BNW- blog 14

Chapter 13

Summary:

 Henry Foster comes to ask Lenina to a feely. She declines and he wants to know with whom she is sleeping, just because he is curious. She becomes incredibly irritated and tells him to shut up. He leaves and she messes up her work. Later in the changing room, Lenina tells Fanny that she is frustrated and confused about John. Fanny tells her to go over to his place and have him whether he wants to or not. Lenina pops some soma and heads over to John's.

When the doorbell rings, John hopes it's Helmholtz, but is surprised to find Lenina. John is trying to tell Lenina that he loves her but he just ends up confusing her with lions and vacuum cleaners. She is growing annoyed with all his jibberish that she stops he and tells him she likes him and asks if he likes her back. He says he does and begins spouting or Shakespearian quotaions at her and starts talking about getting married, which really freaks Lenina out. To stop John's crazy babbeling, Lenina kisses him. After awhile, John pulls away and retreats to a corner. Lenina walks toward him and starts undressing. She presses her naked body up against him and he pushes her away and calls her a whore. She drops to the ground and John tells her to get out of the apartment before he kills her. Lenina tries to escape to the bathroom, but John slaps her. Lenina locks herself in the bathroom and John is pacing around mumbling Shakespeare to himself. Lenina asks him to pass her clothes to her through the ventilator. 

John gets a phone call, (most likely about Linda) and rushes out of the room. Lenina takes this opportunity to hurry back home.

Vocab:

Trypanosomiasis ~ noun~ a disease caused by any minute, flagellate protozoan of the genus Trypanosoma,  parasitic in the blood or tissues of humans and other vertebrates,usually transmitted by insects.

Lupus ~ noun~ a rare form of tuberculosis of the skin, characterized by brownish tubercles that often heals slowly and leave scars.

Lit. Terms:

Allusions:

4 Allusions to The Tempest

Allusion to King Lear ~ "The wren goes to't and the small gilded fly does lecher in my sight...."

2 Allusions to Trolius and Cressida

2 Allusions to Othello

Allusion to Twelfth Night ~ "If I do not usurp myself, I am."

Allusion to Timon of Athens ~ "For those milk-paps that through the window bars bore at men's eyes."

Chapter Importance:

In this chapter John and Lenina finally admit their feelings for each other. John however, wants to take their relationship in a more romantic direction, where as Lenina would rather stick to a strictly physical relationship. All John knows about love comes from Shakespeare and his mother's dysfunctional relationships. Lenina knows only what she was taught hypnopaedically, which is to be promiscuous.

Lenina's behavior also fuels John's dislike for the society.

BNW- blog 13

Chapter 12

Summary:

John has locked himself in his room because he doesn't want to go to Bernard's party. Bernard tells all of his important guests that the Savage won't be making an appearance. Everyone is outraged; all the women feel like they had been used and the men were furious because they were tricked into being nice to Bernard. The Arch-Songster is appalled that someone would play a joke on him. He tells Bernard to change his ways and tells Lenina (who had be sitting in the corner keeping to herself) to come with him. The other guest stormed after him. Bernard began to cry but thought better of it and took four soma tablet and went to bed. 

While all of this was going on John was in his room reading Romeo and Juliet. 

The Arch-songster took Lenina back to his place for sex, and Lenina and to take soma to be able to go through with it.

We then flash to Mustapha Mond sitting in his office reading a new paper. He decides that even though it was an exceptional piece of work, it shouldn't be published because it's rebellious.

Bernard is back to his old 'woe is me' self. John tells him that he prefers this Bernard than the popularity crazed Bernard. 

Helmholtz has decided to take back Bernard, no questions asked. Bernard is grateful to finally have a real friend. We learn that while Bernard was bust being famous, Helmholtz was getting in trouble with the authorities. Helmholtz was reading some rhymes he made up that are about being alone. The students reported him to the the principal who threatened to fire him.

Bernard introduces John to Helmholtz and they immediately hit it off. This makes Bernard jealous because everything has to be about him; and he isn't as close to John has Helmholtz is after their first meeting. John then starts reading Helmholtz Shakespeare. Helmholtz really appreciates Shakespeare's works. Bernard didn't like how they weren't paying attention to him, so he would interup John and yell things like, 'Orgy-porgy!' 

The three friends got together frequently and every time John and Helmholtz were talking, Bernard would interject a ridiculous comment. Helmholtz got so fed up that he told Bernard that if her interrupted again he would be kicked out of the room. As John was reading  a passage from Romeo and Juliet about Juliet wanting her parents to delay her marriage to Paris, Helmholtz burst out laughing. John locked away his Shakespeare book in a drawer.

Vocab:

Magnanimity~ noun- generous in forgiving an insult or injury

Inexorably~  adjective- unyielding; unalterable

Lit. Terms:

Allusions:

2 allusions to Romeo and Juliet

Allusion to The Phoenix and the Turtle ~ "Property was thus appall'd, / That the self was not the same..."

Allusion to The Tempest ~ "But some kinds of baseness are nobly undergone."

Metaphor: Bernard's self confidence is compared to a deflating balloon when he tells everyone that John isn't coming to the party.

Chapter Importance:

We see that no one was really Bernard's friend. They were just curious about John and the only way to get to him was through Bernard. 

John also begins to hate the New World.

BNW- blog 12

Chapter 11

Summary:

 The Director resigns and therefore Bernard is able to keep his job. Bernard is then appointed to guardian of the Savage (John). This increases Bernard's popularity because everybody from all parts of London, wants to see this 'delicious creature'. Bernard is now getting girls, people stop judging him, and there are no more rumors circulating about alcohol in his blood surrogate. He talks to Helmholtz about his new attention but Helmholtz is less than impressed. Helmhotlz has never cared for Bernard's 'poor me attitude', but he appreciates his boasting even less. Bernard, aggravated by Helmholtz lack of enthusiasm, proclaims they are no longer friends and vows to never  talk to him again.

Bernard sends in a report to Mond about how John is adapting to the New World. Mustapha Mond is irritated with the way Bernard comes off in his letter, arrogant and condescending. He couldn't believe that  someone like Bernard would call his civilization to easy. He decides to plan a punishment that will teach Bernard a lesson.

In the meantime, John is taken around the city to see what it is like. First, he goes to the Hospital for the Dying. There, Linda is being held with constant soma intake. John doesn't see how this is helping her but Dr. Shaw convinces him that while it is shortening her life as a whole; to Linda it seems like a lifetime. 

Then, John is taken to Eton, there they catch the last few minutes of a movie where savages much like John, are whipping themselves. Everyone is laughing at the savages but John is disgusted and losing hope. Bernard hits on the Headmistress of the academy and they arrange a date.

John is also taken to be shown the assembly lines. He is horrified by the site of all the deformed lower caste and runs of to violently vomit. There he repeats the line from The Tempest, 'O brave new world, that has such people in it.' Although this time is in a much different context then the last time he said it when he was ecstatic to becoming to the New World. 

Lenina is preparing for her 'date' with John. Bernard is busy so she is going to take him to the feelies. She tells Fanny that she can't figure out if John like her or not. He goes out of his way to avoid her but she often finds him starring at her. All she knows is that she is very attracted to him and thinks tonight is going to be the night that they hook up. They get to the feely (a movie in a special theater that interacts with all five senses), and see a feature about a black man kidnapping a Beta woman and taking a three week long adventure in a helicopter, hence the title, Three Weeks in a Helicopter. It is an obscene movie with an opening sex scene on a bear skin rug and a very simple plot. Lenina and the rest of the audience found it quite lovely while John thought it was horrible. They got in the taxicopter and they dropped Lenina off. She got out of the helicopter and powdered her nose. John told her good night and got back in the helicopter. As the vehicle was in the air John could see Lenina calling up to him. She sulked off crying to her apartment and took some soma. John on the other hand goes home and reads Othello, who like the main character in the movie, is a black man.

Vocab:

Cadged -verb~ To borrow without intent to repay

Tete-a-tete -noun~ a conservation specifically held between just two people

Vitrified -verb~ to convert, or be converted into glass

Prognathous - adj~ having enlarged jaws, protrusive jaw structure

Lit. Terms:

Allusions:

Dr. Shaw~ George Bernard Shaw
(Whom Bernard Marx alludes to, as well as Karl Marx)

Mozart, Lucrezia Aguiari~ famous musicians

The Merchant of Venice~ "What's in those, those caskets?"

Repeat of the 'O Brave New World' quote from the Tempest. (Also Irony)

Tempest~ Ariel could put a girdle 'round the earth in forty minutes...

Antony & Cleopatra~ Eternity was in our lips and eyes

Chapter Importance:

Bernard starts to change in this chapter. He has gained confidence and popularity and it goes straight to his ego. He goes to talk to Helmholtz about his success and when Helmholtz doesn't care, Bernard cuts him out of his life. 

John isn't as happy with the New World as he thought he would. He learns that children watch videos of savages and laugh and make fun of them whipping themselves. All of the things he sees brings down all excitement he once had for the New World.

BNW- blog 11

Chapter 10

Summary:

The Director and Henry Foster are talking about how Bernard is unorthodox and that it is better to get ride of one person rather than have that person poison many peoples' thoughts. The director says that even though Bernard is smart and good at his job, they can make plenty Alphas to replace him.

The Director has become so frustrated with Bernard that he has decided to banish him to Iceland in a public place. Bernard arrives in the Decanting Room and the Director gets everyone's attention. He tells Bernard whats what and asks if he has any reason to not be sent to Iceland. Bernard then brings out John and Linda. Everyone is disgusted by the sight of Linda and laugh when Linda shouts that the director made her have a baby. John the comes forward a drops to his knees and cries out 'Father!' The director runs out of the room with his ears covered.

Vocab:

 Ignominy- noun.~ Dishonor or disgrace

Lit.Terms:

Irony:

People think that someone in the society being a father is very funny

Chapter Importance:

The Hatchery is compared to a bee hive which bring up a question of how animalistic the society is or rather insect-natured the society is organized. 

It is also John's first experience of the New World, as well as the beginning of his journey in it. Although if the rest of his time in the New World is like this first encounter, then his excursion will be filled with humiliation and sadness. 

At one point the Director is talking to Henry Foster about individualism, and a question arises: what is an individual? The question is one of the main focuses of the whole novel.  

Vocab- Nov. 29

Lupus~ noun- a rare form of tuberculosis of the skin, characterized by brownish tubercles that often heal slowly and leave scars.

The man walked into the hospital and was immediately quarantined because they thought he had leprosy, but it was really Lupus.  

Effusive~ adjective-unduly demonstrative; lacking reserve
Brandy's effusive motions shocked the judges.

Surrogate~ noun- a person appointed to act for another
The minor's surrogate, testified that he was at home, not killing the homeless man with a paintball gun.  

Peritoneum~ noun- the serous membrane lining the abdominal cavity and investing its viscera.

To motivate us, Cindy said, "Feel the burn in your peritoneum!"

Viviparous~adjective- bringing forth living young rather than eggs, as most mammals and some reptiles and fishes
The people in the society couldn't imagine what it was like to be a viviparous parent.

Moribund~ adjective- in a dying state; near death.
The moribund scientist was rushed to the hospital after the experiment went wrong. 

 

Fulminate~ verb- to explode with a loud noise
I heard the oven fulminate and when I went to investigate, there was cake all over the kitchen.

Malignant~ adjective- to cause harm, suffering, or distress deliberately
The malignant overlord decided to make pie illegal.

Palpitating~ verb- to pulsate; quiver; throb; tremble 
After running a 500K marathon, Kathy's body was palpitating. 

Viscose~ adjective- of a glutinous nature or consistency; sticky; thick; adhesive.

The viscose adhesive stuck to my finger.

Hypnopaedia~ noun- the learning of lessons heard during sleep

The society thought that they could teach children history using hypnopaedia; they were wrong.