the Savage, was first revealed to us in the scene of the boy being whipped in the ceremony at the reservation. John's first words came with anger and jealousy, wishing that he would be the boy and that everyone would know that he is "a man". We eventually learn of his history, being the son of the Director, was an out-cast, bullied by the other native children and felt emptiness in his life. Once he was revealed to "the brave new world" he still felt incredibly empty and lost. He never consoled his father issues, his love and friendship with other characters was eventually revealed as false, his beliefs were completely broken down and almost destroyed (especially in the conversation with Mustapha), and he had watched the one person he truly loved and trust die completely with no significance. John knew everything and consumed the most information than any other man. Yet he could not control it. Mustapha had said that he "chose to serve happiness". That was his decision and his method of coping with himself, his thoughts, and his passions. As for John, he was angry. He didn't want to accept certain realities and take time to figure out a way to let everything make sense.

Living in the lighthouse he spoke of "purifying" himself. Yet it all just seemed as if he had lost his purpose in life. He took to punishing himself when he found something to be happy for. However, he did feel as if he finally deserved the whippings. He was finally the boy, the man. Maybe that's all he ever wanted.

Through many things, as humans we search for an understanding of who we are, why we act this way, and what we look for in life. We encounter obstacles after obstacles, pain after pain, loss after loss, and joy after joy. Our brains consume so much knowledge and so much experience that it becomes the ultimate decision to find our purpose. Mustapha found his purpose to sacrifice so that he will never see pain anymore from all that he knew and experienced. He controlled it all. Yet he knew how complex it was to do so. Seeing John he found someone almost similar to him, yet he did not know how this man could control it. Controlling was the key. Mustapha's self control over his passion for all the knowledge put forth his will for peace and the complete diminishing of pain. So he put John up on the experiment. 


John's ending was very disturbing. He could not control himself. 
He did not find his purpose.
Is control really the key to ourselves within any world? Or is there always someone else controlling us? And must we experience life in an a systematic process or let ourselves grow organically, as individuals?