Vocabulary
What is the opposite of a dystopia?
Utopia
In World State, what is the Bokanovsky Process?
The process of manufacturing humans in batches of 96 from a single egg instead of natural child birth.
What is Lenina Crowne’s job?
She is a nurse at the hatchery.
What is soma?
A fake drug given by the World State government to keep everyone happy at all times.
How does the Reservation differ from the World State?
The reservation still practices old world practices like natural childbirth, aging, marriage, god, and no soma.
What is conformity?
Matching your behaviors, beliefs, or actions to the group.
Why are children conditioned to dislike nature?
The World State wants citizens to participate in activities that encourage consumption rather than enjoying free, inexpensive activities in nature.
How is Helmholtz different from Bernard?
Although he also hates World State, he is willing to conform to the rules.
What does “Ending is better than mending” mean?
It is better to buy something new then repair something. It is to make everyone a consumer.
Why is Linda living on the Reservation?
She got lost on a trip with the director 25 years ago after becoming pregnant with his baby.
What is a caste?
A fixed social group into which a person is born.
What does John believe people must be allowed to experience in order to live a truly human life?
What does John discover about his mother that angers him?
His mom is addicted to soma.
What are the five major social classes/castes in the World State?
Alphas, Beta, Gamma. Delta, Epsilon
Why is John both connected to and separated from the World State?
He is connect to World State through his father being the director of the Hatchery and the fact he was raised on the Savage Reservation.
Why is stability so important to the World State?
Instability causes people to complain and push for change.
Why can individuality be considered dangerous in the World State?
An individual who thinks independently may question social rules and disrupt the stability of the entire system.
What does Mond know?
God.
What does the World State mean by “everyone belongs to everyone else”?
No single person, family, or romantic partner is allowed to be exclusive. This way there is a no love, heartbreak, or jealousy. Concepts like mothers, fathers, husbands, and wives are considered bad.
Which author does John frequently quote?
Shakespeare
What is more powerful in the World State: physical punishment or psychological conditioning? Explain.
Psychological conditioning is more central because citizens have been taught to accept the system and often desire the things that keep them controlled.
How does removing discomfort from people's lives help the government maintain control?
No challenge from citizens.
Why is nature an important symbol in the novel?
Nature represents experiences that are not completely controlled or commercialized by the World State.