John, Bernard and Helmholtz are summoned to the Controller's,(Mustapha Mond), study to stand trial and give their side concerning the day's earlier reprucussions. As Mond enters the room, he questions John about his feelings towards Utopia. John openly voices his dislike, much to Bernard's dismay. Mond and John go into discussing "the hows and whys" that art and science have been sacrificed for stability. Concerning art, Mond explains that the society would not be able to handle it because art is beautiful and the people should not be attracted to beautiful things that are old. Mond confesses that years earlier, before gainig "Fordship", he dabbled in experimenting with "real" science. Mond continues, stating how he almost found himself in the same situation as Bernard and Helmholtz--facing exile to an island. At that moment Bernard grows frantic with fear and begins to grovel at the controller's feet; at one point, desperately blaming Helmholtz and John. Mond calls for him to be taken out of the room and put to bed. Mond continues explaining to Helmholtz that he is being exhiled for the sake of the society's happiness and stability. Given a choice between exhile on various tropical destinations, Helmholtz requests that he be sent to the wasteland that is the Falkland islands to pursue a better writing environment. He has taken his fate philisophically.
Vocabulary
- flivvers
- (n.) a small, usually cheap, old automobile
- squalid
- (adj.) marked by filthiness and degredation from poverty and neglect.
- queued(up)
- (adv.) lined up; usually a line of people or cars; often used with teh word up.
- gyroscope
- (n.) A spinning disk or wheel whose spin axis ,maintains its angular orientation when not subjected to external torques.
- subversive
- (adj.) corrupting the character or morals of
- matriarchies
- (n.)(plural) tribes, clans, families in power of a country, nation, etc.
- The Society of Propagation of Fordian Knowledge
- (book term) a publishing company in Detriot whose publications include Life and Work by Our Ford
- paroxysm
- (n.) A sudden attack or outburst , as of emotion
- sedulous
- (adj.) assiduous (consantly attentive)
- scullion
- (n.)Archaic. A servant employed to do menial kitchen tasks
- gesticulate
- (v.) to make gestures, esp. while talking
- chary
- (adj.) Not wasteful of, as of time money, or resources
Direct Quotes
"Helmholz laughed out loud. 'Its more like a caffeine-solution party than a trial.'" (223)."'But why is it prohibited?' asked the Savage...the controller shrugged his shoulders,
'Because it's old'. We don't have any use for old things here.'
'Even when they're beautiful?'
'Especially when they're beautiful.'"--John & Mustapha (226). "People are happy; they get what they wnat, and they never want what they can't get. They're well off; they're safe; they're never ill; they're not afriad of death; they're blissfully ignorant of passion and old age.'"
--Bernard (commenting on Utopia) (226)"'The optimum population' said Mustapha Mond, 'is modelled on the iceberg--eight-ninths below the water line, one-ninth above.'"
--Mustapha Mond (230)."'But as I make the laws here, I can also break them. With impunity, Mr. Marx'"
--Mond (224-25)."'You can't make flivvers with out steel--and you can't make tragedies without social instability.'"
--Mond (using Shakespeare)(226)"'Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the overcompensationsfor misery.'"
--Mond (227)."' We don't want to change. Every change is a menace to stability'"
--Mond (231)."'Universal happiness keeps the wheels steadily turning; truth and beauty can't"
--Mond (234)."'I like your spirit, Mr. Watson. I like it very much indeed. As much as I officially disapprove of it.' He smiled."
--Mond (upon hearing Helmholtz's destination preference) (235).