BNW Journal Ch. 10

Ch. 10

Summary:

            In chapter ten we are back to society. In the Center of development of embryos babies were being decanted. Henry and the DHC were talking about how good it is to be similar. Differences lead only to ruin according to them. Here enters Bernard, a perfect example of individuality. His differences caused the DHC to be angered as it could disrupt the marvelous image of his center, which reflects on him. The DHC tells Bernard why he is being terminated and asks Bernard if he can argue for any reason to keep him. Bernard comes up with a doozie.

            He beckons Linda and John come in from their hiding place right around the corner. Linda, who is middle-aged, flabby, grotesque in the extreme to poor Tomakin, or Thomas the DHC. She runs up to him hugging and sobbing; she exclaims how much she missed him and how John is his son. John himself comes and kneels before the DHC saying father, father.

            All of this action, and the remembrance of past vents, shocks the DHC. He is so embarrassed that he fled the Center, leaving a very smug Bernard.

Lit. Elements:

            “Tomakin!” Linda exclaims.

            The Director, Thomas, and Tomakin are all one being. It seems that this man simply used different names for each social position he held. This use could be seen as a representation/evidence that people in this society have no true identity with themselves. They use and don’t consider anything, let alone themselves. However I believe the name “Tomakin” is relevant to the plot line in two ways. One, it is an allusion with a symbol behind it. Tomakin and tomahawk are very close words, and it is possible the author meant to do this when he named Thomas. Tomahawk’s are a light ax, dangerous and sharp. The Director helped ruin Linda’s life, leaving her in the desert, getting her pregnant, and now slicing any hopes she had for acceptance into normal society and his love. Tomahawks are also used by Native Americans. He was played by Bernard who had knowledge from the Natives, Linda, and the Director.

Two, it is a way to show that Linda regards them as being close. She has lost her civilized ideas that no one should be especially close to each other. Her child, John, was conceived unknowingly and unexpectedly, but she still loved him. Tomakin was not present or involved with John’s life and has no connection to him, denying his connection to Linda.

Vocabulary:

Scatological – noun- an interest in or preoccupation with excrement and excretion

Peritoneum –noun- the serous membrane lining the cavity of the abdomen and m    covering the abdominal organs

Recapitulated – vb – to summarize and state again the main points

Blithe –adj- showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper