Thank you for that. That's a good way of looking at Bernard.
It could even be said that Bernard Marx is, for the conflict at hand (between individual and society in a society that doesn't appreciate balance between the two), something of a Greek-style hero. (Note, I just watched Diamanda Hagan's video defending the movie Alexander.)
The Ancient Greeks preferred their heroes to be far more emotional than our own, wearing their emotions on their sleeves (or rather on masks identifying their intended emotion for the viewers of a play). Compared to our more stoic and dignified heroes (see the reserved, even self-muted expressions of Mad Max to refer to another series I'm discussing at the moment), Bernard would seem weak... if you judge strength by the refusal to show others your own emotions.
And, indeed, he has two very human flaws to make his downfall. He has both pride and a self-hatred derived from the judgment of a society that dislikes his refusal/inability to fit in.
Re: Bernard
It could even be said that Bernard Marx is, for the conflict at hand (between individual and society in a society that doesn't appreciate balance between the two), something of a Greek-style hero. (Note, I just watched Diamanda Hagan's video defending the movie Alexander.)
The Ancient Greeks preferred their heroes to be far more emotional than our own, wearing their emotions on their sleeves (or rather on masks identifying their intended emotion for the viewers of a play). Compared to our more stoic and dignified heroes (see the reserved, even self-muted expressions of Mad Max to refer to another series I'm discussing at the moment), Bernard would seem weak... if you judge strength by the refusal to show others your own emotions.
And, indeed, he has two very human flaws to make his downfall. He has both pride and a self-hatred derived from the judgment of a society that dislikes his refusal/inability to fit in.