Brave New World #2

Phelps, Entry #2

         I think Lenina likes Bernard because he is so different and because he confuses her. She says, "so unique also was Bernard's oddness that she had hesitated to take it [the trip to New Mexico"(88). I don't think Lenina really really likes Bernard-- I think she finds him different than everyone else which makes him interesting to her. I do think that his "oddness" unsettles her. She decides to go on the trip with him despite his oddness because he's an "Alpha-Plus psychologist"(88) and is entitled to a permit to the Savage Reservation. As we know, Lenina does not enjoy this trip and I think you're right in saying that Lenina and Bernard represent both ends of the spectrum because Lenina is the "perfect" girl in this society and Bernard is seen as flawed for his intellect and physical flaws.

         On the subject of women objectification, I found it more disturbing that women think of themselves as objects. It also angers Bernard and he says, "[Lenina] thinks of herself that way. She doesn't mind being meat"(93). This view of women does disturb me, but it goes with the idea of this society that "everyone is everyone else's". Meaning, men and women are really both objects to be used for the "good of society". There is no "right" or "wrong"-- just what benefits progress. It reminds me of some of the progressive ideas in Crime and Punishment. Also, their rule"everyone is everyone else's" kind of seems to me like extreme communism because everything is the people's even themselves-- they share themselves.

         I think Bernard's purpose in the book is to show the flaws of the system of the society. He starts to question it and himself and his importance. Lenina says, "everybody's happy nowadays"(91) and Bernard responds by saying, "But wouldn't you like to be free to be happy in some other way, Lenina? In you own way"(91). He starts to question everyone's "happiness, becasue if they are forced to be happy are they really truly happy? I think if they've never experienced a sad emotion they do not actually know what happiness is and they are leading live with no purposes. I thought the "Solidarity" ritual was very strange and to be honest I did not really understand it. It was some kind of religious orgy to prase the Ford I think. But, I think the importance lies in the fact that Bernard was not satisfied by it like everyone else was.

       A part I thought was interesting was when they go to the "Savage Reservation" in New Mexico. I think it served as a compare and contrast of the Savage society and this advanced society. It's weird because their morals are almost completely opposite. For example, in the Savage society it is morally correct to get married while in Lenina and Bernard's society, marriage is condemned and unheard of. What did you think of this section about the savages and what did you think of Linda? Why do you think she never adapted to the Savage culture?

     Another thing that I found alarming was their use of this "soma" drug. They take it whenever they feel bad or upset. They also take it when they want to have fun. It seems like they are almost never self-aware and always high. When Lenina takes some of the soma tablets,"the soma had raised a quite impenetrable wall between the actual universe and their minds"(77). Why do you think they take this drug so often? Do you think it keeps them from questioning their existence/importance?

Brave New World #1

Phelps, Entry #1 Brave New World
                Bethany, I agree with you that the setting is very sterile and emotionless. There are no families and their leader, The Ford, says that there are "appalling dangers of family life"(39). I thought it was terrible that they taught babies to have an aversion to books and flowers because they think those are things wasteful to their time and are not productive. As said by the director: "A love of nature keeps no factories busy. It was decided to abolish the love of nature"(23). They do not want them to read books and think or waste their time appreciating nature; which I found very sad. The idea of their "sleep-teaching" disturbs me because they have the ability to alter the babies brains-- what they think, what they like to do, even their personalities. This way they are able to "predestine" everyone to do specific jobs or be in certain classes. They even predestine some women to be "freemartins" who are "guaranteed sterile"(13). There is no freewill whatsoever. It reminds me of CS Lewis' section about the "tin soldiers" who have no feelings and no freewill-- like the people of this society. The Director says that, "the secret of happiness and virtue [is]-- liking what you've got to do"(16). How do you feel about that? I think he is wrong and the truth lies in the opposite of what he said, which is we should do what we like to do and what we have a passion for.
         
              Again, I agree with you that the children's erotic games are very creepy. I am not really sure of their purpose other than trying to raise their promiscuity and eliminate monogamous relationships. I also found the last chapter to be confusing but I think it was interesting. It was comprised of dialogue from The Ford, Lenina, and Bernard. I think this style was attempting to compare and contrast Bernard from the rest of the characters. He does not agree with the other guys "having Lenina" and it just seems like there is something a bit different about him. What do you think? I think he almost might be less brainwashed than the rest of them. The others keep repeating the phrase "every one belongs to every one else"(43) which has been ingrained in their minds.
         
            My question for you is what do you think about the caste system? There are Alphas, Betas, Deltas, Gammas, etc. I personally think that it is terrible that they predestine people to be "smart" like the alphas or "dumb" like the Deltas.. Also do you think the phrase "straight from the horse's mouth"(4) holds any significance? They keep repeating it throughout the book.