Symbolism of Marx and Lenina's names in Huxley's Brave New World?

Question

Reading Brave New World it seemed obvious to me that Bernard Marx and Lenina Crowne are in some way referring to Marx and Lenin, but I couldn't figure out any clue to support this claim. Is it truly so and what are they representing? Is there any (related) symbolism in their other names (first and last, respectively), i.e. Bernard and Crowne?

Answer 1

Marx is an obvious allusion to Karl Marx, and subsequently the ideology for a revolution. Barard ends up being a revolutionary and is eventually banished. Like the historical Marx, Bernard is basically a man of thought as opposed to a man of action.

Lenina is a name with considerable irony. Lenina would seem to be a feminine form of the name Lenin. The irony is thea Lenina isn't remotely revolutionary even if she is connected to the conflicts that could have started something.