"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?
Showing posts with label john. Show all posts
Showing posts with label john. Show all posts
Friday, July 8, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
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.
'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.
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.
~ 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.
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.
~ 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.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
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.
'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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)