Brave New World Response. One thing I found interesting in these chapters is the internal conflict that Barnard goes through as he tries to decide which society he belonged to.

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One thing I found interesting in these chapters is the internal conflict that Barnard goes through as he tries to decide which society he belonged to. When he was popular because he was showing John off, he fitted perfectly into the world state society. Once Barnard is popular he is perfectly happy in the world state, he fits in perfectly in the society created by the world state. He brags about how easy getting girls is, “I had six girls last week”. Barnard fits so well into the world state society that he does not feel the connection he did with Helmholtz beforehand when he didn’t fit in, and thus, he ends his friendship with him. Barnard does not regain his connection and friendship with Helmholtz until after his popularity fades. Thus, Barnard sort of shifts from the world state society back to a more “savage society”. A similar example is when Barnard is deciding whether or not to help Helmholtz and John in the fight against the Deltas, his indecision to decide if he should help or not represents his indecision as to whether or not to rebel against the world state. Barnard’s shifts in societies can be seen again when he gets exiled, at first he struggles and begs to stay in the world state society, but after his initial panic attack he is actually quite comfortable with leaving the world state. Barnard’s struggle between the world state society and a more savage society shows that only those who perfectly fit into the world state society may be happy in it. Unlike Helmholtz who does not fit in the world state society at all, Barnard at least in part fits into the society of the world state; however, even he is unable to enjoy the happiness that the world state society is supposed to provide.

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An interesting question that came up in our seminar was the reason why Lenina was so attracted to John. In a world where committed relationship is considered an abomination by social standards, Lenina’s obsession with having John seems completely strange and abnormal. Lenina’s obsession with John can be seen through her conversations with Fanny as she describes how she is beginning to like the savage more and more. When John decides not to accompany Lenina to her apartment, Lenina is obviously upset and consumes large amounts of Soma to compensate. It seems that Lenina is actually in love with John, ...

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