BNW Journal Ch. 11

Ch. 11

Summary:

The Savage, as John is now called by not main characters, is immensely popular. Society magazines and Upper-Caste people all gossiped about him. However, while John is young and beautiful, a romantic figure in the eyes of London, his mother is not so well accepted. Linda is a hideous introduction to old age, not even born on the savage reservation thus she is ignored by society. Linda does not mind because Soma is now her permanent companion. Larger and larger doses are given by the doctor, on her request. This will kill her, but the doctor convince John it is alright because every Soma tablet is an eternity for her. This resonates within John’s mind and convinces him it is alright for her to slowly kill herself while being happy.

Bernard is feeling the empowering effects of his charge’s popularity. He is popular, as he is the one to bring this curiosity to society. A leech living off another person, Bernard has only his interest in mind. He sleeps with many women and boasts of his sexual prowess to Helmholtz Watson. Watson, however, lacks any interest and expresses it clearly through his behavior. Bernard is angered and claims he will never speak to Watson again.

Bernard writes to Mustapha Mond, heady with self-importance. His letter is pompous, but observant, and overall angers Mond, who concocts a plan to teach the arrogant snot a lesson. In this letter Marx mentions John’s refusal of soma and how that is unnatural and only serves to show how backwards John is.

Bernard, with John in tow, venture to Eton, a school for upper-caste boys and girls. As the tour is conducted, Bernard and the Head Master make plans for a date that very night. John is bewildered by everything, but especially the reaction to video of his people whipping themselves in front of their religious idol by the students. They laugh and hoot, finding it hysterical.

In the next scene we find Lenina telling Fanny how she is going on a date/ watching John, while Bernard is away. They go to see a feely, a movie with sound, smell, and touch, Lenina finds it marvelous. John thinks the movie stupid and pointless. They  part ways at her door, despite her wanting John to come in.

Lit Elements:

             The movie that Lenina goes to with John is a foreshadow of what is to come. It is hinted that she will be hurt by John, but because she is so brainless it will not effect her in the least. John will be the one with a bunch of heavy emotions, reasons, and justifications. They are the “lovers” and main characters of this series, and as this book is essentially a tragedy, they will either die or remain apart.

Vocabulary:

Masticating –vb - chew