Brave New World Chapter 9 Review

Questions and Answers

How does Lenina handle the disgust of her visit to the Reservation when she returns to the guesthouse?

Lenina ends up taking so much soma to last her about 18 hours of sleep.

Does Bernard sleep? Why?

Bernard doesn't sleep because he ends up planning John's trip.

Whom does Bernard call from Santa Fe? Why?

Bernard calls Mustapha Mond directly, so he can get permission for John and Linda to come to London.

What does Mond do when he receives Bernard's call?

Mustapha Mond immediately gives permission to Bernard to take John and Linda off the reserve. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Bernard treat the Warden the way he does?

Bernard is very pleased with his call to Mustapha Mond and he wants to sort of brag about it. Signup and view all the answers

How does John feel when he comes to the rest house?

John thinks that he will not be taken to London, so he sits and cries. Signup and view all the answers

Why does John break the window?

John sees Lenina's green suitcase and he needs to get into her room because he wants to touch something that is hers. Signup and view all the answers

How does John handle Lenina's clothes and make-up?

John handles Lenina's things as if he were touching the relics of a saint. Signup and view all the answers

Does John touch the sleeping Lenina? Why?

He kneels at Lenina's bed but does not feel as if he is worthy to touch her. Signup and view all the answers

What causes John to leave?

John heard Bernard's plane and runs out to greet him. Signup and view all the answers

What does Lenina prefer over experience?

Soma Signup and view all the answers

What feeling does John struggle with in regards to Lenina?

Guilt Signup and view all the answers

Who agrees there would be scientific interest in bringing John and Linda back?

Mustapha Mond Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Characters and Actions

Lenina takes six soma tablets for an 18-hour sleep, indicating her preference for escapism over confronting reality.
Bernard travels to Santa Fe to enlist Mustapha Mond’s support for bringing John and Linda back to the World State, showing his desire for revenge.
John, feeling abandoned, breaks into Lenina's room out of fear and passion, demonstrating his intense feelings for her and the conflicts they create.

Themes of Desire and Guilt

John’s admiration for Lenina leads him to recite Shakespeare, highlighting his emotional turmoil and spiritual conflict between desire and societal norms.
His struggle symbolizes the main conflict in Brave New World: the choice between embracing pain and angst or succumbing to the State's manufactured happiness.

Responses to Experience

Lenina copes with her disturbing trip to the Reservation by consuming an excess of soma, implying a societal reliance on drugs to manage emotions.
Bernard's inability to sleep is tied to his plotting for John’s trip, illustrating the impact of ambition and emotional unrest on personal well-being.

Relationships with Authority

Bernard's direct call to Mustapha Mond signifies his newfound confidence and the potential shift in his social status.
Mustapha Mond’s prompt approval for John and Linda's return emphasizes his authoritative control over social dynamics within the World State.

Emotional States

John’s initial optimism is crushed upon realizing he may not go to London, leading to a poignant moment of vulnerability as he cries alone.
His desire to touch Lenina’s possessions reflects deep emotional investment and connects to his feelings of inadequacy and reverence, portraying her as an object of pure admiration.

Symbolism and Actions

John treats Lenina's belongings like treasured artifacts, emphasizing his romantic idealism and the clash of cultures between his values and the World State's values.
Despite yearning to engage, John refrains from touching Lenina, illustrating both his reverence and feelings of unworthiness—core aspects of his character's struggle.

Resolutions

John’s retreat from Lenina’s room is prompted by the sound of Bernard’s plane, marking a shift back to reality and foreshadowing upcoming conflicts arising from their intertwined fates.

Description

Test your knowledge on key events and characters from Chapter 9 of Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World'. This quiz includes flashcards that assess your understanding of critical themes and character motivations. Perfect for students preparing for discussions or exams.