"'And all the science propaganda we do at the College...'
'Yes; but what sort of science?' asked Mustapha Mond sarcastically. 'You've had no scientific training, so you can't judge. I was a pretty good physicist in my time....'" (pg. 225)
This quote has a rhetorical question in it when Mustapha Mond says "...but what sort of science?" He doesn't expect an answer and continues on with his explanation. Mustapha only says it to emphasize that there is no science, and he really doesn't even know what science is. Helmholtz silently agreed with Mustapha as he had no reason not to believe him. Mustapha Mond ended up telling the three troublemakers that they would be going to an island. Bernard erupts with anger and had to be taken out of the room to be put to sleep with soma. If I were told I was going to be sent to an island, I probably would erupt too. But somehow, John and Helmholtz stay calm. They just want to learn more about what Mustapha has to say.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Chapter 15 - Disorderly Conduct
"'But do you like being slaves?' the Savage was saying as they entered the Hospital....'Don't you want to be free and men? Don't you even understand what manhood and freedom are... I'll teach you; I'll make you be free whether you want to or not.' And pushing open a window that looked on to the inner court of the Hospital, he began to throw the little pill-boxes of soma tablets in handfuls out into the area." (pg. 212-213)
I think John had finally had enough of everyone being drugged up. He wanted to end this cycle of working then taking drugs to make you feel better. He has been one of the only people who have seen the consequences of this harmful soma, and he doesn't want the others to end up the same way. I feel that this was very gutsy of him to do, especially since he's never spoken in front of a crowd before. Because John was throwing the soma out of the window, a riot started, and the police had to come to stop it. Everyone ended up getting their soma anyway, so I kind of feel that John's outbreak was unnecessary. Instead, John could have talked directly to the person distributing them or some person of power. Now, John is a prisoner and dragging Bernard and Helmholtz with him.
I think John had finally had enough of everyone being drugged up. He wanted to end this cycle of working then taking drugs to make you feel better. He has been one of the only people who have seen the consequences of this harmful soma, and he doesn't want the others to end up the same way. I feel that this was very gutsy of him to do, especially since he's never spoken in front of a crowd before. Because John was throwing the soma out of the window, a riot started, and the police had to come to stop it. Everyone ended up getting their soma anyway, so I kind of feel that John's outbreak was unnecessary. Instead, John could have talked directly to the person distributing them or some person of power. Now, John is a prisoner and dragging Bernard and Helmholtz with him.
Chapter 14 - Death
"'Popé!' she murmured. and closed her eyes. 'Oh, I do so like it, I do...' She sighed and let herself sink back into the pillows." (pg. 204)
The quote is an example of an apostrophe. Popé is dead, and because she has taken so much soma, Linda is dreaming about times with him. She addresses him like he was in the same room as Linda and John, but he wasn't. John, as everyone, including me, would, gets angry that his mom is being with someone that he hates instead of him. He tries to wake her up, but it's no use.
The ending of the chapter disgusts me. After Linda dies and John becomes sad, the nurse walks over to him and tells him that he's disrupting the children's lesson of coping with death and possibly putting them back a couple months. If someone told me that after someone I knew died, I probably would have to hit them. I thought that that was so rude of the nurse, but I do somewhat understand the circumstances. I know that in that society that children have to cope with death and see it as a good thing, but they shouldn't have a lesson while John is grieving. The nurse should have had the lesson another time and taken the children out of the room.
The quote is an example of an apostrophe. Popé is dead, and because she has taken so much soma, Linda is dreaming about times with him. She addresses him like he was in the same room as Linda and John, but he wasn't. John, as everyone, including me, would, gets angry that his mom is being with someone that he hates instead of him. He tries to wake her up, but it's no use.
The ending of the chapter disgusts me. After Linda dies and John becomes sad, the nurse walks over to him and tells him that he's disrupting the children's lesson of coping with death and possibly putting them back a couple months. If someone told me that after someone I knew died, I probably would have to hit them. I thought that that was so rude of the nurse, but I do somewhat understand the circumstances. I know that in that society that children have to cope with death and see it as a good thing, but they shouldn't have a lesson while John is grieving. The nurse should have had the lesson another time and taken the children out of the room.
Chapter 13 - True Love? Maybe Not...
"There was a moment's silence; then, in a very low voice, 'I love you more than anything in the world,' he said." (pg. 192)
I was somewhat confused when I read this chapter. It started with John and Lenina each having an internal conflict whether or not to tell the other that they really like them. Lenina finally gets the courage to do it, and after she tells him, he tells her that he likes her. Lenina then goes into a crazed state to try to have relations with John, I think? John freaks out, calls her a whore, and slaps her. Lenina, fearful of her life, locks herself in the bathroom. I think both of these people are messed up in the head and need some help. Why did John freak out? Did he want to get married first like they did at his old place, or did Lenina scare him? I don't know what really happened...
I was somewhat confused when I read this chapter. It started with John and Lenina each having an internal conflict whether or not to tell the other that they really like them. Lenina finally gets the courage to do it, and after she tells him, he tells her that he likes her. Lenina then goes into a crazed state to try to have relations with John, I think? John freaks out, calls her a whore, and slaps her. Lenina, fearful of her life, locks herself in the bathroom. I think both of these people are messed up in the head and need some help. Why did John freak out? Did he want to get married first like they did at his old place, or did Lenina scare him? I don't know what really happened...
Chapter 12 - New Friends
"'Ai yaa tákwa!' It was only in Zuñi that the Savage could adequately express what he felt about the Arch-Community-Songster. 'Háni!' he added as an afterthought; and then (with what derisive ferocity!): 'Sons éso tse-ná.' And he spat on the ground, as Popé might have done." (pg. 173)
This quote shows an example of the vernacular John spoke when he grew up. The author used this device to show the type of background John had and to show the reader a glimpse of another culture. John was so angry that he could only speak how angry he was in his native language. Bernard kept wanting to show John, "the Savage," off to his colleagues, but John was done being treated like an animal in a zoo. Since John refused to be seen, Bernard's popularity plummeted to where it was before he met John, and everyone hated him.
There was another allusion in this chapter, but this time it wasn't Shakespeare. "... the Savage looked at him over the top of his book and then, as the laughter still continued, closed it indignantly, got up, and with the gesture of one who removes his pearl before swine, locked it away in its drawer." (pg. 185) Pearl before swine is just a way of saying that someone was offered something, and they didn't appreciate it. (Thank you Mrs. Sander!!) It's based on the story of Sermon on the Mount when the people did not appreciate Jesus' message. John was telling the story of Romeo and Juliet to Helmholtz, but Helmholtz was laughing as though he was making fun of it. Before this event, John and Helmholtz were becoming great friends, and Bernard was very jealous of them.
This quote shows an example of the vernacular John spoke when he grew up. The author used this device to show the type of background John had and to show the reader a glimpse of another culture. John was so angry that he could only speak how angry he was in his native language. Bernard kept wanting to show John, "the Savage," off to his colleagues, but John was done being treated like an animal in a zoo. Since John refused to be seen, Bernard's popularity plummeted to where it was before he met John, and everyone hated him.
There was another allusion in this chapter, but this time it wasn't Shakespeare. "... the Savage looked at him over the top of his book and then, as the laughter still continued, closed it indignantly, got up, and with the gesture of one who removes his pearl before swine, locked it away in its drawer." (pg. 185) Pearl before swine is just a way of saying that someone was offered something, and they didn't appreciate it. (Thank you Mrs. Sander!!) It's based on the story of Sermon on the Mount when the people did not appreciate Jesus' message. John was telling the story of Romeo and Juliet to Helmholtz, but Helmholtz was laughing as though he was making fun of it. Before this event, John and Helmholtz were becoming great friends, and Bernard was very jealous of them.
Chapter 11 - Popularity
"Hug me till you drug me, honey;
Kiss me till I'm in a coma:
Hug me, honey, snuggly, bunny;
Love's as good as soma." (pg. 166)
The third line in this quote is an example of assonance. Most writers use assonance to make the poem or writing sound like it flows together. I personally like reading assonance because it makes the writing seem a little fun to me. This quote was sung by Lenina after telling Fanny that she truly liked John.
In this chapter, the Director resigns, and Bernard, John, and Lenina become celebrities. I don't really understand why they became famous. Maybe everyone disliked the Director, and since they made him resign, they are seen as superstars? Also, Lenina finally reveals her true feeling about John and how she really likes him. They see a romantic movie together, but John refused to have relations with her. I don't know why though. I thought John really liked Lenina back, but maybe it's against moral code for him or something.
Kiss me till I'm in a coma:
Hug me, honey, snuggly, bunny;
Love's as good as soma." (pg. 166)
The third line in this quote is an example of assonance. Most writers use assonance to make the poem or writing sound like it flows together. I personally like reading assonance because it makes the writing seem a little fun to me. This quote was sung by Lenina after telling Fanny that she truly liked John.
In this chapter, the Director resigns, and Bernard, John, and Lenina become celebrities. I don't really understand why they became famous. Maybe everyone disliked the Director, and since they made him resign, they are seen as superstars? Also, Lenina finally reveals her true feeling about John and how she really likes him. They see a romantic movie together, but John refused to have relations with her. I don't know why though. I thought John really liked Lenina back, but maybe it's against moral code for him or something.
Chapter 10 - Disbelief
"Buzz, buzz! the hive was humming, busily, joyfully." (pg. 147)
I think this quote can be interpreted two different ways. First, the hive can be a metaphor for the scientific labs. Everyone in the labs is hard at work and doing their tasks happily. Using the hive as a metaphor, the author allows the reader to see how these labs work by suggesting the everyday example of a bee hive. Second, the hive can be an extended metaphor for their whole society. Their society seems to have everything figured out, and every person has their own task, just like bees. Many people know that bees have very organized hives, and they seem to be at work constantly. Every person and bee has a duty to contribute to the society or hive and make their world a better place.
I think this quote can be interpreted two different ways. First, the hive can be a metaphor for the scientific labs. Everyone in the labs is hard at work and doing their tasks happily. Using the hive as a metaphor, the author allows the reader to see how these labs work by suggesting the everyday example of a bee hive. Second, the hive can be an extended metaphor for their whole society. Their society seems to have everything figured out, and every person has their own task, just like bees. Many people know that bees have very organized hives, and they seem to be at work constantly. Every person and bee has a duty to contribute to the society or hive and make their world a better place.
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