Brave New World:Brave New World: A Glass Can Only Spill What A Glass Can Only Spill What

It ContainsIt Contains

FeracoFeraco

Myth to Science FictionMyth to Science Fiction

3 May 20133 May 2013

Our first meeting with Linda in Chapter Seven is Our first meeting with Linda in Chapter Seven is fairly disturbing, if only because Huxley describes and fairly disturbing, if only because Huxley describes and portrays her as grotesquely as possible.portrays her as grotesquely as possible.

She’s all bloated flesh and bad smells, stinking She’s all bloated flesh and bad smells, stinking of the crude alcohol and drugs that she’s used in of the crude alcohol and drugs that she’s used in futile attempts to replicate a futile attempts to replicate a somasoma holiday. holiday.

This is the grotesquerie of This is the grotesquerie of MotherMother; no wonder ; no wonder it’s an obscenity where Lenina hails from!it’s an obscenity where Lenina hails from!

Linda points out that she simply didn’t need the Linda points out that she simply didn’t need the skills she needed for the real world when all that was skills she needed for the real world when all that was required of her in the World State was so much required of her in the World State was so much simpler – not so much instinctual as conditioned, but simpler – not so much instinctual as conditioned, but automatic all the same.automatic all the same.

Birth, parenting, motherhood – it all seems Birth, parenting, motherhood – it all seems impossible when you’ve never been taught to do any impossible when you’ve never been taught to do any of it.of it.

““There’s so much one doesn’t know; it wasn’t There’s so much one doesn’t know; it wasn’t my business to know. I mean, when a child asks you my business to know. I mean, when a child asks you how a helicopter works or who made the world – well, how a helicopter works or who made the world – well, what are you to answer if you’re a Beta and have what are you to answer if you’re a Beta and have always worked in the Fertilizing Room? What are you always worked in the Fertilizing Room? What are you to answer?”to answer?”

This (obliquely) points to something about This (obliquely) points to something about Huxley that’s important, but that we haven’t Huxley that’s important, but that we haven’t discussed yet.discussed yet.

One of his odder fascinations concerned One of his odder fascinations concerned eugenics – the idea of advancing the human race eugenics – the idea of advancing the human race through selective reproductive habits that through selective reproductive habits that increased the prevalence of desirable traits and increased the prevalence of desirable traits and eliminated undesirable ones.eliminated undesirable ones.

This meant that one needed to make sure This meant that one needed to make sure that the High had more offspring while the Low that the High had more offspring while the Low reproduced less frequently in order to increase, reproduced less frequently in order to increase, say, the human race’s average intelligence level.say, the human race’s average intelligence level.

The eugenics movement is The eugenics movement is notnot one of the one of the twentieth century’s finer achievements.twentieth century’s finer achievements.

While the British Eugenics Society claimed While the British Eugenics Society claimed Brave New WorldBrave New World was about their movement, was about their movement, Huxley actually keeps it fairly toned down; if Huxley actually keeps it fairly toned down; if anything, it’s easy to interpret anything, it’s easy to interpret Brave New WorldBrave New World as as an angry broadside against eugenicist pursuits.an angry broadside against eugenicist pursuits.

Huxley’s fixation on the idea that humans Huxley’s fixation on the idea that humans could be “controlled for traits,” however, did make could be “controlled for traits,” however, did make its way into the book.its way into the book.

He was convinced that authors such He was convinced that authors such as H.G. Wells, whose utopian visions as H.G. Wells, whose utopian visions rested in part on the idea that the High rested in part on the idea that the High could be convinced to alternate between could be convinced to alternate between High and Low work, were hopelessly High and Low work, were hopelessly misguided, that they did not understand misguided, that they did not understand the human heart as he did.the human heart as he did.

In his mind, a superior individual In his mind, a superior individual could not move from fertilizing a field one could not move from fertilizing a field one day to composing an opera for the next day to composing an opera for the next three before returning for half a week to three before returning for half a week to the fields; he simply wouldn’t tolerate the fields; he simply wouldn’t tolerate work that was so clearly beneath his traits work that was so clearly beneath his traits and talents.and talents.

Huxley’s attitudes towards humanity Huxley’s attitudes towards humanity made it impossible for him to believe in made it impossible for him to believe in Utopia.Utopia.

We diverged from the discussion We diverged from the discussion about Linda because we needed to point about Linda because we needed to point out a problem with Huxley’s attitude, a out a problem with Huxley’s attitude, a problem that expresses itself exquisitely problem that expresses itself exquisitely through Linda herself.through Linda herself.

Basically, if the High cannot bother Basically, if the High cannot bother itself with Low work, it will quickly adopt a itself with Low work, it will quickly adopt a position of learned helplessness. (This is position of learned helplessness. (This is all well and good when the World State all well and good when the World State actively promotes learned helplessness.)actively promotes learned helplessness.)

Linda’s narrow skill-set is appropriate Linda’s narrow skill-set is appropriate in a society that shuns challenge, in a society that shuns challenge, versatility, and hardship while prizing versatility, and hardship while prizing specialization, efficiency, and ease.specialization, efficiency, and ease.

Unfortunately, her lack of skill leaves Unfortunately, her lack of skill leaves her completely helpless when cut off from her completely helpless when cut off from the society she knew.the society she knew.

When you do this, your ignorance When you do this, your ignorance leaves you dependent on your “lessers.”leaves you dependent on your “lessers.”

For example, I probably had a longer For example, I probably had a longer and richer academic career than my and richer academic career than my mechanic…but I can’t fix my own car, and I mechanic…but I can’t fix my own car, and I undoubtedly feel less confident in the undoubtedly feel less confident in the mechanic’s presence than he feels in mechanic’s presence than he feels in mine, at least when it comes to talking mine, at least when it comes to talking about automotive matters.about automotive matters.

This is the value of living with risk; if This is the value of living with risk; if you’re ever in a situation with you’re ever in a situation with uncontrolled variables (i.e., anywhere uncontrolled variables (i.e., anywhere outside the World State), you need to be outside the World State), you need to be versatile, and problems force you to versatile, and problems force you to acquire those skills.acquire those skills.

The World State, believing it’s solved The World State, believing it’s solved just about every problem that once just about every problem that once plagued mankind, sees no reason to plagued mankind, sees no reason to develop coping skills in its populace; a develop coping skills in its populace; a somasoma holiday is easier. holiday is easier.

Yet while John’s mother may not have Yet while John’s mother may not have coping skills, John is not like his mother, coping skills, John is not like his mother, and not simply because it’s clear he’s had and not simply because it’s clear he’s had to fend for himself for some time.to fend for himself for some time.

He’s the product of so many He’s the product of so many conflicted mythologies and belief systems; conflicted mythologies and belief systems; the Savage Reservation isn’t just a non-the Savage Reservation isn’t just a non-World State society, but a schizoid fusion World State society, but a schizoid fusion of different ones.of different ones.

To be honest, John’s coping skills To be honest, John’s coping skills aren’t the best either…but at least he’s aren’t the best either…but at least he’s tryingtrying! !

Chapter Eight fleshes out John’s history, Chapter Eight fleshes out John’s history, and it’s a complex one, full of pain, hardship, and it’s a complex one, full of pain, hardship, and longing, perfunctorily punctuated by small and longing, perfunctorily punctuated by small triumphs and fleeting moments of joy.triumphs and fleeting moments of joy.

Huxley tells it in a dreamlike way, hopping Huxley tells it in a dreamlike way, hopping from moment to moment in order to build up from moment to moment in order to build up the backstory.the backstory.

We see his difficult relationship with We see his difficult relationship with Linda, who doesn’t let him call her Mother (for Linda, who doesn’t let him call her Mother (for obvious reasons).obvious reasons).

Linda is a creature from a different world, Linda is a creature from a different world, and her refusal to assimilate and adapt to this and her refusal to assimilate and adapt to this one separates her from her son.one separates her from her son.

John doesn’t really understand how to John doesn’t really understand how to relate to her because his natural feelings differ relate to her because his natural feelings differ from her conditioning.from her conditioning.

Linda’s Beta-like behavior – Linda’s Beta-like behavior – entertaining married men, heavily abusing entertaining married men, heavily abusing drugs – make her an outcast in the world drugs – make her an outcast in the world of the Reservation, which makes John a of the Reservation, which makes John a marked target for abuse; his only means marked target for abuse; his only means of coping with the others’ cruelty is to of coping with the others’ cruelty is to take pride in his ability to read, even take pride in his ability to read, even though his reading is largely limited to a though his reading is largely limited to a World State textbook.World State textbook.

(Even here, John retreats into (Even here, John retreats into knowledge and study, rather than join his knowledge and study, rather than join his mother in narcotic distraction.)mother in narcotic distraction.)

For a while, his only happiness lies in For a while, his only happiness lies in the moments when Linda shares stories the moments when Linda shares stories about the “Other Place.”about the “Other Place.”

Then he stumbles upon Then he stumbles upon The Complete The Complete Works of William Shakespeare,Works of William Shakespeare, and his and his world’s transformed. world’s transformed.

Just as Helmholtz mentioned earlier, Just as Helmholtz mentioned earlier, John has been searching for something John has been searching for something without knowing precisely what he’s without knowing precisely what he’s looking for; this is why he feels a primal looking for; this is why he feels a primal excitement after creating things out of excitement after creating things out of clay.clay.

When he reads Shakespeare, he’s When he reads Shakespeare, he’s pierced.pierced.

He finally has language to describe He finally has language to describe his feelings, language that Linda could his feelings, language that Linda could never teach him; after all, she’s never teach him; after all, she’s emotionally illiterate.emotionally illiterate.

Shakespeare’s words are old, ornate, Shakespeare’s words are old, ornate, overly patterned and self-consciously overly patterned and self-consciously beautiful; in other words, they’re perfect beautiful; in other words, they’re perfect for John, who ends up living out for John, who ends up living out Shakespearean themes and events on a Shakespearean themes and events on a regular basis.regular basis.

His attack on Popé, for example, His attack on Popé, for example, explicitly recalls explicitly recalls HamletHamlet – reacting to a – reacting to a violation of a child/parent bond without violation of a child/parent bond without really understanding why he feels what he really understanding why he feels what he does (and Linda, again, couldn’t tell him).does (and Linda, again, couldn’t tell him).

His longing for Kiakimé, on the other His longing for Kiakimé, on the other hand, recalls hand, recalls Romeo and Juliet.Romeo and Juliet.

It is finished.It is finished. Old Mitsima’s words Old Mitsima’s words repeated themselves in his mind. repeated themselves in his mind. Finished, finished…Finished, finished…In silence and from a In silence and from a long way off, but violently, desperately, long way off, but violently, desperately, hopelessly, he had loved Kiakimé. And hopelessly, he had loved Kiakimé. And now it was finished. He was sixteen.now it was finished. He was sixteen.

John decides to go back to the John decides to go back to the World State with Bernard, Lenina, World State with Bernard, Lenina, and Linda partly because he’s tired and Linda partly because he’s tired of feeling so terribly alone.of feeling so terribly alone.

His choice comes directly after His choice comes directly after he tells of his near-suicide, as well he tells of his near-suicide, as well as the time he tried to see what as the time he tried to see what crucifixion felt like.crucifixion felt like.

Clearly, he’s searching for Clearly, he’s searching for meaning, and he’s not finding it on meaning, and he’s not finding it on the Savage Reservation; he’s the Savage Reservation; he’s actually excited to see the World actually excited to see the World State.State.

The young man drew a deep breath. The young man drew a deep breath. “To think it should be coming true – what “To think it should be coming true – what I’ve dreamt of all my life. Do you I’ve dreamt of all my life. Do you remember what Miranda says?”remember what Miranda says?”

““Who’s Miranda?”Who’s Miranda?” But the young man had evidently not But the young man had evidently not

heard the question. “O wonder!” he was heard the question. “O wonder!” he was saying; and his eyes shone, his face was saying; and his eyes shone, his face was brightly flushed. “How many goodly brightly flushed. “How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is!” The flush suddenly mankind is!” The flush suddenly deepened; he was thinking of Lenina, of deepened; he was thinking of Lenina, of an angel in bottle-green viscose, lustrous an angel in bottle-green viscose, lustrous with youth and skin food, plump, with youth and skin food, plump, benevolently smiling. His voice faltered. benevolently smiling. His voice faltered. “O brave new world,” he began, then – “O brave new world,” he began, then – suddenly interrupted himself; the blood suddenly interrupted himself; the blood had left his cheeks; he was as pale as had left his cheeks; he was as pale as paper.paper.

““Are you married to her?” he asked.Are you married to her?” he asked. ““Am I Am I what?”what?” ““Married. You know – for ever. They Married. You know – for ever. They

say ‘for ever’ in the Indian words; it can’t say ‘for ever’ in the Indian words; it can’t be broken.”be broken.”

““Ford, no!” Bernard couldn’t help Ford, no!” Bernard couldn’t help laughing.laughing.

John also laughed, but for another John also laughed, but for another reason – laughed for pure joy.reason – laughed for pure joy.

““O brave new world,” he repeated. “O O brave new world,” he repeated. “O brave new world that has such people in brave new world that has such people in it. Let’s start at once.”it. Let’s start at once.”

““You have a most peculiar way of You have a most peculiar way of talking sometimes,” said Bernard, staring talking sometimes,” said Bernard, staring at the young man in perplexed at the young man in perplexed astonishment. “And, anyhow, hadn’t you astonishment. “And, anyhow, hadn’t you better wait ‘til you actually see the new better wait ‘til you actually see the new world?”world?”

““The greater a man’s talents, the The greater a man’s talents, the greater his power to lead astray. It is greater his power to lead astray. It is better that one should suffer than that better that one should suffer than that many should be corrupted. Consider the many should be corrupted. Consider the matter dispassionately, Mr. Foster, and matter dispassionately, Mr. Foster, and you will see that no offence is so heinous you will see that no offence is so heinous as unorthodoxy of behaviour. Murder kills as unorthodoxy of behaviour. Murder kills only the individual – and, after all, what is only the individual – and, after all, what is an individual?” With a sweeping gesture an individual?” With a sweeping gesture he indicated the rows of microscopes, the he indicated the rows of microscopes, the test-tubes, the incubators. “We can make test-tubes, the incubators. “We can make a new one with the greatest ease – as a new one with the greatest ease – as many as we like. Unorthodoxy threatens many as we like. Unorthodoxy threatens more than the life of a mere individual; it more than the life of a mere individual; it strikes at Society itself. Yes, at Society strikes at Society itself. Yes, at Society itself,” he repeated.itself,” he repeated.

Thus the Director casts himself as the White Thus the Director casts himself as the White Knight of Society, proudly defending its community Knight of Society, proudly defending its community / identity / stability from the insidious influence of / identity / stability from the insidious influence of individualistic anarchy.individualistic anarchy.

He prepares to greet Bernard upon the He prepares to greet Bernard upon the latter’s return from the Savage Reservation, not latter’s return from the Savage Reservation, not simply to punish him but to humiliate him by simply to punish him but to humiliate him by publicly excoriating and banishing him.publicly excoriating and banishing him.

Having anticipated this, Bernard deflects his Having anticipated this, Bernard deflects his enemy’s thrust expertly; when the DHC mockingly enemy’s thrust expertly; when the DHC mockingly asks him if he has any reply to the charges leveled asks him if he has any reply to the charges leveled against him, Bernard seizes the opening by against him, Bernard seizes the opening by presenting Linda, in all her naturally-aging presenting Linda, in all her naturally-aging grotesquerie.grotesquerie.

Linda’s desperate pleas for “Tomakin” to Linda’s desperate pleas for “Tomakin” to acknowledge her quickly morph into angry acknowledge her quickly morph into angry “obscenity” – she declares that he “obscenity” – she declares that he made her have a made her have a babybaby..

There’s really no equivalent for what she’s There’s really no equivalent for what she’s said in English, at least nothing I could repeat said in English, at least nothing I could repeat without being fired on the spot; if it’s not the worst without being fired on the spot; if it’s not the worst thing one can say in the World State, it’s pretty thing one can say in the World State, it’s pretty close.close.

The horror is compounded once John enters The horror is compounded once John enters the room, greeting the DHC as “My father!”the room, greeting the DHC as “My father!”

Huxley points out that “father” isn’t nearly Huxley points out that “father” isn’t nearly as obscene as “mother” – not due to any as obscene as “mother” – not due to any lingering misogyny (well, any more than already lingering misogyny (well, any more than already seeps through a society where the male-centric seeps through a society where the male-centric definition of pleasure reigns supreme), but to the definition of pleasure reigns supreme), but to the father’s “relative remove” from the actual father’s “relative remove” from the actual birthing process. birthing process.

That combination – That combination – Mother! Father! Mother! Father! Exclusive lover!Exclusive lover! – serves to thoroughly and – serves to thoroughly and irreversibly devastate the DHC’s reputation; the irreversibly devastate the DHC’s reputation; the irony’s pretty blunt, mainly because Bernard is irony’s pretty blunt, mainly because Bernard is able to turn the tables so effectively. able to turn the tables so effectively.

And as spermatozoa-filled test tube after And as spermatozoa-filled test tube after test tube spills and shatters on the floor, the test tube spills and shatters on the floor, the laughter in the room reaching a fever pitch, the laughter in the room reaching a fever pitch, the Director turns and flees the grotesque, horrible Director turns and flees the grotesque, horrible scene, never to return.scene, never to return.

John proceeds to gain some measure of John proceeds to gain some measure of infamy. He is a Savage, a curiosity, something infamy. He is a Savage, a curiosity, something that should not exist and yet does.that should not exist and yet does.

Linda, of course, isn’t nearly as compelling; Linda, of course, isn’t nearly as compelling; her son may have charmingly stupid ideas (in her son may have charmingly stupid ideas (in their view, obviously), but she’s just disgusting, a their view, obviously), but she’s just disgusting, a fallen creature who should have known better.fallen creature who should have known better.

I’ve mentioned that the community I’ve mentioned that the community (IDENTITY STABILITY) is pretty vicious towards (IDENTITY STABILITY) is pretty vicious towards anything that deviates from orthodoxy; the anything that deviates from orthodoxy; the inability to handle difference, the unexpected, or inability to handle difference, the unexpected, or a change in routine forms a running motif in the a change in routine forms a running motif in the book.book.

It’s more obvious at this stage, what with It’s more obvious at this stage, what with the DHC’s spectacularly-backfiring “exile plan” the DHC’s spectacularly-backfiring “exile plan” and with Linda’s shunning.and with Linda’s shunning.

But it’s reversible, as demonstrated by But it’s reversible, as demonstrated by Bernard’s newfound “popularity” thanks to his Bernard’s newfound “popularity” thanks to his association with the newly-famous Savage.association with the newly-famous Savage.

John isn’t just a curiosity. Even at this John isn’t just a curiosity. Even at this early stage of his involvement, we get hints early stage of his involvement, we get hints about his ultimate destiny – the “self-about his ultimate destiny – the “self-crucifixion” to atone for his wrongs in crucifixion” to atone for his wrongs in Chapter 8, or his yearning for Lenina (and Chapter 8, or his yearning for Lenina (and subsequent disgust with his weakness) in subsequent disgust with his weakness) in Chapter 9.Chapter 9.

He’s perpetually willing to punish He’s perpetually willing to punish himself for what he perceives as “base, himself for what he perceives as “base, ignoble” behavior, which is why he finds ignoble” behavior, which is why he finds kindred spirits in the kindred spirits in the Penitentes.Penitentes.

He’s flawed – he can’t see what we can, He’s flawed – he can’t see what we can, he falls for a woman he shouldn’t – but he’s he falls for a woman he shouldn’t – but he’s profoundly human all at once, the rare profoundly human all at once, the rare individualindividual in this story. in this story.

He’s motivated by needs that surpass He’s motivated by needs that surpass his base desires, and his emotions and values his base desires, and his emotions and values – honor, wonder, etc. – are more complex than – honor, wonder, etc. – are more complex than his counterparts’.his counterparts’.

Unsurprisingly, he’s either nonplussed, Unsurprisingly, he’s either nonplussed, confused, or actively repulsed by what he confused, or actively repulsed by what he sees; a glimpse of Bokanovskified Deltas at sees; a glimpse of Bokanovskified Deltas at work leaves him vomiting.work leaves him vomiting.

““O brave new world, that has such O brave new world, that has such people in it…”people in it…”

Linda, on the other hand, is not, and she Linda, on the other hand, is not, and she drowns herself in drowns herself in soma, soma, seeking an escape seeking an escape from real life, a continuous holiday.from real life, a continuous holiday.

Her son is the only one who cares about Her son is the only one who cares about what becomes of her; the rest are perfectly what becomes of her; the rest are perfectly content to pacify her with drugs until she content to pacify her with drugs until she dies within a month or two (which, as a dies within a month or two (which, as a middle-aged woman, she’d have no biological middle-aged woman, she’d have no biological reason to do…except, as a deeply reason to do…except, as a deeply dysfunctional castoff, she has little left to dysfunctional castoff, she has little left to enjoy).enjoy).

John also contrasts strongly with Bernard, whom John also contrasts strongly with Bernard, whom nobody actually likes.nobody actually likes.

He craves all the benefits and signifiers of He craves all the benefits and signifiers of influence anyway (costing him Helmholtz’s, and our, influence anyway (costing him Helmholtz’s, and our, respect in the process), trying to steal affection and respect in the process), trying to steal affection and physical gratification from those who previously physical gratification from those who previously ignored him.ignored him.

Yet he still finds himself drawn to criticizing the Yet he still finds himself drawn to criticizing the very social order he enjoys.very social order he enjoys.

There’s that old saying: There’s that old saying: “Pride goeth before the “Pride goeth before the fall.”fall.”

Bernard is all too proud and none too wise, and Bernard is all too proud and none too wise, and while the Director’s arrogance cost him everything, while the Director’s arrogance cost him everything, his adversary’s equally vulnerable.his adversary’s equally vulnerable.

John, on the other hand, perpetually believes John, on the other hand, perpetually believes himself to be unworthy of Lenina…so he refuses to let himself to be unworthy of Lenina…so he refuses to let himself be with her, which vexes her to no end.himself be with her, which vexes her to no end.

When she takes him – or, rather, gets him to When she takes him – or, rather, gets him to take take herher – to the feelies, she wants him to be thrilled – to the feelies, she wants him to be thrilled and to seek pleasure in her.and to seek pleasure in her.

But he’s repulsed and repelled by them, and But he’s repulsed and repelled by them, and turns away from what he sees – and, in turn, from turns away from what he sees – and, in turn, from her…her…