Brave New World: Key Plot Points and Character Analysis

Key Questions and Answers from Brave New World

The Hatchery and Conditioning Centre

Importance of the Fertilizing Room

The fertilizing room was important because the Director of the Hatchery and Conditioning Centre held a significant position.

Bokanovsky Process and Social Stability

The Bokanovsky process caused social stability by treating the eggs of low-level humans with substances that halt normal growth, causing each egg to divide into 96 identical humans.

The Secret of Happiness

According to the Director, the secret of happiness lies in conditioning people to like what they are and what society makes them do.

Conditioning Against Nature

Delta babies were conditioned to hate books and flowers after the head nurse pressed a button, resulting in a violent explosion accompanied by loud noises from sirens and alarms.

Social Norms and Relationships

Soma: The Perfect Drug

Soma was described as a perfect drug. People used it because they used to change as they grew older, implying soma maintained a constant, pleasant state.

Fanny's View on Lenina's Relationships

Fanny disapproved of Lenina’s relationship with Henry because she stated that having a long, intense relationship with only one man was wrong.

Lenina's Excitement for the Savage Reservation

Lenina found the Savage Reservation exciting because she wanted to visit a place without civilization where people still lived in the past.

Fanny's Horror Regarding Bernard

Fanny was horrified by Lenina's interest in Bernard because she considered him ugly and small.

Lenina's Loud Speaking in the Lift

Lenina spoke loudly in the lift because she wanted everyone to hear her.

Outsiders and Anomalies

Bernard and Helmholtz as Outsiders

Helmholtz was an outsider like Bernard due to his exceptional mental abilities.

The Girl in New Mexico

The girl in New Mexico was lost; the person speaking could not find her.

Lenina's Disgust at Malpais

Lenina was disgusted upon arriving at Malpais because there was rubbish everywhere, surrounded by flies and dogs.

Longevity in the New World

There were no old or sick people in the New World because their bodies were kept young through transfusions of young blood.

Bernard's Surprise Meeting John

Bernard was surprised when he first met John because he did not know who he was.

Linda's Reputation on the Reservation

People on the reservation thought Linda was bad because she had more than one partner.

Linda's Description of the 'Other Place'

Linda always told John that nobody was ever alone in the Other Place (the World State).

Consequences and Reactions

Director's Reason for Transferring Bernard

The Director transferred Bernard because he was considered a danger to civilization.

Bernard's Changed Status

After the Controller made Bernard John’s guardian, Bernard was treated as an important person by everyone at the Centre.

John's Reaction to Civilized Life

John felt upset by the mass-produced people in London.

Accepting Death in the New World

Children learned to accept dying as routine because:

• Every child spent two mornings a week in a Hospital for the Dying.
• All the best toys were kept there.
• They received chocolate cream when someone died.

John's Protest Against Lenina

John protested when Lenina tried to kiss him, stating: "This isn't love, this is lust."