"The sight of her transfigured face was at once an accusation and an ironical reminder of his own separateness. He was as miserably isolated now as he had been when the service began--more isolated by reason of his unreplenished emptiness, his dead satiety. Separate and unatoned, while the others were being fused into the Greater Being; alone even in Morgana's embrace--much more alone, indeed, more hopelessly himself than he had ever been in his life before." (Page 86, Brave New World)
Bernard's conflict is very evident in this chapter. While attending his weekly Solidarity Service of hymns and people sleeping together, Bernard feels even more separated and isolated from society. Bernard feels empty and alone. This is contradictory to everyone else at the service. This is apparent through the woman, Fifi Bradlaugh, who excitedly and contently states her bliss. She felt complete and she was "made perfect". This peaceful and replenishing moment was the sole purpose of the Solidarity Service. To the people who all participate in the service, they come together and fulfill their own desires and also fulfill the basis on which the society runs. Consequently, Bernard feels empty because of his internal conflict. Bernard is beginning to recognize that he feels differently on his societies approach to everything. He is beginning to question himself and his actions. Thus, a conflict is presented. Until Bernard takes some course of action, his internal conflict will only increase. Therefore, I believe that Bernard is going to be the character in this book that begins to take a different approach to life in their world; an approach contrary to what everyone else believes.
Similar to the foreshadowing, by establishing the internal conflict of the character Bernard, the reader is able to see where the story may head. The internal conflict that Bernard is faced with demonstrates the type of person that Bernard is. As was aforementioned, the fact that Bernard seems to be one of the only characters who feels differently about the way their society runs, makes me think that the internal conflict that is being experienced will lead to some course of action.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Something else...(Brave New World-4)
"Speaking very slowly, 'Did you ever feel,' he asked, 'as though you had something inside you that was only waiting for you to give it a chance to come out? Some sort of extra power that you aren't using--you know, like all the water that goes down the falls instead of through the turbines?' He looked at Bernard questioningly." (Page 69, Brave New World)
This quote comes for the character Helmholtz Watson. Helmholtz is a lecturer at the College of Emotional Engineering. He is similar to Bernard in the sense that he is looked at differently from others in his caste because he is a little bit smarter just as Bernard is smaller. Helmholtz feels that he is empty and as if there is something more meaningful inside of him and his work. Helmholtz wonders if there is some kind of happiness or something else outside of the stability that society presents. In this way, I believe that the author is foreshadowing Helmholtz and his role later on in the novel. Similar to Bernard, Helmholtz is in his beginning stages of rebelling against the normality of society. He is content with the way things are, but realizes that there is something else. It is possible that this "something else" may be presented to Bernard and Helmholtz later on.
Through the author's foreshadowing, the reader is able to establish who may be the protagonist and antagonist in the story. By establishing this, the reader is also able to get a glimpse of what may happen throughout the rest of the book. Also, it makes the reader more aware of the important details that are crucial to the plot of the story. I think that the rebellion that Helmholtz and Bernard are feeling will make an impact to where the story may head in the future.
This quote comes for the character Helmholtz Watson. Helmholtz is a lecturer at the College of Emotional Engineering. He is similar to Bernard in the sense that he is looked at differently from others in his caste because he is a little bit smarter just as Bernard is smaller. Helmholtz feels that he is empty and as if there is something more meaningful inside of him and his work. Helmholtz wonders if there is some kind of happiness or something else outside of the stability that society presents. In this way, I believe that the author is foreshadowing Helmholtz and his role later on in the novel. Similar to Bernard, Helmholtz is in his beginning stages of rebelling against the normality of society. He is content with the way things are, but realizes that there is something else. It is possible that this "something else" may be presented to Bernard and Helmholtz later on.
Through the author's foreshadowing, the reader is able to establish who may be the protagonist and antagonist in the story. By establishing this, the reader is also able to get a glimpse of what may happen throughout the rest of the book. Also, it makes the reader more aware of the important details that are crucial to the plot of the story. I think that the rebellion that Helmholtz and Bernard are feeling will make an impact to where the story may head in the future.
Hello Hedonistic Society...(Brave New World-3)
"'I once had to wait nearly four weeks before a girl I wanted would let me have her.'
'And you felt a strong emotion in consequence?'
'Horrible!'
'Horrible; precisely,' said the Controller. 'Our ancestors were so stupid and short-sighted that when the first reformers came along and offered to deliver them from those horrible emotions, they wouldn't have anything do to with them.'" (Page 45, Brave New World)
Although several things were clarified in this chapter and new concepts were presented, something else stood out to me throughout chapter 3. The people of this society are very hedonistic. The people in society have been brought up and raised to believe that achieving pleasure for oneself (while still following the rules of their society) is the main purpose. Also, as the quote above shows, any type of suffering or feeling other than pleasure is regarded as horrible. For instance, at recess the kids play erotically, the idea of solely being with one person of the opposite sex is unheard of, "everyone belongs to everyone else", belts hold a supply of contraceptives, and soma (their drug) makes everything better. The idea that there is more to life beyond pleasure is a completely foreign and disregarded topic. Also, a new character is introduced. Bernard Marx is a character that seems to be different from the other characters previously unveiled in the book. Bernard sees how the men regard women as if they are a type of meat to consume. Also, Bernard recognizes that the women think of themselves as meat and they accept it. Bernard sees that the lifestyle in this society is materialistic. The people of the society are merely materials to be possessed. I predict that Bernard will become more rebellious of this type of society further into the book.
Oh my Ford, those poor Pavlovian babies! (Brave New World- 2)
"'The case of Little Reuben occurred only twenty-three years after Our Ford's first T-Model was put on the market' (Here the Director made a sign of the T on his stomach and all the students reverently followed suit.)" (Page 25, Brave New World)
Everything is starting to make a little more sense now. So, to begin, this chapter had 2 main allusions that I picked up on. For example, the title of the fifth floor of the Hatchery was "Infant Nurseries. Neo-Pavlovian Conditioning Rooms". This "Neo-Pavlovian" room is an allusion to the Pavlov's Dog experiment. In the Pavlov's dog scientific experiment, dogs were conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell expecting that the bell was a signal that food was on the way. Similar to this, the infants were brought out and shown books and flowers. The babies love the books and flowers and shriek with pleasure. But, alarms ring and the babies are shocked electrically as they try to crawl towards the books and flowers. Undoubtedly, the babies are scared. The Director tells the students that after undergoing this process several times, the babies will develop a hatred of books and flowers. This is important because the hatred of these items relates to the caste system developed in the "perfect society" that these workers create. This creates the same trained response that the Pavlov's Dog experiment created, thus an allusion is presented.
Another allusion presented in chapter 2 was the connection to Henry Ford and religion. In chapter 1 it was noted that the time was A.F. 632. I was curious as to what A.F. stood for when reading chapter 1. But, it is explained in the second chapter that A.F. stands for "After Ford" which is an allusion to A.D. (Anno Domini), meaning "In the Year of our Lord". So, from this allusion, it is apparent that this society views Henry Ford as the focus of their religion and beginning of their world. Also, when "Our Ford" is mentioned, the Director and students make "the sign of T" on their stomach, similar to Catholics who make the Sign of the Cross. The indirect reference between two different religions is made apparent through this simple gesture.
Everything is starting to make a little more sense now. So, to begin, this chapter had 2 main allusions that I picked up on. For example, the title of the fifth floor of the Hatchery was "Infant Nurseries. Neo-Pavlovian Conditioning Rooms". This "Neo-Pavlovian" room is an allusion to the Pavlov's Dog experiment. In the Pavlov's dog scientific experiment, dogs were conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell expecting that the bell was a signal that food was on the way. Similar to this, the infants were brought out and shown books and flowers. The babies love the books and flowers and shriek with pleasure. But, alarms ring and the babies are shocked electrically as they try to crawl towards the books and flowers. Undoubtedly, the babies are scared. The Director tells the students that after undergoing this process several times, the babies will develop a hatred of books and flowers. This is important because the hatred of these items relates to the caste system developed in the "perfect society" that these workers create. This creates the same trained response that the Pavlov's Dog experiment created, thus an allusion is presented.
Another allusion presented in chapter 2 was the connection to Henry Ford and religion. In chapter 1 it was noted that the time was A.F. 632. I was curious as to what A.F. stood for when reading chapter 1. But, it is explained in the second chapter that A.F. stands for "After Ford" which is an allusion to A.D. (Anno Domini), meaning "In the Year of our Lord". So, from this allusion, it is apparent that this society views Henry Ford as the focus of their religion and beginning of their world. Also, when "Our Ford" is mentioned, the Director and students make "the sign of T" on their stomach, similar to Catholics who make the Sign of the Cross. The indirect reference between two different religions is made apparent through this simple gesture.
The two allusions serve to add more to the "perfect society" that these people are trying to create. By establishing a method to create the perfect caste system and also showing the importance of "Our Ford", two fundamental principles of their world are presented to the reader. We, as the reader, are able to pick up on things that relate to the society in which we live. By relating in this way, the book is able to make a little bit more sense and it also helps to show the direction in which the book may head.
Inescapable Social Destiny (Brave New World- 1)
"'And that,' put in the Director senteniously, 'that is the secret of happiness and virtue--liking what you've got to do. All condition aims at that: making people like their unescapable social destiny.'" (Page 16, Brave New World)
Although the first chapter was a bit confusing, I picked up on a common theme that may be prevalent throughout the entire novel. Repeatedly, the idea of social destiny is mentioned. For example, the "Social Predestination Room" is apart of the students tour of the Hatchery. The motto of the Hatchery is "Community, Identity, and Stability. This ties into social destiny by referring that in stabilizing a society (by already determining who these humans will become) the community will be more successful in all areas. In this way, a "perfect" society can be created. It will be interesting to see if this predestined group of people will in fact create a perfect society. I thought it was also interesting that the first chapter was so dedicated to emphasizing scientific discoveries. I found it easy to recognize that these discoveries were pretty paramount and the people who work for the Hatchery were not afraid to show off their accomplishments. The director and his companion, Mr. Foster, continually said things and presented things that showed off their personalities. For example in an exchange between Mr. Foster and the director, the author states "Mr. Foster was only too happy to give them a few figures." Also, when a student asks the director a valid question (or at least he thought it was a valid question) the director sharply replies "'Can't you see? Can't you see?' He raised a hand; his expression was solemn." It is apparent through their dialogue with the students and each other, that these two men take their work very seriously and they know what they are talking about. However, I wonder if the proud nature of these important figures will get in the way of further accomplishments or other revelations throughout the course of the book.
Although the first chapter was a bit confusing, I picked up on a common theme that may be prevalent throughout the entire novel. Repeatedly, the idea of social destiny is mentioned. For example, the "Social Predestination Room" is apart of the students tour of the Hatchery. The motto of the Hatchery is "Community, Identity, and Stability. This ties into social destiny by referring that in stabilizing a society (by already determining who these humans will become) the community will be more successful in all areas. In this way, a "perfect" society can be created. It will be interesting to see if this predestined group of people will in fact create a perfect society. I thought it was also interesting that the first chapter was so dedicated to emphasizing scientific discoveries. I found it easy to recognize that these discoveries were pretty paramount and the people who work for the Hatchery were not afraid to show off their accomplishments. The director and his companion, Mr. Foster, continually said things and presented things that showed off their personalities. For example in an exchange between Mr. Foster and the director, the author states "Mr. Foster was only too happy to give them a few figures." Also, when a student asks the director a valid question (or at least he thought it was a valid question) the director sharply replies "'Can't you see? Can't you see?' He raised a hand; his expression was solemn." It is apparent through their dialogue with the students and each other, that these two men take their work very seriously and they know what they are talking about. However, I wonder if the proud nature of these important figures will get in the way of further accomplishments or other revelations throughout the course of the book.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)