Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Brave New World #2

1. Why, after so many years, did Linda never assimilate into the culture of the savages, and instead of maintaining her title as the man-stealing outsider and continuing to sleep with other women's men like was acceptable in the New World, why didn't she try to fit in to their culture?
I can only think of the fact that she was originally so disgusted with the way of life at the reservation (like people from the New World are suppossed to be) that she could never fully accept their absurd and "disgusting" ways. John tells stories of how mean the other women used to be to her, because she slept with their husbands, and how hateful the indians were to him. The refusal to accept Linda and John led to an ever-growing hatred in the indians for them, which was never resolved. I hypothesize that the reason Linda never succeeded, or even attempted really, to fit in, was the fault of both Linda and the Indians for their ignorance and hatred.  
2.Why, with all the technology they have, do they not try to find ways to prolong life, but rather, after a person stops looking young and beautiful they are considered useless?
When addressing John about Linda's quickly degrading health, the doctor says " If we could rejuvenate, of course, that would be different" as if she is of no importance, because she is no longer youthful and fit. Also, since humans are being artificially "bred" and conditioned into their designated spots in society so they can live and work happily, once they can no longer work, they are of no importance to the society as a whole, and "individuals don't matter, only the one society".
3.What do the "savages" think of the vacationing civilians?
I am confused on whether it is often that the reservation gets tourists, because they have a whole system of lodging and "guides" set up for vacationers and no one from the civilized world acted like it was anything too out of the ordinary for Bernard and Lenina to go to the reservation. However, Linda acted as though she hadn't seen a "civilized" woman since she arrived on the reservation and was beside herself with excitement and joy when she saw Lenina. Linda cried out while hugging and kissed the disgusted Lenina "Oh, my dear, my dear. If you knew how glad- after all these years, a civilized face!" John also was fascinated by Lenina and claimed he had never seen a white woman before, yet the rest of the indigenous people ignored the visitors completely, acting nonchalant as ever. I assume though, that they would be as fascinated and disgusted with the "New World" as the civilized were with them. John is a great example of the contrast of cultures and customs between the two worlds. He finds the New World cold and hateful and disturbing, and I would imagine that the other "savages" would agree.

No comments:

Post a Comment