"'Civilization is Sterilization,' I used to say to them. And 'Streptocock-Gee to Banbury-T, to see a fine bathroom and W.C.' as thought they were children. But of course they didn't understand. How should they? And in the end I suppose I got used to it. And anyhow, how can you keep things clean when there isn't hot water laid on?" pg. 121
The rhetorical questions in this part of the book that are employed by Linda, the once civilized but now savage woman, serve the purpose of helping the reader understand that it was initially difficult for her to understand a different way of life. The uniformity and repetition of daily routine in the old world made it near impossible for her to understand how these savages could carry out daily activities. She had been taught that there was only one proper way to clean things. She believed there was only one proper way to have relations with the opposite sex. She could not fathom the enigma of motherhood. It was not a concept she had been taught.
Similar to motherhood, Linda could not answer questions to her son John about the Other Place if they did not relate to the job she had there. She wasn't programmed to know any information she didn't need.
On the other hand, John finds it odd that his mother could be so oblivious to a world she loved so much. How could she know so little of something and be completely devoted to it? If her society was so perfect and beautiful, why would they only allow her to extend her experiences in it to a certain extent?
wheres the rhetorical question???
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