" 'It is better that one should suffer than that many should be corrupted' " (148).
As soon as I read this sentence, I knew it sounded familiar; however, I could not place it. Luckily Google came to my rescue and I was able to find the similar phrase I was looking for. John 11:50 states: "It is better for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish." This allusion to the biblical passage can be interpretted in many ways. I myself have attributed this similarity to a couple of different things. First off, I believe that the biblical passage is referring to the death of Jesus that would happen later. I am in no way saying that Bernard Marx has any connection with Jesus. This is one time when the subjects in the alliteration are not the points of similarity. I do, however, believe that the similarity in the passages does show the religious background of the people in London. Also, I believe that the similarities connect the two into one meaning. The quote from the book ends with many being corrupted. The biblical quote ends with the perishing of the whole nation. I believe that the Director sees the two as generally the same thing. If their people are corrupted by Bernard or whoever else tries to tinker with the system, it will result in the perishing of their society and the end of their reign as the superior people. The Director sees Bernard as the expendable person that could prevent the masses from being corrupted and ultimately prevent the society from perishing.
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