Sunday, February 22, 2009
Brave New World: Discussion Question for Chapters 10, 11, and 12
In these chapters, Huxley juxtaposes the socio-cultural norms of the Savage with those of BNW. He does this, primarily, by exposing us more and more to the inner-conflict experienced by individual characters in the novel. How does Huxley use the inner-conflict of his characters to help us explore or reconsider basic human nature / human needs?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Huxley uses these chapters to explore the intricate role of the collective or societal norms as determining factors in the individual's self-esteem. This becomes evident when all three characters, Lenina, Bernard, and John rebel before becoming wrapped up in the affairs of BNW.
ReplyDeleteA prime example of this is seen in Bernard. Although Bernard is rebellious throughout most of the book, we learn in these chapters that he was only a rebel because he didn't fit in. It was simply easier for Bernard to hide his jealousy and general deficiencies via the promotion of social unrest rather than addressing his individual insecurities. It is only when Bernard becomes accepted by the society does the reader learn that his struggle against the once neglecting society is pacified with attention and power....
To quote John Lennon...
"There's room at the top they're telling you still...
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill"
In other words, there is always room for sell-outs....and BNW makes it painless to do so.
Building on the comments made by rolliefngr777, I think that Huxley also asks us to consider the manner in which the human need for love is fulfilled. Are the emotional needs of individuals better served by polygamous communal love or intimate monogamy?
ReplyDeleteEarly in the novel, Huxley uses the voice of the Controller to propose the idea that monogamy and its off-spring (the nuclear family) result in the inhibition of basic human needs. The Controller tells us that the directionally focused love experienced through intimate monogamy and love for one's children result in the "wild jet." The Controller asserts that human nature is better served by polygamy because it allows humans to completely satisfy their impulses.
Then, Huxley pulls the old bait-n-switch. In the second half of the novel, Huxley reveals more information about the inner-emotions of his characters. We find out, among other things, that the Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning does not completely buy into all of the BNW propaganda. At one point, he too had the desire for monogamy and, in order to fulfill this desire, he eloped with Linda to the Savage Reservation where he consummated his love (which was the style at the time). But, the Director is not brave enough to speak of this heresy in public. The revelation of this information to Bernard causes the Director much shame and embarrassment. This is because, in reality, BNW is actually the "wild jet." In BNW, the Director must conceal his need for intimate love and monogamy. Thus, Huxley asks us to consider which is the real human need, intimate monogamy or communal polygamy.
rolliefngr777 said..."In other words, there is always room for sell-outs....and BNW makes it painless to do so."
ReplyDelete- thats harsh...but well-said. I would add that the Director and Helmholtz are also used as demonstraters. The Director resigns his post after arrival of Linda, and Helmholtz is blacklisted after writing verse.
Samson said..."The Controller asserts that human nature is better served by polygamy because it allows humans to completely satisfy their impulses."
- I think Huxley is using Helmholtz to round this out a little bit. Helmholtz seems to be well conditioned to polygamy and scoffs at the idea of Juliet wanting just Romeo, and yet Helmholtz is clearly full of angst - he has some other unstated desire that is not being met in BNW. Is it intellectual? Is it a desire for violence? Is he gay?? There is something deeper here than the question of polygamy versus monogamy in the pursuit of happiness, unless Helmholtz's angst is coming from repressed homosexuality...
I think the set-up of the scene in chapter 10 where Linda is revealed and the Director is exposed is really interesting - it could have happened anywhere, but it took place in the fertilizing room. I saw it as analogous to a scene where a jilted lover walks into the conjugal bedroom of a married couple to expose the unfaithful individual.
I just got back from vacation, sorry for the absence.
ReplyDeleteEveryone needs to feel important in some way. Bernard is suddenly content when he has the carnival attraction tactic of "John the Savage" to gain a temporary respect. On top of that, John feels cheapened because he knows that Bernard really does not respect him, he is using his "savageness" as a gimmick.
I also think this is a commentary on the misuse of prestige/power or rather how it can eat you up and make you lose sight of the real "you". All the things that are not from the soul are bound by time, and will eventually fade. Bernard and Helmholtz are being schooled by John about what the soul is. John is not impressed by the inventions of the BNW because he realizes there is another dimension behind the physical and this supernatural side will always remain the same no matter the "reality". Same shit different day.
Side note:
ReplyDeleteI think it is interesting to think of Linda as a kind of paradoxical symbol of humanity's fall from grace.
When taken to the Savage Reservation by Thomas (the Director), she literally falls down a hill and hurts herself. She is then lost/left at the Savage Reservation. Her savior (Thomas) could not find her and left her to return to London (utopia). Linda finds out later that she is pregnant. When she returns to BNW she is humiliated because of her appearance and the circumstances of her life (she is a mother). She is shamed when returning to "heaven" because she has sinned (even though her "sins" where not through any fault of her own). Continuing on this string of logic, you might interpret John to represent a messianic figure that has descended from heaven to experience life "in the flesh" (on the Savage Reservation). only to return to heaven (London) to redeem humanity.
What do you guys think?
This paradoxical symbol of humanity's fall from grace sounds good. I was also thinking of Linda as a paradoxical virgen Mary - with the polygamy she was anything but a virgen, and that would make John a christ figure. Rather than being decanted (which would parallel being known in the biblical sense) he was made through good old fashioned sex (paralleling the virgen birth).
ReplyDelete