Search Jump: Comments
    Chapter Index
    Back to Story
    Cover of Brave New World
    DystopianPhilosophicalScience Fiction

    Brave New World

    by Huxley, Aldous
    Set in a dystopian future, Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World explores a society engineered for stability through genetic manipulation, psychological conditioning, and pervasive pleasure. The World State prioritizes efficiency and happiness over individuality, with citizens divided into rigid castes and kept docile by the drug soma. The narrative contrasts this controlled existence with the experiences of John the Savage, an outsider raised on a reservation, whose struggle with the dehumanizing aspects of this “perfect” world exposes its moral and emotional emptiness. Themes of free will, technological dominance, and the cost of utopia remain strikingly relevant. A cornerstone of dystopian literature, the novel challenges notions of progress and human fulfillment.
    PreviousNext
    Brave New World

    Chapter 9: Nine

    by Huxley, Aldous

    The chap­ter opens with Leni­na seek­ing escape from the unset­tling events of the day by tak­ing a heavy dose of soma, plung­ing her into an 18-hour stu­por. Mean­while, Bernard remains awake, for­mu­lat­ing a plan. The next morn­ing, he seizes the oppor­tu­ni­ty of Leni­na’s absence to fly to San­ta Fé, where he con­tacts Mustapha Mond, the World Con­troller, to secure per­mis­sion to bring two indi­vid­u­als from the Reser­va­tion back to Lon­don. Bernard’s demeanor shifts from ner­vous­ness to arro­gance as he lever­ages his new­found author­i­ty, rel­ish­ing the pow­er and effi­cien­cy of the sys­tem that once mar­gin­al­ized him.

    Upon return­ing to Mal­pais, Bernard dis­cov­ers the young man from the Reser­va­tion dis­traught, believ­ing Leni­na has aban­doned him. The young man’s emo­tion­al tur­moil con­trasts sharply with Bernard’s cal­cu­lat­ed actions. In a moment of des­per­a­tion, he breaks into Leni­na’s room, where he becomes mes­mer­ized by her belong­ings, inhal­ing her per­fume and han­dling her clothes with a mix of rev­er­ence and guilty plea­sure. His actions reveal a deep, almost wor­ship­ful infat­u­a­tion, blend­ing inno­cence with intru­sive desire, as he quotes Shake­speare to express his admi­ra­tion for her beau­ty.

    The young man’s fas­ci­na­tion inten­si­fies when he finds Leni­na asleep, her vul­ner­a­bil­i­ty and child­like inno­cence over­whelm­ing him. He hes­i­tates to touch her, torn between long­ing and a sense of sac­ri­lege. His inter­nal strug­gle high­lights the ten­sion between his pri­mal urges and his ide­al­ized per­cep­tion of her puri­ty. The scene is charged with emo­tion­al inten­si­ty, as he oscil­lates between ado­ra­tion and shame, ulti­mate­ly resist­ing the impulse to vio­late her soma-induced slum­ber.

    The chap­ter con­cludes with the abrupt arrival of Bernard’s heli­copter, snap­ping the young man out of his rever­ie. The con­trast between Bernard’s prag­mat­ic, self-serv­ing actions and the young man’s raw, unfil­tered emo­tions under­scores the clash of worlds—the ster­ile effi­cien­cy of the Brave New World against the untamed pas­sion of the Reser­va­tion. The chap­ter leaves the read­er antic­i­pat­ing the con­se­quences of Bernard’s schem­ing and the young man’s unre­quit­ed long­ing for Leni­na.

    Down­load PDF Sum­ma­ry

    FAQs

    • 1. How does Lenina cope with the stress of the day’s events, and what does this reveal about the society’s approach to emotional regulation?

      Answer:
      Lenina takes six half-gramme tablets of soma to escape into a drug-induced “lunar eternity” for at least 18 hours. This reflects the society’s reliance on soma as a tool for emotional control and avoidance of discomfort. Instead of processing her experiences of “queerness and horror,” she opts for chemical escapism, highlighting the dystopian prioritization of artificial happiness over genuine emotional growth. The ease with which she disengages underscores the state’s success in suppressing individual resilience or introspection through pharmaceuticals.

      2. Analyze Bernard Marx’s behavior in this chapter. How does it contrast with his earlier portrayal in the novel, and what might this suggest about his character?

      Answer:
      Bernard exhibits uncharacteristic confidence and assertiveness here, leveraging his connection to Mustapha Mond to secure permits and barking orders at the Warden (“If you’ll kindly take all the necessary steps as soon as possible”). This contrasts with his usual insecurity and social marginalization. His patronizing tone (“So long”) and deliberate name-dropping suggest he’s intoxicated by temporary power, revealing a latent hypocrisy—he criticizes the system yet exploits its hierarchies when advantageous. The chapter exposes his moral ambiguity and craving for validation.

      3. What symbolic significance does the young man’s interaction with Lenina’s belongings hold, particularly in the context of the novel’s themes?

      Answer:
      The young man’s near-reverent exploration of Lenina’s suitcase (kissing her handkerchief, marveling at her clothing) symbolizes both his naive idealization of the “Other” and the commodification of intimacy in their world. His tactile fascination with her possessions—zippers, slippers, powder—reflects a society where human connection is mediated through objects and sensory stimulation rather than authentic relationships. The scene parodies romantic longing while critiquing consumerism’s erosion of genuine emotion, as even desire becomes a performance of stolen moments and fetishized artifacts.

      4. How does Huxley use literary allusions in this chapter (e.g., the Shakespearean quotes), and what effect do they create?

      Answer:
      The young man’s whispered Shakespearean verses (“Handlest in thy discourse…”) juxtapose classical expressions of love with the sterile, soma-dulled reality of the World State. These allusions serve as ironic commentary: in a society that has eradicated high art and individual passion, fragments of poetry resurface as instinctual, almost primal outbursts. The contrast heightens the tragedy of cultural amnesia—the young man grasps at elevated language to articulate feelings his world no longer understands, revealing the incompleteness of the State’s control over human nature’s depth.

      5. Evaluate the chapter’s portrayal of power dynamics through Bernard’s phone call to Mustapha Mond. What does this interaction reveal about the governance of the World State?

      Answer:
      The brisk efficiency of Bernard’s call (resolved in under 11 minutes) demonstrates the State’s centralized, technocratic power. Mustapha Mond’s immediate recognition of the “scientific interest” in the Reservation’s outliers underscores governance driven by cold pragmatism rather than ethics. Bernard’s stammering deference (“I ventured to think…”) contrasts with Mond’s clipped authority, reinforcing the rigid hierarchy. Notably, Mond’s willingness to bend rules for “interesting” exceptions hints at the regime’s flexibility when curiosity serves its aims, exposing contradictions in its supposedly immutable order.

    Quotes

    • 1. “Lenina felt herself entitled, after this day of queerness and horror, to a complete and absolute holiday. As soon as they got back to the rest-house, she swallowed six half-gramme tablets of soma, lay down on her bed, and within ten minutes had embarked for lunar eternity.”

      This quote highlights the dystopian reliance on soma as an escape mechanism in the World State, showcasing how citizens use drugs to avoid confronting uncomfortable emotions or realities. It sets the tone for the chapter’s exploration of artificial happiness versus genuine human experience.

      2. “Bernard meanwhile lay pensive and wide-eyed in the dark. It was long after midnight before he fell asleep. Long after midnight; but his insomnia had not been fruitless; he had a plan.”

      This contrast between Lenina’s drugged stupor and Bernard’s wakefulness emphasizes their fundamental difference in character. Bernard’s insomnia represents his growing dissatisfaction with society, while his secret plan foreshadows the chapter’s pivotal events.

      3. “The zippers on Lenina’s spare pair of viscose velveteen shorts were at first a puzzle, then solved, a delight. Zip, and then zip; zip, and then zip; he was enchanted.”

      This intimate moment reveals the savage’s childlike wonder at modern technology and clothing, illustrating the cultural divide between the “civilized” World State and the natural human experience. The passage poignantly captures his naive fascination with mundane objects.

      4. “How beautiful she was! How beautiful! Then suddenly he found himself reflecting that he had only to take hold of the zipper at her neck and give one long, strong pull… He shut his eyes, he shook his head with the gesture of a dog shaking its ears as it emerges from the water. Detestable thought!”

      This internal conflict powerfully demonstrates the tension between the savage’s idealized romantic love and emerging sexual desire, mirroring the novel’s larger themes of repressed humanity versus conditioned behavior. His shame reflects the puritanical conditioning of his upbringing.

      5. “Pure and vestal modesty… There was a humming in the air. Another fly trying to steal immortal blessings? A wasp?”

      The savage’s poetic musings, blending Shakespearean references with his immediate reality, showcase the chapter’s central contrast between lyrical human expression and the mechanistic world of the World State. This moment represents the collision of two worldviews.

    Quotes

    1. “Lenina felt herself entitled, after this day of queerness and horror, to a complete and absolute holiday. As soon as they got back to the rest-house, she swallowed six half-gramme tablets of soma, lay down on her bed, and within ten minutes had embarked for lunar eternity.”

    This quote highlights the dystopian reliance on soma as an escape mechanism in the World State, showcasing how citizens use drugs to avoid confronting uncomfortable emotions or realities. It sets the tone for the chapter’s exploration of artificial happiness versus genuine human experience.

    2. “Bernard meanwhile lay pensive and wide-eyed in the dark. It was long after midnight before he fell asleep. Long after midnight; but his insomnia had not been fruitless; he had a plan.”

    This contrast between Lenina’s drugged stupor and Bernard’s wakefulness emphasizes their fundamental difference in character. Bernard’s insomnia represents his growing dissatisfaction with society, while his secret plan foreshadows the chapter’s pivotal events.

    3. “The zippers on Lenina’s spare pair of viscose velveteen shorts were at first a puzzle, then solved, a delight. Zip, and then zip; zip, and then zip; he was enchanted.”

    This intimate moment reveals the savage’s childlike wonder at modern technology and clothing, illustrating the cultural divide between the “civilized” World State and the natural human experience. The passage poignantly captures his naive fascination with mundane objects.

    4. “How beautiful she was! How beautiful! Then suddenly he found himself reflecting that he had only to take hold of the zipper at her neck and give one long, strong pull… He shut his eyes, he shook his head with the gesture of a dog shaking its ears as it emerges from the water. Detestable thought!”

    This internal conflict powerfully demonstrates the tension between the savage’s idealized romantic love and emerging sexual desire, mirroring the novel’s larger themes of repressed humanity versus conditioned behavior. His shame reflects the puritanical conditioning of his upbringing.

    5. “Pure and vestal modesty… There was a humming in the air. Another fly trying to steal immortal blessings? A wasp?”

    The savage’s poetic musings, blending Shakespearean references with his immediate reality, showcase the chapter’s central contrast between lyrical human expression and the mechanistic world of the World State. This moment represents the collision of two worldviews.

    FAQs

    1. How does Lenina cope with the stress of the day’s events, and what does this reveal about the society’s approach to emotional regulation?

    Answer:
    Lenina takes six half-gramme tablets of soma to escape into a drug-induced “lunar eternity” for at least 18 hours. This reflects the society’s reliance on soma as a tool for emotional control and avoidance of discomfort. Instead of processing her experiences of “queerness and horror,” she opts for chemical escapism, highlighting the dystopian prioritization of artificial happiness over genuine emotional growth. The ease with which she disengages underscores the state’s success in suppressing individual resilience or introspection through pharmaceuticals.

    2. Analyze Bernard Marx’s behavior in this chapter. How does it contrast with his earlier portrayal in the novel, and what might this suggest about his character?

    Answer:
    Bernard exhibits uncharacteristic confidence and assertiveness here, leveraging his connection to Mustapha Mond to secure permits and barking orders at the Warden (“If you’ll kindly take all the necessary steps as soon as possible”). This contrasts with his usual insecurity and social marginalization. His patronizing tone (“So long”) and deliberate name-dropping suggest he’s intoxicated by temporary power, revealing a latent hypocrisy—he criticizes the system yet exploits its hierarchies when advantageous. The chapter exposes his moral ambiguity and craving for validation.

    3. What symbolic significance does the young man’s interaction with Lenina’s belongings hold, particularly in the context of the novel’s themes?

    Answer:
    The young man’s near-reverent exploration of Lenina’s suitcase (kissing her handkerchief, marveling at her clothing) symbolizes both his naive idealization of the “Other” and the commodification of intimacy in their world. His tactile fascination with her possessions—zippers, slippers, powder—reflects a society where human connection is mediated through objects and sensory stimulation rather than authentic relationships. The scene parodies romantic longing while critiquing consumerism’s erosion of genuine emotion, as even desire becomes a performance of stolen moments and fetishized artifacts.

    4. How does Huxley use literary allusions in this chapter (e.g., the Shakespearean quotes), and what effect do they create?

    Answer:
    The young man’s whispered Shakespearean verses (“Handlest in thy discourse…”) juxtapose classical expressions of love with the sterile, soma-dulled reality of the World State. These allusions serve as ironic commentary: in a society that has eradicated high art and individual passion, fragments of poetry resurface as instinctual, almost primal outbursts. The contrast heightens the tragedy of cultural amnesia—the young man grasps at elevated language to articulate feelings his world no longer understands, revealing the incompleteness of the State’s control over human nature’s depth.

    5. Evaluate the chapter’s portrayal of power dynamics through Bernard’s phone call to Mustapha Mond. What does this interaction reveal about the governance of the World State?

    Answer:
    The brisk efficiency of Bernard’s call (resolved in under 11 minutes) demonstrates the State’s centralized, technocratic power. Mustapha Mond’s immediate recognition of the “scientific interest” in the Reservation’s outliers underscores governance driven by cold pragmatism rather than ethics. Bernard’s stammering deference (“I ventured to think…”) contrasts with Mond’s clipped authority, reinforcing the rigid hierarchy. Notably, Mond’s willingness to bend rules for “interesting” exceptions hints at the regime’s flexibility when curiosity serves its aims, exposing contradictions in its supposedly immutable order.

    Note