Chapter Seventeen and Eighteen

John continues his conversation with Mustapha Mond and talks of religion and speaks of the religion that once was before the World State reigned over civilization. He says that religion and things like love no longer implicated because they short it gives the people the right to be unhappy. By being eliminates, society is neither happy nor unhappy but neutral. I find it fascinating how the people of this book have lived their lives. They have nothing to look forward to because they cannot experience anything in life that is worth living for, but they do not know the difference because they have been conditioned otherwise. John decides that he will not live this way.

Once John is exiled he begins his quest to cleanse himself from the poison of civilization. It seems John has completely snapped at this point and is only further driving himself to insanity. As he whips himself to punish himself for his sins, people take notice. This leads to a group of reporters going to his new home and disturbing him and interfering with his quest. Lenina arrives at the scene and John charges at her and attacks her. In my perspective, at this point John is completely insane. He attacked the only person he could ever be close to loving and whipped her. In the middle of the night he woke up and remembered what he had done and is horrified. The novel ends with him hanging himself.

I found the ending of this novel haunting. The only person in this novel who truly wanted to experience the beauties of life was driven to insanity from the society implicated by the World State. As he longed for love, creativity and freedom, he creeped closer to insanity and punished himself for his wrongdoings. This novel ends on a strange note because no conflict is resolved. I think the other is trying to show us that the nature of humans cannot change. No matter how much conditioning people undergo, sometimes the mind will overcome it. Mustapha Mond states that people are solely driven by conditioning but John proves him wrong by living through instincts. Ironically his instincts drove him mad in a world that shows little emotion or suffering.

The disturbing manner that the author uses to portray the death of John is most definitely not appropriate for all readers. As readers edge closer to the end of this novel, I picture them becoming more and more horrified by it's contents. This would certainly be a good argument to ban the novel. However I did gain something by reading this novel. By writing this book, Aldous Huxley has shown us that a human society without the choice to live one's life the way they would like will one day crumble. It has shown me that the human mind can be easily fooled into thinking and believing anything that is imprinted on it in immense amounts. However, this takes away from true happiness that in many cases will lead people to overpower their conditioning and want more from life.

I think that this book is definitely only suitable for mature readers because of it's strange content but I would never promote the banning of this book. By reading this book, most people can begin to further understand human nature which I believe is worth reading this book for. Although this book contains mature content, that gives no one the right to ban it for all people to read because you can only learn from this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to anyone who is in their teens and older.

Chapter Fourteen, Fifteen, and Sixteen

John goes to th hospital because his mother Linda is now dying. However, when he goes to visit her, she is so heavily medicated that she has no idea what is going on. In addition there is also a group of delta twins who are coming to watch his mother die so that they may be conditioned into accepting death. Within minutes Linda is dead and John is terribly distraught but to his surprise the woman with the deltas tells him to please be quiet and not to interfere with the children's conditioning.

I was pretty repulsed by this event. In our society the idea of death is a horrible tragedy so I can't even imagine the idea of not being able to mourn over the dead because I would have been conditioned otherwise. It horrified me that as he is torn apart by the loss of his mother, children are standing there being taught that death is meaningless and that the loss of one person means nothing. In my opinion, that is completely ridiculous but then again this is only a novel and this really shows the contrast with the society of this novel and that of our everyday life.

This seems like a good reason that someone would feel that this book should be banned. As death is represented as sacred and tragic in our society some people would not want that sacredness to be attacked by this book. Although it is only fiction, people may fear the idea that if someone read in this book that the loss of one person is meaningless that they might just go and kill someone because they may be under the impression that one life lost won't matter. However let me restate that this book is FICTIONAL!

As John his in distress he leaves the hospital and sees a group of children being given soma. He is in a strange state of mind at this moment and demands that these children stop putting poison in their bodies. He creates a riot and Bernard, Helmholtz and the police end up coming to the scene. Bernard and Helmholtz try to defend John and Bernard, Helmholtz and John are all taken away by the police. This point seems like the climax of the novel because John has finally snapped. His mind cannot survive in the World State because he cannot survive there. John trying to live in the World State would be like a fish trying to live on land. His oxygen are things like love and freedom to believe whatever he wants while in the World State their oxygen is the conditioning that they have received since birth. Like the fish, he can survive there for a while, but the fish needs it's water as John needs his world. In his case he won't die, but he seems merely become more and more isolated.

The three of them are taken to be spoken to by Mustapha Mond. They discuss what will be happening to these three very rebellious men. We learn that they won't really be receiving punishment but offered a new sense of freedom. Earlier it was mentioned that Bernard was going to be sent to an island but little did we know that those islands that people are sent to contain people who were unsatisfied by the conditioned life. People just like Bernard, Helmholtz and John. It seems that the tables have turned because as I thought that the idea of individualism in this novel was frowned upon it seems that if you do begin to become individual from the mass of the conditioned you are merely taken out of the equation and put with more people like yourself. In a way I guess it is somewhat of a punishment because the three of these men will likely be sent to different places and be separated but really they will likely have a more enriched life full of the most interesting people they have ever met. In the end it seems they will be able to escape the monotony of the World State and finally be free.

Chapter Twelve and Thirteen

Bernard being as hot headed as he has been in the previous decides to have a gathering of people so that they can meet "the savage" but when John finds out his plan he disagrees because he does not want to be used for Bernard's gain. At this gathering Bernard's guests make him feel humiliated because he could not supply them with "the savage". I thought Bernard got exactly what he deserved because he had been completely arrogant in the previous chapter and the beginning of this one. Other than this event little happens in this chapter other than John meeting Bernard's friend Helmoltz who laughs at John and humiliates him. I found this chapter quite boring and with little information that would lead people to ban it.

The level of sexuality in Chapter Thirteen is intense. Lenina's feelings for John have become immensely strong. Other men simply cannot satisfy her. She must have John! The fact that she is so enticed by him am amuses me. Earlier in the novel she thought it normal to engage in sexual acts with different men frequently but now she is so content to this one man. She has begun to contradict what she has previously stood for. Then she goes to find John in hope to seduce him, but to her surprise he merely confesses is undying love for her which disgusts her. She cannot fathom the fact that he wants to have a family with her because the idea of having a family of your own is very unusual and out of the norm. Even though she is repulsed by this man she still is extremely attracted to him so she continues her act of seduction and fails because John is disgusted by such acts. He calls her a whore and leaves her.

Chapter Thirteen is definitely the most inappropriate chapter so far in this novel. the high sexual context used and the vulgar language would definitely leave many readers horrified. However, I think that the controversy of the content in this chapter would invoke readers to want to know more. Even if repulsed by the content the readers would still want to know what happened to see whether the novel continued to be as horrifying as it was whether they approved of it or not. To me the shock value of this book only seems oto get more interesting. I continue to read and am surprised more almost every chapter and cannot wait for the plot to continue to unravel.

Chapter Eleven

In recent events, The Director has resigned because of his humiliation leaving Bernard and his job safe. Bernard is now renown for being the one who discovered the savage. which he is. This has boosted his popularity and confidence creating a positive change in his sex life. He even states that he has been having sexual relations with more than two girls in one day, but no new events occur between him and Lenina.

From Bernard's new self esteem boost, he has been feeling happier and satisfied with life in the world state, which I find ironic because when he had a poor sex life he was feeling curious and unsatisfied with his conditioned life. However now that his sex life is thriving, he is enjoying his conditioned life but really his sex life seemed to have little to do with his problems before. He was upset because he wanted to express more emotion and felt like an outsider but now it seems strange that all that has gone away now that he can have more sex

Obviously the frequent talk of sex in this chapter would be horrifying to many readers. Even I could understand limiting the age group who would be allowed to read this book because the content simply wouldn't be appropriate to young children. However I am enjoying the shock value of this novel. Chapters like this interest me because as I am further surprised I am further drawn in to read more so for me, if this book weren't so inappropriate in some sense I wouldn't enjoy it as much as I do. I think the author wrote the novel in this way for such a purpose.

We also learn in this chapter that Lenina has feelings for John who is also now known as "the savage". Lenina has began to realize that he is very good looking and has begun to lust after him. When placed with the opportunity to engage in sexual relations with her, John does not do so. He has some feelings for her but still does not engage in these sexual acts. The differences between his mind and those of the World State are beginning to create some conflict. Since he has not been conditioned like Lenina has he does not think of sex the way she does which is really quite meaningless.

The shock value of this book is largely criticized but as strange as it gets I am enticed to read more!

Chapter Nine and Ten

The new character that was introduced in the previous chapters has been further exposed. When John sees Lenina sleeping he is overcome with lust. However he holds back his urges because of the morals he has learned about sex in his Shakespeare novels and the society in the Reservation. It seems strange that John wants to badly to be a part of the society of the World State but it is already obvious that he doesn't belong there. Based on his reactions towards his lust towards Lenina show this. People of the World State would have shown little morality and just gone for what they wanted for the soul idea to pleasure themselves. When John acted differently and in a way closer to the society of today, he showed his individuality from the society of the World State.

When Bernard goes back to the World State in London the Director has some news for him. They have decided to remove him from the World State and send him to Iceland because of his corruption to their society. At the very moment this happens, Linda and John walk in. Linda is overjoyed to see "Tomakin" again and gives him a big hug as soon as she sees him. He pretends she doesn't exist and tries to remover her from him, but she lets out that he is the father of her child and people are horrified. The chapter ends on a strange note that leaves you wanting to know more. I always enjoy that in a read because it compels me to know more about the plot development.

From the general conflict within john himself and within the Director and Bernard, I am sensing some foreshadowing to a large conflict amongst the society of the World State that could potentially lead to it's downfall.

Chapter Seven and Eight

At the reservation Bernard and Lenina go to a community celebration where they listen do the beating of drums and watch a youth get whipped many times to the extent that he bleeds and collapses to the ground. After this Lenina and Bernard meet another youth named John who's mother once lived in London at the World State where Bernard and Lenina live. John's mother is named Linda and became pregnant because something went wrong with her contraceptives but ended up in the reservation after suffering injury during a visit and some Indians found her and took her to their village. Bernard realizes that when John mentions his father was from London as well and that his name was Tomakin, he is really talking about the Director Thomas. Bernard does not reveal this to the others.

I found it interesting how Bernard at one point when talking to Linda with Lenina present states that he thinks he had missed out in not having a mother. To me this is a big statement because it goes completely against what his society stands for. In his culture a mother represents impurity and strangeness. This seems to further differ him from those who he coexists with.

Later we find out a little more about this new character John. We learn that his mother told him lovely stories of where she came from and it was his dream to leave the reservation and go to London. We learn of how his mother taught him to read and how john was left out by the other boys in the reservation and were never friendly to him. He had lived a lonely life furthering his want to leave the reservation.

Ironically it seems Bernard and John are opposite in a way. Bernard seems to repel from the society in London and wants to get away from it. He wishes to feel more emotion and says he wished he could have had a mother but John has always dreamed of leaving his home and going to London to where his mother has come from. However John's views could change once he comes to finally see what the life in the World State is like. He may be very disappointed because he is used to the freedom he has lived with his whole life while the World State may be to structured for him.

At the end of this section of the novel Bernard asks John if he would like to come back to London with them. John is overjoyed and asks if his mother may come along. Bernard says yes in the hope that he can embarrass the Director by showing up on his doorstep with his son and the women he impregnated. I am sensing that the bringing of Linda and John to London is going to create a large conflict amongst Bernard and the Director. The director will obviously have to try and hide what he has done in his past because it would contradict what he teaches otherwise how could he tell people that natural pregnancy was wrong when he himself is the father to a natural born child? But how far will he go to hide his past?

Chapter Six

Lenina has begun to question herself about Bernard. She finds him odd because of his individuality and resistance to conform. Even so, she is somewhat enticed by him. Bernard takes Lenina flying and they end up over a large span of water. She begins to feel uncomfortable about why they have come here because she is confused, but Bernard says that when he looks at the water, he feels more like himself, more of what he could be, and almost inspired. Lenina doesn't understand such things. His individual emotions are strange to her. She then becomes very upset and begins to cry. Later he takes her home to have sex with her and later states that he was upset that they had sex so soon. He wished they could had waited.

It amazes me that the slightest amount of rebellion of the society of this novel creates such strong repercussions. As Bernard begins to show real emotion and curiosity towards things, Lenina doesn't quite know how to cope. She can't even comprehend the slightest amount of difference to her conditioned attitudes. It also seems as though the more that Bernard pushes the limits of his conditioning, he begins to reverse it even more. He is starting to reveal more evidence of his true individuality as a person opposed to a copy of everyone else that surrounds him.

Later in the chapter, when Bernard goes to see the director about the inquiry of visiting Mexico, the director states that he is aware of Bernard's recent curiosity and individualism. If Bernard continues to exercise this behavior, he will be sent to Iceland. My question is why Iceland? And what will become of him if he were to go to Iceland? I am beginning to have a stronger belief in the idea that the idea of this novel is some kind of experiment run by the authorities of the world. As these authorities condition people, ever so often when there is a bad apple that doesn't conform to the norm, they are shipped away. That is where Bernard must know how to act. If I am right in my suggestion then Bernard must find a way to beat the system. He must find a way to unlock the hidden emotion within others to help create some kind of mutiny against the authority. By doing so he can reverse the years of conditioning of all humanity.

Chapter Five

In this part of the novel, little information about Lenina that is of importance is revealed, other than her day to day affairs with Henry. However, it was revealed that Bernard goes to a Solitary Service which he attends once every two weeks. This acts as somewhat of a church service although very different from what you would think of a church service in our daily life. First, the president of the group uses a "T" as some sort of symbolic meaning. Similar to the cross of Christianity in theory but I have no knowledge as to why they used this "T". During this service, they begin to chant about "Ford" and how he is coming. Bernard, who feels quite isolated and out of th norm of his society, feels no excitement for these events, however to fit in with the other members of this service joins in on the dancing and chanting. High on soma tablets, these people have no idea as to how silly they appear as they chant "ORGY PORGY" and slap each other's buttocks. I find it funny how these people seem to all blend into one another. Even though they demonstrate some amount of freedom of choice, most of these people tend to stay with those who are similar to them and tend to do the same activities. However Bernard seems to disobey the norm of this novel. He wants more from it and is not being satisfied. He is so to the extent that he is pretending that he is fine as to "fit in" with those around him. It just seems as though the people of power in this novel are using people as guinea pigs for strange applications of human activities, hence the dancing and chanting. One minute they know nothing of family and the next they are dancing and chanting "ORGY PORGY". It seems all too strange for there to not be some alterior motive for those who do the conditioning for this society.

Chapter Four

In this chapter, the character Lenina and Bernard Marx become further developed. It appears the Lenina is slightly interested in having a relationship with Bernard even though she is involeved with another character named Henry . However Bernard feels very inadequate and feels that Lenina isn't interested in him although he is infatuated with her. It amazes me how in this novel that these people know nothing of a real family like in our daily society yet they're still interested in matching themselves with others but not to reproduce, purely for sexual reasons. The people of this novel resemble the people of our society, but our world is light years away from their world. I have began to get the impression that these people have a vestige of a humanity similar to ours, but it has been forced to remain dormant through the conditioning of society.
In later events in this chapter, Bernard Marx is having a conversation with a friend, Helmoltz who spoke of how he sometimes feels a strange feeling inside of him. A feeling that he can say more than he does but doesn't know how to find the words. He says that sometimes he thinks that he could do more with himself. To me, this sounds like his creative side is becoming active. Somehow he has opened it in his mind and is slowly reversing the conditioning that has been done on him. I may be wrong, but I have a feeling that as I continue to read this book that I will learn that what the scientists in this book block out of the minds of children and the nonsense blasted into their ears will keep certain aspects of who they are dormant and not erasing them forever. Maybe some people can overcome what has been done to them, and rebel against the norm of their current world to change it.
I think that no matter how much conditioning one is given from society, instincts will always prevail over what has been taught to that individual. In this novel it appears that Helmoholtzs is beginning to experience his true instincts from within. What he does with them will only unfold as I continue to read.

Chapter Three

In this day and age, How would you feel about the idea of promoting promiscuous sex to children in their infancy? Well in "Brave New World" this is one of the things that are burned into the minds of young children. When i first read this it startled me because when introduced , there was a field of naked children learning to explore each other's bodies. I even had a little chuckle as a I read it. Because this idea is thought as immoral in our society, I have no doubt in my mind that it is a reason that people habe banned this book. I'm sure that the people who have banned this book read this chapter and were horrofied and disgusted by the idea of children having sex because they have most likely assumed that if other children read this book, then maybe they will start having promiscuous sex with other children just because they read it in a book.
In this chapter I learned of a World leader named Mustapha Mond, who is one of the ten world leaders. He spoke of how without strucurized breeding of people, there would be no stability in humanity. Allowing people to have and raise their own children lead to disease and war. I found this interesting because in a way it makes logical sense. By breeding people in science labs, you will take away the aspect of disease and war because retardations and diseases in the population will not be allowed to survive and the ideas of violence will be burned out of peoples minds. However this kind of society takes away other amazing azpects of life that to me would not be a fair bargain, but the idea is interesting.