After returning to London from his trip to the reservation, Bernard became a brand new person. Now that he had brought John and Linda to London with him, Bernard gained a new reputation from the people who once treated him so poorly.
In the beginning of chapter 11, Huxley states “Bernard now found himself, for the first time in his life, treated merely normally, but as a person of outstanding importance. There was no more talk of the alcohol in his blood-surrogate, no gibes at his personal appearance. Henry Foster went out of his way to be friendly; Benito Hoover made him a present of six packets of sex- hormone chewing gum; the Assistant Predestinator came out and cadged almost abjectly for an invitation to one of Bernard’s evening parties. As for the women, Bernard had only to hint at the possibility of an invitation, and he could have whichever of them he liked.” John and Linda had made Bernard popular amongst the castes of the Hatchery and Conditioning Centre. Before the trip to the reservation, Bernard focused his eyes on Lenina. He didn’t like the fact that other men treated her like a piece of meat. But now, Bernard can have any girl in London that he wants because of his success of bringing John and Linda to the London. Bernard also gained a new reputation with the Controllers, including Mustapha Mond.
The things that Bernard once believed in, he no longer sees important in chapters 10-13. For example, before Bernard traveled to the reservation, he did not believe in the use of Soma to create happiness. Yes, he took soma occasionally, but within chapters 10-13, you can tell that Bernard has become more accustomed to taking soma. He takes it for the hell of it now. Bernard now enjoys the world that he lives in and doesn’t even think to complain about the things he once was concerned with, including conditioning and hypnopedia. he doesn’t have time for this anymore. Now all he cares about is showing John off to the people of London. No one pays mind to Linda, John’s mother. Bernard actually approves of the fact that Linda is given as much soma as she wants, even though this will end in her early death.
Bernard also gave up his friendship with his close friend Helmholtz because he believed that Helmholtz was jealous of his success. In chapter 11, Bernard boasted to Helmholtz about his new success with women. He states, “And I had six girls last week; one on Monday, two on Tuesday, two more on Friday, and one on Saturday. And if I’d have the time or the inclination, there were at least a dozen more who were only too anxious…” Helmholtz could only shake his head once he heard this. Bernard accused Helmholtz of being envious and told himself “never would he speak to Helmholtz again.” Luckily, in the future, Bernard is able to win back Helmoltz’s friendship, but once that happens he is the one who becomes jealous because Helmholtz took liking to John.
But one thing about Bernard that stayed the same was his nasty attitude. Whenever Helmholtz and John were around each other, they would share conversations that Bernard commented negatively to. He replied with his “acts of vengeance” until Helmholtz was fed up and told him not to comment negatively again.
