Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Huxley’s thirteenth chapter begins with a dialogue between Henry Foster and Lenina. Henry Foster is interested in her evening plans and recognizes her depression, but Lenina reacts very aggressive. She realizes more and more that she feels a strange attraction to the Savage. Because of this she is perplexed and does not know how to react. Fanny, Lenina’s friend and changing partner, does not understand her obsession with the Savage, telling her she can have any of millions of men, but she wants Lenina to show her feelings to the John if it would make her happier.

So the struggle between Lenina and the Savage ends into a disaster: Lenina trying to seduce him and the Savage trying to resist her advances.

Finally, because John admits to Lenina that he loves her so much she decides to be bold, so she barges into the Savage’s room and begins to take her clothes off, hoping to seduce the Savage. But John thinks he has to prove himself worthy, something Lenina does not understand, and resists her lustful pleas. "In Malpais," he says, "people get married." This of course is incomprehensible to Lenina who has been conditioned to one night stands and connects the feeling of love directly with physical caresses and sex. She does not understand his attempt at chivalry. The Savage even tries to quote Shakespeare, saying, "the strongest suggestion our worser genius can, shall never melt mine honour into lust."

Soon the Savage begins to react violently to her advances, forcing Lenina to take refuge in the bathroom. Finally, when the Savage leaves the room, she stealthily sneaks out of the bathroom and back to her own room.

Topics for analysis:

-connection between love and sex in our world and in the brave new world
-> reasons why Lenina and John could not have a relationship in the end although they love each other
-importance of Shakespeare`s lines for the Savage
-Henry Foster`s reaction when he recognizes Lenina`s depression

(Jana)

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