"'And remember,' he added reassuringly to Lenina, 'they're perfectly tame; savages won't do you any harm. They've got enough experience of gas bombs to know that they mustn't play any tricks.'" pg. 106
Bernard is taking Lenina to visit the savage reservation, but after their previous experience, he wonders if she can handle such different concepts. Unlike the majority of people in this world, the savages still have families and homes and they still birth their children. It's a horrifying concept to the modernized people in this world. Its viewed as primitive and in fact "savage".
Lenina claims she can handle all of these differences even when Bernard describes them to her in great detail. She still wants to venture out into the savage village with him despite the terrible things she might witness. If progress is beautiful, this anti-progress part of civilization must be the opposite. It will present her with sights she has never encountered before. Some may even be traumatic. But Lenina can't comprehend this. She can't understand a world where progress, beautiful progress, hasn't taken place. Consequently, Bernard worries that this encounter with the savages might scar her mentally.
People today find it hard to comprehend the habits of our ancestors as well. It is odd to think that some day, our own actions and customs may become obsolete parts of the past. They may be viewed as disgusting or horrifying. But as promised by today's past, we will soon become the past and with us our customs and ideals.
No comments:
Post a Comment