From an individual standpoint, John the savage was much different than the people in the civilized world. He didn't take the soma, and he never took part in the orgies, or any other sexual activities. It affects him drastically in the novel. He is isolated from society, and is therefore treated as almost inhuman. He even develops a detachment to his mother, who decides to soma herself to death. His refusal of the drug essentially causes much more confusion in him of why his mother wanted the drug so much, and effects him mentally, especially with the children when he “…seized him by the collar, lifted him clear over the chair and, with a smart box on the ears, sent him howling away.” (Huxley 202) He then tries to convince the people in the hospital to not take the soma rations and throws them out the window. This causes massive social unrest, and he almost gets killed. Since in the real world, the drugs and sex concept are reverse, John could be compared to a prostitute. Most women who grow up to be prostitutes have the same thing happen to them that happened to John-detachment from those around them, even from the family, having only one or two people that care about them (a pimp for the prostitute, for John it was Bernard) that they make money and fame for.
John was great socially, because he had the ability of detaching himself from society and drawing attention to himself. It united everyone around him in a common interest of who he is and everyone rallies together outside his house at the end of the book. A similar event can happen to prostitutes. Girls and guys always talk about who the latest “slut” is and why they don't like that person, and people in general can just be morally opposed to a woman or man who sells their body on the street. People can come together when they share a common emotion, which is what happens with John. Their interest in him brings them all together. They are also similar economically. John was receiving whatever he wanted because people wanted to experiment and watch how differently a savage acted, and Bernard was receiving fame. Prostitutes tend to receive large sums of money, since in one night they can make anywhere between $2,000-3,000, while there pimps can become more famous for having good prostitutes (it sounds ridiculous, but true). So while their lives can be completely different, the difference can make you very wealthy.
From an economical and social standpoint, there are many benefits to drugs and sex as everyday activities in society. It unites people, and also relieves stress and tension that have existed in past civilizations for an individual and for society in general. John was an example of what not to do, and his refusal of accepting a modernized world isolated him for everyone, and caused mass confusion in himself, as well as those around him. As we advance in the future, we will become more open to sex and drugs, and it will improve society dramatically.
