Ch. 6 Pt. 3
Summary:
Lenina and Bernard are off to the New Mexican Savage Reservation. Their flight was eventful, with a tornado delaying them, but they arrived in Santa Fe only forty seconds behind schedule. The hotel they were staying at was very progressive and fancy with sixty Escalator-Squash Courts, vibro-vacuum massage, and television amongst other amenities. As they checked in and got settled, Bernard directs a challenge towards Lenina. He tells her to stay at the hotel if she doesn’t think she can handle no modern conveniences, as the savage reservation does not posses any. Lenina is offended and tells him that she can handle it, essentially falling for the provocation.
The permit to enter the reservation required on last signature, that of the Alpha-Minus Reservation Warden. He is a pompous man and decides that the couple need to know every detail possible about the reservation. Neither of the two pay attention to him. Bernard thinks about the scent tap he left running and how much it will cost him; Lenina takes soma and can blissfully ignore his words in a hazy happiness. Both are itching to get away from the ridiculously boring man, but cannot go until he signs their paper.
Once the permit is initialed, Bernard dashes back to their room to call Helmholtz and ask him to turn off the tap. Helmholtz assures him that he will make all haste to turn it off, but tells him a rather nasty bit of information. The Director has made the announcement that Bernard’s job was going to be open soon. Bernard never thought the Director would make good on his threat, so he didn’t take it seriously. He is so upset by this revelation that Lenina is able to persuade him to take some soma.
They leave the hotel and fly into the savage reservation. The pilot drops them off and tells an anxious Lenina not to worry, they had dropped enough bombs for the savages to know not to harm anyone.
Lit. Elements:
The most potent symbol in this chapter is when Lenina, Bernard, and the pilot fly over a pile of white animal bones. They have all gotten zapped by the electric fence. The electric fence is a symbol of the society’s power to destroy mercilessly. There was a difference between the barrier and the animal and the fence destroyed the animal. It shows that anything strange or different will be shunned, annihilated, or otherwise brought down.
The most potent symbol in this chapter is when Lenina, Bernard, and the pilot fly over a pile of white animal bones. They have all gotten zapped by the electric fence. The electric fence is a symbol of the society’s power to destroy mercilessly. There was a difference between the barrier and the animal and the fence destroyed the animal. It shows that anything strange or different will be shunned, annihilated, or otherwise brought down.
Vocabulary:
Brachycephalic –adj- having a relatively broad, short skull
Indefatigable –adj – persisting tirelessly
Chapter 6 parts 1-3 are well done. I like the discussions of the symbolic nature of the bones and the fence, and Helmholtz as a character. Have you thought about Helmholtz name? Also, reflect on what you wrote when you read chapter 12. Is he a jerk in that chapter?
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