Imperfectly Beautiful (Chapter 18/ Pages 241-259)

"Slowly, very slowly, like two unhurried compass needles, the feet turned towards the right; north, north-east, east, south-east, south, south-west; then paused, and, after a few seconds, turned as unhurriedly back towards the left. South-south-west, south, south-east, east..."

~ Brave New World, page 259

My overall experience with this book was very positive; although it was frustrating at times, the novel was exciting and different. It was really hard to believe that this was written in the 1930's though, because the detail of genetic engineering is so ahead of its time - even if an author were to write it today.

As for the last chapter, I found it kind of heartbreaking. John, who had the right ideas about life, who had so much passion and faith, was only trying to escape the madness. However, the chaos followed him into his solitude and completely wrecked it - and I think for the last days of his life, he was tortured by the people and their lifestyle. But, in the end, he did escape; I just wish it hadn't happened like it did. It was surprising that someone who was so religious would commit suicide. I know he wasn't provided any guidelines that told him it was immoral, but he seemed to be the type of person who did everything the hard way only to strengthen himself. But maybe there was only one way for him in the end.

And now, we come to a close with Brave New World. This book has taught me the dangers of complete stability. It is wrong to live life numbly and safely, because nothing can be experienced or learned or felt. Everything the citizens enjoyed was fake - it was a lie, and the only reason it felt good was because it temporarily put aside their problems. A perfect life, ironically, isn't perfect. It's full of excitement, passion, breakdowns, obstacles, wins, losses, challenges, expression, and joy. The book has once again left me with the same question I had when I started reading - is perfection worth the loss of what makes life truly beautiful?

Verbal Irony (Chapter 17/ Pages 230-240)

" 'In fact,' said Mustapha Mond, 'you're claiming the right to be unhappy.'
  'All right then,' said the Savage defiantly, 'I'm claiming the right to be unhappy.'
  'Not to mention the right to grow old and ugly and impotent; the right to have syphilis and cancer; the right to have too little to eat; the right to be lousy; the right to live in constant apprehension of what may happen tomorrow; the right to catch typhoid; the right to be tortured by unspeakable pains of every kind.' There was a long silence.
  'I claim them all,' said the Savage at last."

~ Brave New World, page 240

This whole portion of the discussion between Mustapha and John is verbally ironic. This verbal irony is that John is saying he wants to be unhappy, but he really means that he knows he must accept this unhappiness to experience true joy. The other citizens of the Society would look at these things and be repulsed. But they live with false happiness. Those people can't understand that there must be pain with joy. When John says he claims all the horrible things, he literally is claiming them, but more importantly, he is also taking all the good things that counter them. This irony reveals one of the themes of the book. We can go through life pretending to be happy when we are actually numb and simply avoiding our problems, or we can suffer through those pains, solve our issues, and also experience the real pleasures in life.

What Just Happened... ? (Chapter 16/ Pages 217-229)

"And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."

~ Brave New World, page 221

So, whenever my friends and I are watching a movie, we play a game. We call it "The Twist Game," and what happens is that after something happens in the movie, someone will yell "twist" and say some outrageous, virtually  impossible scenario that could happen next and change the whole plot. Or if a twist actually arises, we all get really excited and start yelling enthusiastically. It sounds stupid, I know, but it's quite entertaining, especially if you are watching a slow or predictable movie. Anyway, this is pretty much what happened to me during this chapter.

When Mustapha Mond (whose name sounds like Mufasa from The Lion King, by the way :) ) took John, Helmholtz, and Bernard to his office, I expected him to be angry. I expected him to make some great big speech about how they think they have the world figured out, but they don't know anything - he does, and he will show them how cruel the world can actually be, then he would torture them or get rid of them or something, and then the novel ends tragically with a warning to future generations about over-stabilizing their communities and so on (that is one long run-on!). But, alas, no. Mustapha is actually a pretty cool guy. He appreciates literature and art, he's religious, and he had crazy ideas just like they do. But then we find out that he is selfless - he sacrificed his own happiness so that everyone else could be happy and live in blissful ignorance. Now, that's what I call dedication. The whole time I've been reading the book, I have had a rebellious outlook against the government, and I thought that they were the antagonists. Now I know that they are just giving people what they want, and I can respect that, even if I still don't agree with it and think it's wrong. I bet right after Aldous Huxley wrote that chapter, he reread it and said, "My God, I am good."

I guess what I'm trying to say is that this twist is so good that it beats Letters to Juliet when we found out she was dating her cousin - and we had a field day with that one.

Let's Start a Riot (Chapter 15/ Pages 208-216)

" 'O brave new world, O brave new world...' In his mind the singing words seemed to change their tone. They had mocked him through his misery and remorse, mocked him with how hideous a note of cynical derision! Fiendishly laughing, they had insisted on the low squalor, the nauseous ugliness of the nightmare. Now, suddenly, the trumpeted a call to arms. "O brave new world!" Miranda was proclaiming the possibility of loveliness, the possibility of transforming even the nightmare into something fine and noble. "O brave new world!" It was a challenge, a command. "

~ Brave New World, page 210

We have finally reached a climax! As John walks out of the hospital, he sees the soma distribution and becomes absolutely furious - and he starts preaching to a large group of Deltas. All of the spectators watch in horror, but I was just happy someone was finally doing something. It felt like a defining moment/ breaking point in the book, and I was glad to see some action. His passion for the freedom he was talking about was so refreshing after seeing everyone else, the people who only work and play golf. I also liked seeing a member born in the society rebelling against it with John. It wasn't just someone with heretical ideas who was too afraid to say anything or make a scene. The emotion was raw and intense and passionate; so far, most of the book (and anything/anyone in the Society) had been lacking that.

Anthropomorphism (Chapter 14/ Pages 198-207)

"But the spell was ineffective. Obstinately the beautiful memories refused to rise; there was only a hateful resurrection of jealousies and uglinesses and miseries."

~ Brave New World, page 203

John has had a very difficult and erratic relationship with his mother, so when she is dying, he has quite an experience in the hospital. He remembers his mother and the joy and support she brought him, but he also remembers the events that plagued their relationship - Pope, the other women, etc. It isn't animals or even inanimate objects in this case that are being personified. John's ideas are given human characteristics which make his emotions much more real to the reader. When the memories "refuse to rise," one can better understand the pain and frustration that John feels. It also gives the reader an image of the intangible ideas performing an action (which is interesting). The anthropomorphism intensifies the ideas and their emotional effect; they seem more vivid. All of this leads to John's emotional undoing when his mother finally dies.

He's Just Not That Into You... (Chapter 13/ Pages 186-197)

" 'What is it?' she almost screamed.
  And as though awakened by her cry he caught her by the shoulders and shook her. 'Whore!' he shouted. 'Whore! Impudent strumpet!' "

~ Brave New World, page 194

Wow. I am very appalled, with the amount of censorship these days (especially in a Catholic school), that we were permitted to read this book. Don't get me wrong, I really like it so far, but this scene just surprised me. I knew John was strong in his religion, but I didn't realize he was that passionate about his faith. He is very invested in his morals. I don't personally know many guys who would resist a naked woman throwing herself at them, but I can think of some examples in literature and movies!

In Just Friends, Samantha (Anna Farris) repeatedly attacks Chris (Ryan Reynolds) even though he is in love with another woman.

In He's Just Not That Into You, Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin) throws herself at Alex (Justin Long), who explains to her why men act like they do, because she thinks she is his "exception" - she's not.










In Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer (yes, I am making a Twilight reference, and YES, I am ashamed!), Bella wants to have sex with Edward, but he denies her and runs away because he wants to be married first.

An Epiphany Followed by Disappointment and Abandoned Hope (Chapter 12/ Pages 172-185)

" 'Well, I'd rather be unhappy than have the sort of false, lying happiness you were having here.' "

~ Brave New World, page 179

I have had some MAJOR revelations in this chapter. It was actually quite exciting - that is, until I realized what those epiphanies entailed.

First: Bernard. I had so many hopes for him in this book - that he would overcome his insecurities and he would expose the horrible nature and ethics of this Society, but then I was naive. I expected this book to have a happy ending, but it probably doesn't, and I guess that's why it is a classic. Bernard gave up his ideas of being bitter and angry and actually showing emotion, the very qualities that made him different from everybody, and overdosed on soma like all the rest of his thoughtless, numb peers. And when John calls him out on using him as a way to achieve false happiness, I realized that parallels an earlier scene where Bernard tells Lenina that he would rather be unhappy than take soma and avoid his problems. How the tables turn...

Secondly: John. When I realized this parallel, I saw Bernard in John, which both excited me and worried me. Let's start with the bad stuff so we end with a positive possibility. When I saw their similarities (having independent ideas, being an outcast, and refusing to partake in ritual practices that they recognize as unnecessary or dangerous) I feared that John may have the same downfall as Bernard - that the ways of Society may be too much for him to continually reject, so he would eventually give in to it. However, I feel that John has a strength that Bernard doesn't, and he could end up doing something drastic or extraordinary.

A Trip to the Zoo (Chapter 11/ Pages 153-171)

"It was John, then, they were all after."

~ Brave New World, page 156

In the novel, John is often called a Savage because of his previous life on the Indian Reservation. Everyone wants to see him, to observe his odd behavior and hear his blasphemous ideas. It's funny that they all call him a savage, as they would an animal, because they all treat him like an animal; he might as well be the zoo's new exhibit. And Bernard knows that he holds the key to that exhibit, so he uses John to gain social status.

However, it's also rather funny that they would be treating him like the animal. In a way, he is much more civilized than they are. John can utilize his human quality of restraint and self-denial, unlike the citizens who have been taught to act on instinct, impulse, and immediate gratification. So now who is the real animal?

Oh, the Dramatic Irony (Chapter 10/ Pages 146-152)

" 'The greater a man's talents, the greater his power to lead astray. It is better that one should suffer than that many should be corrupted. Consider the matter dispassionately, Mr. Foster, and you will see that no offence is so heinous as unorthodoxy of behaviour. Murder kills only the individual - and, after all, what is an individual?' "

Brave New World, page 148

The Director tells Henry Foster everything in the preceding quote when Bernard is a clear threat to the system and Society as a whole. The dramatic irony, in this situation, is "murder kills only the individual." This is when the readers say, "Wait! In this book, there is no such thing as an individual!" (which Henry Foster wouldn't be able to understand) And the following rhetorical question only reemphasizes this point. Which is quite funny, the purpose of the question was to aid his convictions of Bernard, but it actually makes the reader hate him and his life's work even more.The irony once again points out the flaws in this community. It reveals the horribly thought-out priorities of the government.

Heaven on Earth/ Imagery (Chapter 9/ Pages 140-145)

"Opening a box, he spilt a cloud of scented powder. His hands were floury with the stuff. He wiped them on his chest, on his shoulders, on his bare arms. Delicious perfume! He shut his eyes; he rubbed his cheek against his own powdered arm. Touch of smooth skin against his face, scent in his nostrils of musky dust - her real presence. "Lenina," he whispered. "Lenina!" "

~ Brave New World, page 143

When John breaks into the rest-house, he explores through Lenina's belongings. The imagery used reveals John's curious, and even child-like, nature and desire to learn about this "brave new world." When he is watching Lenina sleep, it gives her an angelic quality by beauty and youth. It shows how much John feels for Lenina. First, he expresses how beautiful he thinks she is, and how fragile she looks. Then, he quotes Shakespeare, the man who wrote brilliant, touching love stories. Lastly, he expresses his desire to simply touch her, but considering himself unworthy, he denies himself. The awe-struck mood created by the imagery makes Lenina seem as if she is a perfect, godly creature.

Flashback (Chapter 8/ Pages 123-140)

" 'Explain what?'
  'This.' He indicated the pueblo. 'That.' And it was the little house outside the village. 'Everything. All your life.'
  'But what is there to say?'
  'From the beginning. As far back as you can remember.' "

~ Brave New World, page 123

In chapter 7, a new character with a different life perspective is introduced. John provides us a flashback of defining events in his life living on an Indian Reservation. The flashback shows that his life has not been easy, and at times it seemed unbearable. As the only Caucasian person besides his naive, inexperienced mother, he faced discrimination throughout his life. He endured not only antilocution, but also physical abuse. The flashback indirectly characterized John as a strong individual. It also showed the similarities between John and Bernard. It made a connection between John and Bernard, as they were both outsiders in their worlds.

The Domino Theory/ Pun (Chapter 7/ Pages 107-122)

" 'But cleanliness is next to fordliness,' she insisted.
  'Yes, and civilization is sterilization,' Bernard went on."

~ Brave New World, page 110

The pun in this chapter, "civilization is sterilization," has two different meanings. The first, literal meaning is that civilized people are clean and keep their living spaces neat. The second meaning is that healthy, powerful civilizations figuratively sterilize their population. If there is anyone who rebels against the system or behaves differently from the rest of the people, they must be removed to have a "clean" body of citizens. This is especially applied to Bernard because of his unwillingness to conform like the rest of his peers. The second meaning is displayed when the Director threatens to relocate Bernard to Iceland; if he could move him away from his society, he would also be rid of one more hazard to the stability of the community. The situation is somewhat comparable to the Domino Theory during the Cold War - if the U.S. could keep Asian countries "clean" of Communism, then they might prevent the other countries from following and avoid creation of more enemies.

The Attachment Sickness (Chapter 6/ Pages 87-106)

" 'Don't imagine,' he said, 'that I'd had any indecorous relation with the girl. Nothing emotional, nothing longdrawn. It was all perfectly healthy and normal.' "

~ Brave New World, page 97

When I was reading this section I realized that more than just our world and their world's religious ceremonies perfectly opposed each other. Each of the worlds' sense of normality was also exactly opposite. Today, being in a healthy relationship means monogamous relations for generally a long period of time. However, in this community, any type of attachment would be unhealthy, a mental sickness. The Director reveals that being involved in any special way is unconventional because everyone should contribute to the society as a whole. If two people would form a significant bond, how would that help everyone else? It is the duty of the citizens to give to everyone and not just think of another single person. If an accident happened to someone who shared in that significant bond and he or she was suddenly gone, it would cause pain to the other person - a pain that is unnecessary and could have been completely avoided.

Invocation (Chapter 5, Part 2/ Pages 78-86)

"Feeling that it was time for him to do something, Bernard also jumped up and shouted: "I hear him; He's coming." But it wasn't true. He heard nothing and, for him, nobody was coming."

~ Brave New World, page 84

During the Ford's Day Solidarity Service, the invocation reveals not only the ideals of their religion, but both a parallelism and juxtaposition with Christianity. The citizens believe that everyone is meant for everyone else, and to an extent, that is a belief of Christianity. We also learn that Ford is very comparable to Jesus, and was a defining figure of this religion; he also has a Second Coming. Despite these similarities, the rituals are extremely different. The Solidarity Services are based on heightened sensation and excitement. Christian masses are based on self-denial and withdrawal of human impulses as a sacrifice to God. Also, the Solidarity stresses everyone blending together to create one identity of stability for the community. Christianity also strives for unity, but also emphasizes each person to contribute their individuality to the union.

Soma - "A gramme in time saves nine!" (Chapter 5, Part 1/ Pages 72-78)

"They were inside, here and now - safely inside with the fine weather, the perennially blue sky."

~ Brave New World, page 77

Okay, this whole soma thing is really frustrating me. First I had to reread the chapter; I couldn't even tell what was happening. I get that it is a drug used to lift one's spirits (and is probably abused as an anti-depressant), but I was really unsure of the extent to which it did this. People casually take it on a day-to-day basis in small doses, but they also go on soma-holidays with it? Does that mean it's a hallucinogen and they are imagining their whole holiday, or are they just so drugged that everything seems perfect as they continue their lives? But even more importantly, the government is encouraging the people to take it all. At first I thought that would be destructive to  the government (the drugs might affect their work performance), but then I realized that it might be the only way to get through the day. The government has not only conditioned them to think that they are always happy, but now they also supply drugs for them to always have an escape if they are feeling bad, thus having total and complete control over them.

Protagonist (Chapter 4, Part 2/ Pages 63-71)

"With eyes for the most part downcast and, if ever they lighted on a fellow creature, at once and furtively averted, Bernard hastened across the roof. He was like a man pursued, but pursued by enemies he does not wish to see, lest they should seem more hostile even than he had supposed, and he himself be made to feel guiltier and even more helplessly alone."

~ Brave New World, page 63

It looks like we've finally found our hero - a "strange" fellow named Bernard Marx. Bernard is the protagonist simply because he is different. Despite being born of the highest class, Bernard is physically imperfect, unlike his Alpha peers, and therefore is outcasted. However, he possesses several amiable qualities that the others have been taught to lack. In some ways, he resembles a human from today's world and not his own. He has a great gamut of emotion, especially including "bad" (but ardent) feelings like jealousy, insecurity, apprehension, and sensitivity; yet, behind these feelings are good intentions. Different from every other character in the novel, Bernard understands the flaws in the society's system, perhaps because he is an outsider. His instincts guide him towards monogamy, and he recognizes stronger, more intense emotions than the other citizens (especially regarding Lenina, the object of his affections). Bernard is definitely an underdog, but he could have the answer to fixing this new world.

The Social Hierarchy/Epithets (Chapter 4, Part 1/ Pages 57-63)

"The liftman was a simian creature, dressed in the black tunic of an Epsilon-Minus Semi-Moron."

~ Brave New World, page 58

There is indisputably a social-class hierarchy in Brave New World, and the amount of prejudice and discrimination based on that seems as if it would be contradictory to the society's goals and ideals. The community is supposed to be based on every member giving what they can to every other member, but what is really happening is the working class (Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons) giving to the intelligent class (Alphas and Betas) without any compensation. However, socially the two separate classes give to each other. The discrimination even goes as far as degrading epithets like the "black Semi-Morons" (Epsilons). This is used as a way to describe skill or achievement (or lack of in the Epsilon case). Other epithets found in literature are Homer's "Swift-footed Achilles" or "Wide-ruling Agamemnon." These prejudices are so integrated into the minds of the citizens that even Lenina, an especially kind person who will oppose her peers to defend an outcast, says repeatedly, "What a hideous color khaki [representing Deltas] is," and, "I'm glad I'm not a Gamma." It is clear that the society does not value every person as its leaders claim it does.

                                                               









<--- Swift-footed Achilles
                                                                                       

Situational Irony (Chapter 3/ Pages 30-56)

" 'He has had other girls, hasn't he?'
   Lenina admitted it.
  'Of course he does. Trust Henry Foster to be the perfect gentleman.' "

~ Brave New World, page 42

Situational irony is found throughout this chapter. One example is while the Director and the students are observing playtime for the children. When they see two children engaged in the "rudimentary sexual game," unexpectedly, the Director replies with, "Charming, charming!" at these "childish amusements." The irony revealed in this situation is that in our world, this would be disappointing and intolerable to a witnessing adult. Also, the phrase "childish amusements" would be inaccurate today; "erotic play" is supposed to be reserved for adults.

Another example is when Lenina and Fanny discuss the men they are going out with. At hearing Lenina say that she has been having Henry Foster for only four months, Fanny reacts with surprise at this lapse of good character. It parallels the first example by showing the differences in the guidelines and standards of morality between the two worlds. In modern society, monogamy and long-term relationships are encouraged and religiously correct, while solidarity in every aspect of life is morally right in their world.

Holding Out for a Hero (Chapter 2/ Pages 19 - 29)

"Books and loud noises, flowers and electric shocks - already in the infant mind these couples were compromisingly linked; and after two hundred repetitions of the same or a similar lesson would be wedded indissolubly."

~ Brave New World, page 22

Everyone has heard of the classic "Pavlov's Dogs" experiment - a scientist trained his dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell by feeding the animals each time it rang. There has even been a reproduction of this scientific discovery in a popular TV show. (Sorry about the quality)

In the novel, this type of conditioning is taken to new, extreme, twisted levels. In the "Neo-Pavlovian Conditioning Room," babies are taught to hate things such as books and flowers by not only shrieking bells and sirens, but also by electrocution. I, for one, find this quite disturbing unlike the observing students, one who found this practice admirable. Ironically, the only unpleasant thing found in this chapter to the people living in this world is the thought of a family - not growing up in a public, controlled environment. We often fear and reject the unfamiliar, but I am pretty sure I would still be reluctant of shocking those babies if I lived in that era. What will they do next, serve them on a platter?

This chapter also stimulates thought regarding something called Hypnopaedia, or repetition of phrases that penetrate the subconscious. This technique is used to teach children morals (ha) and to love, love, love their predetermined conditions. If all the children are taught to think that this new world is perfect and are conditioned to love it, then how could anyone present another perspective? The people living in this world aren't even allowed to think independently. I predict that the protagonist will be someone who rebels against the structure in this society - perhaps Henry Foster (he could have an experience that breaks his spirit and confidence in the system and somehow could prove that it is wrong)? Or maybe another character will be introduced and become the hero. Someone needs to reveal society's "stability" for what it truly is.

Venturing into a Brave New World (Chapter 1/ Pages 3 - 18)

"One egg, one embryo, one adult - normality. But a bokanovskified egg will bud, will proliferate, will divide. From eight to ninety-six buds, and every bud will grow into a perfectly formed embryo, and every embryo into a full-sized adult. Making ninety-six human beings grow where only one grew before. Progress."

~ Brave New World, page 6

The first chapter of this book details some processes involved in genetically creating and specializing humans so that they may contribute to society. I found this world to be quite interesting, especially its community's fixation on progress and "social stability." If I am correctly interpreting the book, Epsilons are the lowest social class of people whose, according to the Director, intellectual capacity and even individuality are of no importance because they do not aid the community in any way. I do not know much about this world yet, but it seems as if the destruction of the potential of a human life can "benefit" the society, then it is completely acceptable and even proper. The Director states that the deterioration of Epsilons is a "benefaction to Society" and an "enormous saving to the Community;" however, he has no regard for the immorality of this situation. The Director justifies these unethical practices with the benefit of society, so if flawed methods enhance a civilization, does that mean that those flaws are also paralleled within that civilization? So far, this whole operation seems quite shady to me - the people in this world are considered more as machines than living, breathing humans. If a society has to degrade life to assist the progression of the community, then is the community worth the loss that its citizens suffer? (Does that make sense?)