I don’t think sex is nearly as prevalent in our time as in the BNW time. There are “feelies” but most people don’t frequent them. A majority of our culture is only focused on ‘what feels good’ but a minority is focused on living a meaningful good life.
We do travel to far away places often because it is so easy even though it negatively affects the environment. Unfortunately, about 70% of CEOs are male. This is like the book because only males seem to be in power.
I think it’s really hard to compare this book to the present because this book could never ever happen. We could never wipe out disease. We could never eradicate every natural unpleasantry while still living in a stable environment. This book is a completely impossible way of life so it was difficult to take it seriously.
I did think about heaven when reading this book. I’ve thought about under the same circumstances before. How could we ever reach a place with no unhappiness while still truly feeling happy all the time? What would the comparison be to feel the happiness? I don’t feel like the book really made an accurate depiction of what life could be like in the future besides complete control from the government. I think Huxley’s point is that we all seek physical satisfaction most of the time. Technology’s goal is to make everything easier and more enjoyable. He’s reached the peak of complete ease and enjoyment. His point is that no one is truly happy. I agree. But like I said, this could never happen in real life.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Soapbox
I am not blogging about any of the four prompts. I did not like this book. I read it completely and quickly. I did not find it difficult or boring. But I did not like this book.
I think that Huxley is trying to say women who have sex either outside of marriage or when they are not in love are going to be treated like meat, mindless, or are “sluts” or “whores”. I do not believe this is so. I could understand if Huxley’s point is that women AND men should not be having sex with anything that moves BECAUSE of disease (STDs) but I don’t think that’s his point. He portrays every woman in this book as completely mindless, addicted to soma, and focused solely on having sex. Which makes me believe that he thinks that if America were to portray sex as morally “okay” then he thinks all men and women would only focus on sex and not intimacy. I don’t think that’s the case. I point out that he places women in a ‘mindless’ light because
1. Only men are in high position in this book.
2. The sole female main character, Lenina, is used as a sexual symbol and as a symbol of someone that has completely bought into the ideals of The New World.
3. The female that chooses to have sex with multiple partners in the “Savage World”, Linda, does not get a disease but rather social retribution. She then does not understand the negative backlash she receives.
4. The “hero” of the story, John the Savage, is male as are the other two pseudo-heroes, Helmholtz and Bernard Marx (Interesting his last name is Marx, like the man who created communism. I don’t think Bernard is meant to be a hero in the book. However, I think he is meant to be one of the few fighting the detrimental ideals of the utopian society. I think he is meant to be pitied and hated. Yet he was the beginning of questioning society and understanding that everyone was conditioned.)
I think that Huxley is trying to say women who have sex either outside of marriage or when they are not in love are going to be treated like meat, mindless, or are “sluts” or “whores”. I do not believe this is so. I could understand if Huxley’s point is that women AND men should not be having sex with anything that moves BECAUSE of disease (STDs) but I don’t think that’s his point. He portrays every woman in this book as completely mindless, addicted to soma, and focused solely on having sex. Which makes me believe that he thinks that if America were to portray sex as morally “okay” then he thinks all men and women would only focus on sex and not intimacy. I don’t think that’s the case. I point out that he places women in a ‘mindless’ light because
1. Only men are in high position in this book.
2. The sole female main character, Lenina, is used as a sexual symbol and as a symbol of someone that has completely bought into the ideals of The New World.
3. The female that chooses to have sex with multiple partners in the “Savage World”, Linda, does not get a disease but rather social retribution. She then does not understand the negative backlash she receives.
4. The “hero” of the story, John the Savage, is male as are the other two pseudo-heroes, Helmholtz and Bernard Marx (Interesting his last name is Marx, like the man who created communism. I don’t think Bernard is meant to be a hero in the book. However, I think he is meant to be one of the few fighting the detrimental ideals of the utopian society. I think he is meant to be pitied and hated. Yet he was the beginning of questioning society and understanding that everyone was conditioned.)
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Poetry Response: Inoculation
I found Inoculation to be a very interesting poem indeed. Rather difficult to understand though. I think the writer is comparing small pox to slavery. He is making the point that slavery is like small pox and some do survive. The opening two lines set up the rest of the poem. “Cotton Mather studied smallpox for a while/ instead of sin. Boston was rife with it” The writer is saying he studies small pox, probably wants to help people when sin(slavery) is staring him right in the face, where he should really be helping people. He asks his slave if he has ever had smallpox. The slave gives a very interesting answer. He says that his mother tried to kill him with small pox. But the boy survived and became a slave for the man. The poem is rich with irony in that the boy survived small but was forced into slavery, worse than smallpox?
The Awakening: Chapters 24-28
Chapters 24-28
1. Who comes to visit and who all leaves?
2. Why does Chopin leave Robert out for this hefty majority of the book?
3. Do you think you react how Edna has reacted thus far in the book?
Is Edna truly in love with Robert? That IS the question. I have no flippin clue. Earlier in the book (chapters 15-19 ish) I would have argued no. But now, after she learns Robert is coming back and she is basically on a high, I have to think she is in love with him. I’m so confused! Is Edna just “awakening” or has Robert Awakened her? I think Robert (without knowing what he was doing) awakened Edna. Then Edna kisses Arobin. I think the woman is so confused and disoriented. I feel badly for her. Then there is foreshadowing when Mademoiselle Reisz feels her shoulder blades to see how strong her wings are. I know the ending so I know Edna’s wings are not that strong which bothers me a bit. I thought Edna would be a heroine in this book. She kind of annoys me and makes me want to clap my hands in front of her face and be like, “Buck Up”. She’s dithering about, waiting for Robert, giving off an air of elitist attitude, and not really doing anything. And because I know the ending I’m even more like, C’MON EDNA! Get it together woman!
1. Who comes to visit and who all leaves?
2. Why does Chopin leave Robert out for this hefty majority of the book?
3. Do you think you react how Edna has reacted thus far in the book?
Is Edna truly in love with Robert? That IS the question. I have no flippin clue. Earlier in the book (chapters 15-19 ish) I would have argued no. But now, after she learns Robert is coming back and she is basically on a high, I have to think she is in love with him. I’m so confused! Is Edna just “awakening” or has Robert Awakened her? I think Robert (without knowing what he was doing) awakened Edna. Then Edna kisses Arobin. I think the woman is so confused and disoriented. I feel badly for her. Then there is foreshadowing when Mademoiselle Reisz feels her shoulder blades to see how strong her wings are. I know the ending so I know Edna’s wings are not that strong which bothers me a bit. I thought Edna would be a heroine in this book. She kind of annoys me and makes me want to clap my hands in front of her face and be like, “Buck Up”. She’s dithering about, waiting for Robert, giving off an air of elitist attitude, and not really doing anything. And because I know the ending I’m even more like, C’MON EDNA! Get it together woman!
The Awakening: Chapters 20-24
Chapters 20-24
1. Who is Edna looking for?
2. What is the significance of Madam Reisz and Doctor Mandelet?
3. Why is Edna looking for Madam Reisz?
The end of chapter 19 illustrated for the reader Edna’s depression. The second to last paragraph described Edna’s “happy days”. The last paragraph described Edna’s unhappy days- days in which she did not care whether she was alive or dead. Then the next chapters describe Edna’s complete loss of care for the household and her family. I think Robert was only a catalyst for Edna’s awakening. She misses him but is bothered more by her place in the world.
Edna searches for Madam Reisz for numerous reasons. Madam Reisz is a widow, very dedicated to her art (music), and probably gives off the independent woman vibe- something Edna searches for fervently. While Edna searches for common understanding, Mr. Pontellier does the same.
Mr. Pontellier goes to the family doctor to actually inquire if Edna is right in the head. The doctor tells Mr. Pontellier it’s just a womanly mood and it will eventually pass. They laugh about women and how strange they act. I HATE when people do this- when you feel a certain way and people chalk up your feelings to PMS, lack or exercise, lack of sleep, inadequate diet, etc.
Okay, I’m off my soapbox now.
1. Who is Edna looking for?
2. What is the significance of Madam Reisz and Doctor Mandelet?
3. Why is Edna looking for Madam Reisz?
The end of chapter 19 illustrated for the reader Edna’s depression. The second to last paragraph described Edna’s “happy days”. The last paragraph described Edna’s unhappy days- days in which she did not care whether she was alive or dead. Then the next chapters describe Edna’s complete loss of care for the household and her family. I think Robert was only a catalyst for Edna’s awakening. She misses him but is bothered more by her place in the world.
Edna searches for Madam Reisz for numerous reasons. Madam Reisz is a widow, very dedicated to her art (music), and probably gives off the independent woman vibe- something Edna searches for fervently. While Edna searches for common understanding, Mr. Pontellier does the same.
Mr. Pontellier goes to the family doctor to actually inquire if Edna is right in the head. The doctor tells Mr. Pontellier it’s just a womanly mood and it will eventually pass. They laugh about women and how strange they act. I HATE when people do this- when you feel a certain way and people chalk up your feelings to PMS, lack or exercise, lack of sleep, inadequate diet, etc.
Okay, I’m off my soapbox now.
The Awakening: Chapters 15-19
Chapters 15-19
1. What important event occurs in chapter 15?
2. Why is it now that Edna realizes she likes Robert?
3. Why does Robert leave?
Unfortunately, I read the end of the book so I already knew Robert left for Mexico. HOWEVER, I did not know why Robert had left. It’s obvious Robert leave because he realizes he is in love with Mrs. Pontellier but knows he could never have her. Edna and her husband then leave Lebrun’s for the winter. Once home Edna becomes sullen, insolent toward her husband, and eventually throws a temper tantrum. I think Edna’s outburst is because she feels so impotent and stuck in her life. I think she misses Robert but her awakening isn’t about Robert. It’s about her trying to assert herself in the world as a woman who demands to be treated like an equal.
On that note, I found pages 42 and 43 very interesting. Throughout the book I got really annoyed whenever Madam Ratignolle or Edna were apt to a fit of some sort. Whether it was the heat, exhaustion, or some made up ailment, both women seemed to not be able to handle ‘life’ sometimes. I understand that these couple pages aren’t the best example of these women’s ridiculous ‘tired fits’ but I think Edna deals with Robert’s departure immaturely. I also think it’s odd that she trying to assert herself as in equal in the world but simply because she’s a woman she pretends to have exhaustion fits for attention.
1. What important event occurs in chapter 15?
2. Why is it now that Edna realizes she likes Robert?
3. Why does Robert leave?
Unfortunately, I read the end of the book so I already knew Robert left for Mexico. HOWEVER, I did not know why Robert had left. It’s obvious Robert leave because he realizes he is in love with Mrs. Pontellier but knows he could never have her. Edna and her husband then leave Lebrun’s for the winter. Once home Edna becomes sullen, insolent toward her husband, and eventually throws a temper tantrum. I think Edna’s outburst is because she feels so impotent and stuck in her life. I think she misses Robert but her awakening isn’t about Robert. It’s about her trying to assert herself in the world as a woman who demands to be treated like an equal.
On that note, I found pages 42 and 43 very interesting. Throughout the book I got really annoyed whenever Madam Ratignolle or Edna were apt to a fit of some sort. Whether it was the heat, exhaustion, or some made up ailment, both women seemed to not be able to handle ‘life’ sometimes. I understand that these couple pages aren’t the best example of these women’s ridiculous ‘tired fits’ but I think Edna deals with Robert’s departure immaturely. I also think it’s odd that she trying to assert herself as in equal in the world but simply because she’s a woman she pretends to have exhaustion fits for attention.
The Awakening: Chapters 10-14
Chapters 10-14
1. In what does Edna sleep?
2. What do the lovers and lady in black represent?
3. Does Robert consciously know what he’s doing?
A LOT happens in this section. Edna swims on her own, Edna meets Mariequita, and Robert and Edna go on a trip together. The sexual tension between Robert and Edna seems to have been amped up to a billion. Robert has to know what he’s doing and the same goes for Edna. Yet, Edna fervently denies (in her thoughts) ever consciously feeling sexual longing for Robert. They flirt and Robert touches her (fixes a ruffle, touches the hem of her skirt). I’m just waiting for the real deal to happen.
My favorite chapter is chapter 11 by far. Mr. Pontellier sees Edna sleeping outside. He decides he doesn’t like that so he tells her to go in side. Edna politely tells him no. Then Mr. Pontellier gets all pissy because Edna doesn’t do as he says. So he yells at her and tells her “to get inside this instant”. And Edna Straight Up Tells Him No!! And she says that if he speaks to her like that again! GOOOOO EDNA! AND THEN Mr. Pontellier knows Edna basically just asserted her position in their relationship so he tries to establish dominance by sitting outside with her. It’s as if he knows she wants to be alone so just to spite her he sits outside and smokes. I really dislike this man.
1. In what does Edna sleep?
2. What do the lovers and lady in black represent?
3. Does Robert consciously know what he’s doing?
A LOT happens in this section. Edna swims on her own, Edna meets Mariequita, and Robert and Edna go on a trip together. The sexual tension between Robert and Edna seems to have been amped up to a billion. Robert has to know what he’s doing and the same goes for Edna. Yet, Edna fervently denies (in her thoughts) ever consciously feeling sexual longing for Robert. They flirt and Robert touches her (fixes a ruffle, touches the hem of her skirt). I’m just waiting for the real deal to happen.
My favorite chapter is chapter 11 by far. Mr. Pontellier sees Edna sleeping outside. He decides he doesn’t like that so he tells her to go in side. Edna politely tells him no. Then Mr. Pontellier gets all pissy because Edna doesn’t do as he says. So he yells at her and tells her “to get inside this instant”. And Edna Straight Up Tells Him No!! And she says that if he speaks to her like that again! GOOOOO EDNA! AND THEN Mr. Pontellier knows Edna basically just asserted her position in their relationship so he tries to establish dominance by sitting outside with her. It’s as if he knows she wants to be alone so just to spite her he sits outside and smokes. I really dislike this man.
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