Brave New World: Analysis of Chapters 12-14

Posted on Jan 25, 2025 in English

Chapter 12: Key Developments

  1. John is now known as “the Savage”—a classification instead of a name.
  2. The Savage cannot stand the robot-like twins mechanically doing their jobs. He runs outside and vomits.
  3. Bernard spends the entire visit to Eton propositioning Miss Keate. He pays no attention to the Savage or to the effect of the visit on him.
  4. The only books are scientific reference books. Reading is a solitary activity to be discouraged. Group activity like the feelies is encouraged.
  5. Bernard has made an appointment with Miss Keate for that night and needs the Savage out of the way. He doesn’t consider the effect the feelies might have on the Savage.
  6. The Savage is embarrassed, disgusted, and ashamed not only at what he has seen, but because Lenina was with him.
  7. Lenina thinks the Savage will now go to bed with her. Instead, he doesn’t even leave the taxicopter, but goes to his room at Bernard’s.

Chapter 12 Questions

  1. What important person has Bernard invited to his reception? Why?
  2. How do the people at the reception feel when the Savage doesn’t appear?
  3. How does Lenina feel?
  4. What is the Savage reading? Why?
  5. How does Bernard cope with the failure of the evening?
  6. To whom does Bernard try to turn?
  7. What is Helmholtz’s situation? Why?
  8. What happens when Bernard tries to interrupt Helmholtz and the Savage?
  9. What makes Helmholtz laugh at Romeo and Juliet?
  10. What does Helmholtz say his society needs?

Chapter 12 Answers

  1. Bernard has tried to make an impression by inviting the Arch-Community-Songster of Canterbury to his reception.
  2. Bernard’s guests feel cheated and tricked. They came to meet the Savage, not to have to put up with Bernard.
  3. Lenina feels hurt, empty, and physically ill. She thinks the Savage doesn’t want to see her personally.
  4. The Savage reads Romeo and Juliet. He wants to see himself as Romeo and Lenina as Juliet.
  5. Bernard blames the Savage for the evening’s failure and takes soma.
  6. Bernard tries to renew his friendship with Helmholtz Watson now that he is an outcast again.
  7. Some of Helmholtz’s rhymes have been about being alone, and he is in trouble with the authorities.
  8. Helmholtz threatens to remove Bernard from the room if he interrupts again.
  9. Juliet’s reference to her mother and her situation of being forced to accept a man against her will is too foreign to Helmholtz for him to take seriously.
  10. Helmholtz says his society needs some kind of madness and violence to shake it up.

Chapter 13: Confrontation and Turmoil

Chapter 13 Questions

  1. What does Henry Foster recommend for Lenina’s condition?
  2. Because she is upset, what does Lenina forget?
  3. What does Fanny advise Lenina?
  4. Whom had John been expecting when Lenina visits him?
  5. What does John do when he sees Lenina?
  6. What does John want to do for Lenina?
  7. What does Lenina try to do to seduce John?
  8. What idea does Lenina find horrible?
  9. What does John finally do to Lenina?
  10. What distracts John from his murderous rage?

Chapter 13 Answers

  1. Henry recommends that Lenina have a Pregnancy Substitute or a Violent Passion Surrogate.
  2. Lenina is so angry that she forgets to give an embryo an immunization against sleeping sickness.
  3. Fanny advises Lenina to make a move and seduce the Savage.
  4. The Savage thought Helmholtz was at the door.
  5. John drops to his knees in front of Lenina.
  6. John wants to perform some physical task to prove he is worthy of her.
  7. Lenina embraces and tries to kiss John, then strips naked in front of him.
  8. John wants Lenina to marry him and to live with him forever.
  9. John shakes Lenina, then slaps her and tells her to leave.
  10. A telephone call that seems to be about something important causes John to leave the apartment.

Chapter 14 Questions