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Fallacy
Chapter 8
Explanation and Analysis—John's Backstory:
Much of Chapter 8 is consumed with a flashback to John's childhood, in which he recounts to Bernard how he came to the "Savage Reservation" and what it was like to grow up there. Stylistically, the choice to provide this information in a flashback is interesting—it takes the reader out of Bernard's perspective, as he has been the focal character and main recipient of the reader's sympathy up until this point. The book very nearly rips the reader out of Bernard's point of view, transitioning from dialogue to third person limited narration abruptly:
‘From the beginning. As far back as you can remember.’
‘As far back as I can remember.’ John frowned. There was a long silence.
It was very hot. They had eaten a lot of tortillas and sweet corn. Linda said, ‘Come and lie down, Baby.’
This flashback is the beginning of a gradual transition in perspective that occurs over the course of the narrative. Initially, Bernard appears to be the dissident character—the one who might challenge and upset this totalitarian regime. Instead, he is just another cog in the machine, desperate to be liked and conform and willing to exploit John to do so. John, existing outside of this totalitarian regime's conditioning, is the only person truly able to challenge it (aside from Helmholtz Watson, perhaps).
Related Themes:
