BRAVE NEW WORLD CHAPTERS 9 AND 10 - JONATHAN GOODWIN AND RACHEL LONDON

In Chapter 9, Lenina is so revolted by seeing the Savage Reservation that she takes enough

soma to pass out for 18 hours in her cabin. Meanwhile, Bernard informs Mustapha Mond in

Santa Fe that John and Linda could be important to their society, from a scientific

standpoint.

While Bernard is gone, John breaks into the cabin where Lenina rests. Out of curiosity, he

goes through her things briefly, and then fixates his attention on her. While watching her

sleep, he quotes several parts of Romeo and Juliet, and he thinks of touching her but fears

his doing so would violate her. Bernard returns from his trip to Santa Fe, and John is able to

flee once he hears the sounds of Bernard's helicopter.

We see during the cabin scene how John is a lonely person. He breaks a window in order to

get into the cabin where Lenina is sleeping, all because he fears that Lenina and Bernard

have abandoned him. Also, it is known that he often speaks in Shakespearean verses.

Shakespearean is often said to be difficult to understand, which parallels John directly.

Not only is John distant from the World State, but he is found difficult to understand by

members of his own society- leaving him lonely.

Chapter 10 begins with the DHC telling Henry of his plans to deport Bernard to Iceland,

after dismissing him publicly to make an example of him. He explains how Bernard

threatens stability and how his departure is no loss to the society. Bernard arrives at the

hatchery and is criticized by the DHC for being too mature and not selfish enough; he calls

Bernard 'heretical'.

He tells Bernard that he will be leaving, however, Bernard unveils John and Linda soon

after. In public, Linda blames the Director for her pregnancy while John "came in at once…

fell on his knees in front of the Director, and said in a clear voice: 'My father!' (pg. 151)"

Embarrassed due to this public humiliation, the Director flees from the room.

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Activity: Tomorrow we will be watching a scene from the movie that is outlined in the book, and comparing its two portrayals. The video can be found here:

Discussion Questions:

1. What does John's knowledge of Shakespeare tell the reader about John, and about the Savage Reservation?

2. At the beginning of Chapter 10, what is the significance of the clocks?

3. How is Bernard physically or emotionally affected by his trip, and how do you think these effects will influence him in the World State?

4. What are the differences between the movie and the book? How do these differences shape the reader/viewer’s perception of the scene?