-How critical is soma to the survival of the one state?
-What does Bernard want from Lenina?
-What impact will John have on the World State?
Soma is the basis for everything in the society, and without it the "perfect" society will cease to function. Soma relieves people of the thoughts that Bernard loves to entertain. It relieves unhappiness and with it, the risk of discontent rising among the populace towards their superiors. It also gives the added benefit of making the government necessary to the people for their drug supply. Without it, the people feel miserable and their psychological addiction is not satisfied.
Bernard, despite his claims otherwise, seems to want Lenina in the way his society dictates to him. Despite attempting to engage in a forbidden romantic relationship, to me it appears that Bernard wants what the rest of society has, and most prevalent among that is his choice in sexual partners. From what's been stated about her by former partners, Lenina seems to be the standard, incredible even by Alpha standards, despite being a Beta.
John will cause more of an upheaval than Bernard realizes. While his mothers claims will be water cooler gossip for a short period of time, the savage will be a source of fascination and disgust among every person living under the World State. It will vault Bernard into the position of a circus master and perhaps only serve to alienate him more, being the guardian of a "freak."
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