BNW Journal Ch. 12

Ch. 12

Summary:

            Bernard invited a lot of people to a party. The highlight, and only reason people showed up, was The Savage and the Arch-Community Songster of Canterbury were going to be in attendance. Both men were very important and popular people. However, when he goes to get John, we find that John has locked himself in his room and refuses to come out and mingle. This upsets the guests and they begin to gossip about how ugly and dull Bernard is, right in front of the man! Lenina had arrived hell bent on telling John she liked him, but when he decided not to show up, she believed it was solely because of his dislike for Lenina. Meanwhile Mustapha Mond is reading a paper and comments on how regretfully brilliant it is. The paper is so masterful and intriguing it is considered dangerous, as it could lead people to questions. He decides that it will not be published and the smart author will need to be watched.

Then the guests all leave and Bernard weeps and takes four tablets of soma. Bernard is woken up by John who tells him something that he does not appreciate hearing. John would rather be unhappy than posses a false, misguided happiness. Bernard retorts that it is all John’s fault, when in reality even he knows it is not. However, Bernard needs someone to bully and John was an easy target. Storming off, Bernard decides to visit Helmholtz Watson.

Watson accepts Bernard’s presence as if nothing had ever been done to raise his ire. Bernard is grateful and jealous that Watson is so unequivocally generous. Regardless, he tells Helmholtz all of his current woes. Later, he learns of Helmholtz’s run in with Authority over his poems about being alone.

Bernard introduces Helmholtz and John who become fast friends. Reading poetry and discussing it become a happy time for both. However, there is one dark cloud on the horizon. Bernard is so unhappy that John and Helmholtz bond so quickly that he creates misery for them. By interrupting their reading or stupidly commenting on some verse, he becomes a nuisance, though both try and ignore him.

            It is Helmholtz that creates the biggest discord among them though. He laughs at the idea of the importance of a mother and father. This shows he is still a part of society and not quite ready to break off. Helmholtz says he needs something different to gain inspiration.

Lit Elements:

            In the very first sentence and paragraphs we come to the symbol that partially holds the idea behind this chapter. The locked door is a symbol for the disconnectedness both Bernard and John feel. John feels as if no one understands him or his reasoning, which is true. Bernard is a social outcast and cannot communicate with anyone because of his different ideas and the yearning to be accepted. He tries to force his way into popularity with John, but that fails because underneath he is the same person. Both characters are starting to realize the bad implications of coming to society. John’s mom has rediscovered soma and Bernard has gotten a taste of the forbidden fruit and enjoyed it.

Vocabulary:

Defunctive -adj- no longer existing or functioning