In this chapter, Lenina decides that, with the help of soma, she will try to make John 'hers', but John, being extremely moral, lashes against her as she undresses and tries to make a move.
Lenina is depressed, as she feels that John does not like her at all. She takes soma and tries to have other men but finds herself feeling depressed afterwards still. It is interesting that someone from the society is having depressive thoughts and feelings - especially about another man. I believe that Lenina is in love with John, but does not understand 'love' and what it means. Also, for some reason, she must have a fetish for 'odd' things, since she confesses to Fanny that John is the only man she wants, even though he is so queer. She also made this comment about Bernard at the beginning of the novel. Perhaps she feels the need to have something odd in her life; something that would create drama and instability in her perfect pneumatic life.
John is torn in this part of the book. He is obsessed and completely in love with Lenina, but his morals stop him from doing anything, especially since he believes he is unworthy of her love. When Lenina shows up randomly at Bernard's place, John breaks down and confesses that he is madly in love with Lenina who is, "...so perfect, so perfect and so peerless are created of every creature's best" (XIII, 166) or so he describes her. Such emotionally stirring passion creates irritation and confusion for Lenina. She wants to just 'have him' and he is rambling on and on about how he must make himself worthy enough to her love.
Two worlds collide - the perfect society and the radical savage. It is almost as if the relationship is meant to be doomed before it even starts. John is so in love with Lenina that he feels agony when he confesses love for her, because in his mind he must get married first and prove worthiness. Lenina, however, feels the need to just get undressed and get on with it - with no strings attached. That's why I find it hard to believe that she 'loves' him... I could see her being more obsessed with the idea of him than actually being in love with him.
John is horrified as Lenina begins to undress herself. He wants to be with her, but not like this - not when she is throwing away her morality and self-virtue. I loved that his conscience began to thunder Shakespearean words inside of his head. He describes them being silkily and soft, but as they are alluring they are also dangerous, 'Soft, soft, but how piercing! boring and drilling into reason, tunnelling through resolution' (XIII, 169) which is interesting because his conscience is warning him of danger and morality, but at the same time in a smooth magical way.
When Lenina presses herself against him, John's morality explodes into inexplicable fury. He called her a whore and impudent strumpet and slapped her on the back. His love for Lenina is powerless to the hold religion and morality has upon him - quite possibly due to Linda and her constant 'having' of men, such as Popé. As Lenina bolts to the bathroom, John begins to storm around the room in a beat of marching to drums and the 'magical words' (Shakespeare's words). It is odd - the magical words bring John joy and yet can easily create an atmosphere for hatred and pain. It is amazing how the power of words can create such powerful emotions. However, perhaps the pain and hatred John can exude, due to the words, are because Shakespeare wrote tragedies with a world of pain and broken love, never about happiness and the 'good guys' winning, which John subconsciously applies to his life.
Showing posts with label Chapter XIII. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chapter XIII. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Chapter XIII - Summary
Henry Foster is asking Lenina if she would like to join him to a feely and she doesn't respond, she only shakes her head. He continues to ask questions and she just keeps shaking her head in response. He suggests she should get a Pregnancy Substitution or a V.P.S. treatment, thus making Lenina break her silence by yelling for him to shut up. She attends to her neglected embryos again but finds herself distracted by the thought of John.
She tries discussing it with Fanny but Fanny does not like the thought of Lenina being obsessed with one man. Lenina confesses she has tried to be with many other men but she only wants John. Fanny tells her to go take him, whether he wants it or not and if she is scared then she should take some soma beforehand.
John heard the bell ring and was hoping it was Helmholtz because he wants to talk to him about Lenina. He opened the door and found Lenina standing in all white. John was startled and Lenina walks into the room and sat down, as the soma made her forget all about her fears and embarrassment. She states that he looks like he isn't glad to see her. John confesses that he feels that she is perfect and falls on his knees before her to kiss her hands. He suddenly jumped onto his feet and says that he wants to show that he is worthy of her.
Lenina asks why he thinks it is necessary as she is getting impatient. John says that back in Malpais, you brought the one you want to marry the skin of a mountain lion or wolf. Lenina is getting more impatient and he confesses that he would do anything, anything that she asked him to do just to prove how much he loves her.
Lenina is euphoric that he would say such a thing, but he said that he shouldn't have said it because in Malpais they get married before they say 'I love you'. Lenina does not understand and feels that promising to live together forever is a horrible idea.
She is getting mad at him for not talking in a sensible way and that he is driving her crazy. She asks him if he really likes her or not.
He confesses that he loves her, 'more than anything in the world'. She exasperatedly asks why he didn't say so in the first place and kisses him.
John begins to think of the embraces from the feelies film 'Three Weeks in a Helicopter' and is disgusted at his thoughts. He tries to pull away but Lenina tightens her embrace. He doesn't want to take advantage of her honour but she just keeps going on about how she wanted him too and that he should have said something sooner.
Lenina begins taking off her clothes and advances toward him. John, instead of embracing her, is terrified and finds himself trying to get away from her as she tries to press against him. He grabs her by the shoulders and begins shaking her and calling her a 'whore'. She tries to protest that a gramme is better than a damn but is interrupted by him stating that he will kill her if she doesn't get out. She makes a mad dash to the bathroom after he had slapped her on the back.
John is stomping in the other room to the beat of the Shakespearean quotes in his head. Lenina asks if he would give her her clothes. He shoves them through the ventilator over the door and returned to his pacing. Lenina is trying to decide how to make a dash to the door when John gets a phone call.
John frantically leaves and as soon as Lenina feels that he is gone, she slips through the front door, slams it, and runs.
She tries discussing it with Fanny but Fanny does not like the thought of Lenina being obsessed with one man. Lenina confesses she has tried to be with many other men but she only wants John. Fanny tells her to go take him, whether he wants it or not and if she is scared then she should take some soma beforehand.
John heard the bell ring and was hoping it was Helmholtz because he wants to talk to him about Lenina. He opened the door and found Lenina standing in all white. John was startled and Lenina walks into the room and sat down, as the soma made her forget all about her fears and embarrassment. She states that he looks like he isn't glad to see her. John confesses that he feels that she is perfect and falls on his knees before her to kiss her hands. He suddenly jumped onto his feet and says that he wants to show that he is worthy of her.
Lenina asks why he thinks it is necessary as she is getting impatient. John says that back in Malpais, you brought the one you want to marry the skin of a mountain lion or wolf. Lenina is getting more impatient and he confesses that he would do anything, anything that she asked him to do just to prove how much he loves her.
Lenina is euphoric that he would say such a thing, but he said that he shouldn't have said it because in Malpais they get married before they say 'I love you'. Lenina does not understand and feels that promising to live together forever is a horrible idea.
She is getting mad at him for not talking in a sensible way and that he is driving her crazy. She asks him if he really likes her or not.
He confesses that he loves her, 'more than anything in the world'. She exasperatedly asks why he didn't say so in the first place and kisses him.
John begins to think of the embraces from the feelies film 'Three Weeks in a Helicopter' and is disgusted at his thoughts. He tries to pull away but Lenina tightens her embrace. He doesn't want to take advantage of her honour but she just keeps going on about how she wanted him too and that he should have said something sooner.
Lenina begins taking off her clothes and advances toward him. John, instead of embracing her, is terrified and finds himself trying to get away from her as she tries to press against him. He grabs her by the shoulders and begins shaking her and calling her a 'whore'. She tries to protest that a gramme is better than a damn but is interrupted by him stating that he will kill her if she doesn't get out. She makes a mad dash to the bathroom after he had slapped her on the back.
John is stomping in the other room to the beat of the Shakespearean quotes in his head. Lenina asks if he would give her her clothes. He shoves them through the ventilator over the door and returned to his pacing. Lenina is trying to decide how to make a dash to the door when John gets a phone call.
John frantically leaves and as soon as Lenina feels that he is gone, she slips through the front door, slams it, and runs.
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