THIS BLOG POST IS MANDATORY AND WILL COUNT AS PART OF YOUR GRADE IN THE CLASS!!!!
After witnessing my lesson on Quotation #2 today (and hopefully taking copious notes as I taught), I thought it would be good for you all to get an idea of what it will be like to respond to a quotation for next Monday. So here's what I'd like you to do today...
1.) Review all your notes from my presentation today on Quotation #2.
2.) Review the directions for the writing opportunity.
3.) Set a timer for 25 minutes, and start writing your response to Quotation #2!
What's important here is that you truly adhere to the time limit. It's a little inauthentic to what will be happening next Monday since you'll be handwriting your response on Monday (here you're typing it), but it'll give you a sense for how you need to manage your time effectively in order to do the best work you can do in the time allotted.
You have until 8pm on Tuesday to get this MANDATORY BLOG POST done! Good luck!
“Was and will make me ill,” she quoted, “I take a gramme and only am” (104). This quote is said by Lenina in Brave New World. She is saying this to Bernard as advice while they are exploring the Savage Reservation together. Bernard has just found out that he will be sent to Iceland and he is very upset about it. Lenina advises him to take four soma to relax himself. Alduos Huxley used very specific diction in this quote. By using the words “was”, “will”, and “am”, he is describing three points in time: the past, future, and present. In the first half of the quote, Lenina is saying how thinking about the past and future makes her “ill”. She doesn’t want to think about it because that isn’t important. In this dystopian society, only the present matters as the reader sees with their lack of knowledge of history and the lack of motivation to have a bright future. In this society, human existence has been reduced to just that: existing. These people have lost the power of free thought, reducing them to nothing more than animals, nothing more than mindless drones that have no goal in life except to follow the routine that has been set out for them. In the second half of the quote, Lenina is saying how after one takes soma they forget about the troublesome past and future. This shows how soma is like the lifeline of these people. Because all they care about is existing, and soma is the only way to truly capture them in the present, they rely on it to feel right and accomplished. Their whole lives are reduced to one small pill that they take if they are ever feeling true human emotions.
ReplyDeleteThe word “quoted” is also a very interesting choice of words. It shows that this quote has been repeated so many times that Lenina has completely memorized it. This means that the World Controllers or other people with high positions in this society have convinced the people that soma really is the only way they can escape everyday stresses like thinking about the past and future. The way this quote is said is also very interesting because it is said almost as a motto. It rhymes, making it easy to remember, and it uses very simple words to make it easy to understand. This shows that the people of this world can only comprehend very simple things. This again goes to show how they are unable to think for themselves because they cannot become smarter than what the World Controllers want them to be.
The quote tells the reader that if people worry too much about the past and future, it could make them anxious or worried and it is better to only focus on the present to have a happy life. However, people in the real world need to understand anxiety and worry to learn, grow, and experience life. Nothing should be as comfortable as the world in Brave New World. What the author truly wants the reader to understand is that people have to live with knowledge of the past and goals for the future. Without these things, people will turn into mindless drones, unable to formulate their own thoughts and opinions, and the ability to act for themselves. Even though this seems like a very simple quote, it has a lot of deeper meanings that can be difficult to discover.
The speaker of quote #2 is Lenina. “Was and will make me ill,” she quoted, “I take a gramme and only am. She is reciting this to Bernard in an attempt to comfort him, after Helmholtz tells him that he’s going to be shipped off to Iceland. Bernard hears the horrible news while at the Savage Reservation with Lenina, but doesn’t have enough mental toughness to get through it without soma. At the end of the scene Lenina ends up convincing Bernard to take four doses of soma.
ReplyDeleteThe words was, will, and am all mean the same thing, to be. Although, the difference in when they are used is that was is for past tense, will is for present tense, and am is used in future tense. Lenina is basically saying that Bernard should not dwell on the past or worry about the future, but should just exist in the present. The word quoted was intentionally used in the quotation in order to show us how Lenina isn’t speaking based on her own experiences, but is trying to make Bernard feel better by stating something she was “programmed” to say at a young age. The final keyword is only which means, and no one or nothing more besides; solely or exclusively. Due to the usage of the word, we can infer that the people existing in the World State of BNW desire to exist in the present by themselves.
The theme of the quote is simply, in order to live a life full of happiness worrying about the past or future must be reduced. This ties into the theme of the overall novel which is, without acknowledgement of the past and goals for the future, existing in the present becomes pointless. Throughout the novel we realize that Bernard has a crush on Lenina and while in his time of trouble it is possible that she is the only one who could have been able to convince Bernard to take soma. The rhyming present in this quotation allows Lenina to easily say the quote. Things valuable to us such as history should not be forgotten about so nonchalantly which goes to show how brainwashed the BNW society really is.
In this quote, Lenina is telling Bernard to take soma so that he does not worry about what may happen to him when he is put in Iceland. Bernard is stressful over the idea of being sent to Iceland, but the soma he takes makes him forget his worries and he appears to be bliss. Lenina informs Bernard that soma will basically solve his problems, as it will make him forget his past and future and only focus on the present. The quote itself presents the theme of only living in the present as the best life possible, but the novel’s overall theme is different. Several literary devices, primarily diction, play a major role in determining the true significance of this quote. Lenina quotes someone in this quotation, showing that her knowledge of soma is something that was put into her mind, and she has no knowledge of her own. This shows that Lenina is unable to provide her own input to help Bernard, proving the novel’s true theme of individuals losing freedom when the past and present are not understood. The choice to use the words “was”, “will”, and “am” are also significant because they are all variants of the simple words “to be”. The simple word choice exemplifies how the society of “Brave New World” only lives to exist, and existence is enough to fulfill the people. This also proves the novel’s theme as the people become controlled and lost without understanding. The word “only” is also significant because it shows that the one thing the people care about when taking soma is the present. Finally, the rhyming of the quote shows how the message is simple and brainwashes people to forget. Overall, these literary devices, specifically diction, showcase the theme of losing individuality when only the present is understood.
ReplyDeleteAldous Huxley's take on Brave New World is filled with deep symbolism and layers that seems to go deeper and deeper. I decided to read the quote " Was and will make me ill," she quoted, "I take a gramme and only am." (104) The quote from Lenina to Bernard Marx is very special. She gives this advice at the Savage reservation after Helmholtz tells Marx about his expulsion to Iceland. Bernard, now facing extreme feelings of anxiety and sadness doesn't know what to do. While this problem actually poses the perfect situation for Bernard to face a challenge without the use of soma, he gives in. He decides to take four soma and falls into a state of only being. While Marx's knowledge of his possible exile is a minor plot line in the novel, Lenina's quote carries mass weight. First, the diction Huxley uses is simple yet carries immense meaning behind them. His evocative diction is truly a pivotal part of the book. When Lenina uses the words will, was and am, I noticed that all these words are simply synonyms for the state of being. So Lenina talks about how after talking soma she only exists. She doesn't care about whatever problems and issues she might be facing . She only exists. That's a key reason why Lenina tells Bernard to use the soma. She can't truly empathize with Bernard as she has never been in this state. Whenever she gets sad or nervous she decides to take soma and let her problems melt away. This "YOLO" like statement is a major point Huxley tries to stress throughout the book. Moreover, the word "only" carries key impact too. When Lenina uses the word only, she's essentially saying that that is the only way. And it's easy to see how the World State has brainwashed their population with quotes like this. Words like only indicate that this is the only way. The world state acts as if this society can only exist in one particular way. Their way. Another important word choice by Huxley was the word quoted. Since the word quote means that it's not an original thought by Lenina it's easy to see who says it: The World State. Through our time in Conditioning, this idea that soma is the key to make any problem go away is engrained within Lenina. The way Lenina spouts out the quote is memorized, as if this is a common saying. This leads me to anther important literary device used by Huxley. His syntax helps send a powerful message about Lenina and the World State. The sentence somewhat rhymes and almost sounds as if it's a nursery rhyme that Lenina never forgot. The singsongy syntax of the song shows what a big role Conditioning plays in the book. This idea is engrained into Lenina's brain and she spouts it out as if it's a common saying she's known her entire life. The principles that Lenina and most other members of the World State possess contrasts a lot from Huxley's own view. While the theme of the quote itself is that we must live in the present, as being weighed down by the past and future only causes us anxiety and despair, perfectly fits along with Lenina's ideology, one of Huxley's themes's uses this very ideology to point out the flaws in this society. I believe the theme of the novel that best relates to this is that when society decides to stop thinking about the future, and we stop analyzing history, and we only live in the present, we give up our rights to individuality and essentially free thought. Overall, Huxley's take on a distorted future provides endless symbolism that enriches our learning experience.
ReplyDeleteIn Brave New World, the quote "Was and will make me ill; I take a gramme and I only am," signify the nature of the society in the novel as well as Huxley's underlying message from the novel. The quote, spoken by Lenina to Bernard Marx as he is freaking out because he may be sent to Iceland, means that he should forget about the past and future by taking some soma. Standing alone, it refers to the idea that the past and present greatly weigh humans down, and they should therefore wipe their slates of it to focus on the present, for that is the cause of one's happiness in a society such as this. The author uses simple yet effective diction to show the utter simplicity of Lenina's words. Was, will, and am are used, all conjugations of to be, indicating how simple and easy to learn this phrase is. Another significant part is used as, she quoted, revealing to the reader that Lenina did not come up with the sentiment. This shows how unoriginal and how unfitting to individual beings this is; Lenina was given this phase as an infant, every day, until it was cemented into her brain. Syntax is sing-songy, with will and ill and gram and am rhyming, showing how easy and simple and unimagiantive this jingle is. It was likely come up with in five minutes or less. All of this connects majorly to the theme of the novel, that a world devoid of human life is disastrous. The past and future have been shut out because they are unknown, and thus, terrifying. They lack intellect, and must live in simplicity. Due to this, they are not whole as humans, and they do not truly live. In this sentence of a quote, Huxley is adamantly assuring us that we must not become like this society and fear things other than the present, because it will kill a part of us.
ReplyDeleteIn this quote, Lenina makes her greatest effort of comforting one of her distraught boyfriends, Bernard. He is extremely upset because Hemholtz tells him that he is being shipped off the Iceland because he has differing views from society. As soon as Bernard hears that, his life immediately gets flipped upside down. Lenina is trying to comfort him, but cannot really sympathize with him because she has never experienced the hardships of life. So, she proceeds to tell him to “…take a gramme…” in the quote.
ReplyDeleteAlthough this is a very short quotation from the novel, it has great meaning and literary devices to show how Lenina combats a distraught lover. She uses simple but striking diction. All of her words are conjugations of “to be”, because she was programmed to only know basic vocabulary. She uses the words “was”, “will”, and “am”. In this society, it does not matter if one feels bad, because soma will immediately terminate any ill feelings at the present moment. But, as all of the readers know, pushing things under the rug is only effective for so long. In this society, this is all that the populous does because they do not know how to tackle problems head on. As long as one is content in their present mind, all is good in the world. In other words, existence equals a fulfilled life. And the “wonderful” gift of soma allows this society to have stability through content.
Another literary device that was demonstrated in the quote was syntax (also known as rhyming). As Lenina is saying the quote, she says it in a very simple and lackadaisical way. She exclaims it similarly to how we sing nursery rhymes as children. This demonstrates that this is all she knows. All she can do to help comfort a hurting man is to repeat words that are not even authentic! She has no ability to say anything but what she has heard her whole life. As we all know, hardships in life cannot be resolved by cliches and drugs. If this is the best that Lenina can come up with, it demonstrates that society will perish sooner or later.
This quotation is significant to the theme because it perfectly describes how people in BNW think and act. They have become so brainwashed that the whole populous will conform to whatever the government tells them to do. The fact that the quotation is so simple clearly demonstrates that when one is hit with a tragedy, one could only use cheesy cliches and drugs as comfort. It has become even more ironic that Lenina says this to Bernard because it shows that Lenina is a true example of a product of this “brave new world”. Like a circus animal, she does and says whatever the master commands her to say. She truly does not know any better. If personal traits and goals disappear, then humans will become more like circus animals compared to actual free thinking individuals. The literary techniques clearly demonstrate her simple diction that she tries to comfort Bernard with. Imagine if all we could say to a fellow classmate is nursery rhymes. Clearly, they would not be a huge help to most grieving individuals. But, Lenina says it anyways, and tells Bernard that he must take soma and refer to drugs. Her nursery rhymes are just about the capacity of what she could say, and demonstrates that when one is stripped of all individuality, then humanity looses all ability to live life like a rational human being.
"Was and will make me ill," she quoted, "I take a gramme and only am"(104).
ReplyDeleteIn this quote, Lenina is speaking to Bernard, offering him a piece of advice. They are on a vacation to the New Mexico Reservation, when Bernard gets a call from Helmholtz that Bernard was going to get moved to Iceland. After hearing this news, Bernard is in a state of panic and distress, very upset about what will happen. Because of his unstable and sad state, Lenina offers him soma, and he is unable to deny the offer. Although Bernard intended on not taking any somas and attempting to feel emotion, he, unfortunately, gave in.
The theme of this quote can be separated into two categories. The literal theme of the quote, and the overall theme of the novel that can be taken away from the quote theme, which is Huxley's intention. The quote theme is that one should not dwell on the past or future, only the present. For dwelling will only lead to despair, and the living only in the present is the only way to a happy life. The overall theme of the novel that can be taken away from this quote is that without people understanding the past and having future goals for themselves, people are not able to have their own thoughts and empathize with one another. This is very significant to the society today, because of the lack of appreciation for art in the past and history is increasingly present. Additionally, many do not think of the future and only live in the present in our world as well, although not to the extreme of BNW. However, they lack knowledge of the past and future can lead to the loss of one's individuality, which is vital for humanity.
Many literacy techniques are used in BNW, and in this particular quote, diction, and syntax. First, the use of "was", "will", and "am" is unique. They are all different ways of stating, "to be". This shows how in their society, just existing and "being" is enough to fulfill their lives. The use of these simple words and lack of a specific action implies that their whole lives are simplified down to just existing. This proves the quote theme, as the "am" emphasizes that society has taught them to live only in the present; that it's useless to dwell on the past and wonder the future. By simply "being", the citizens are only existing in the present. Furthermore, by using such basic words, it implies that BNW desires no need for the descriptive and complex vocabulary people in the past has used, for in their present, enhancing their language is useless. Another deliberate diction is the use of the word "quoted". Lenina quoted the advice she gives Bernard, instead of said, screamed, etc, from all the conditioning she received when she was younger. Therefore, it shows that what she said isn't from her or her own thoughts, but just what the society has conditioned her to believe. This connects to the overall theme of the novel because without having future goals or the understanding of the past, thus living only in the present, one will lose their ability to empathize and think for themselves. Another literary technique, the syntax, is used. There is a very rhythmic flow to this quote; easily rolled off the tongue. This underlies the simplicity and ease in which Lenina was able to recite it. However, Huxley is telling the readers that something as important as history and future should not be so simple and easily said. This shows how conditioned and ignorant the citizens are, believing that only the present matter and the past and future can be easily cast away. This relates to the overall theme for it continues to prove that without the knowledge, people cannot think their own thoughts and empathize with each other.
Quotation number two is a short quotation but it is packed with lots of information. The speaker is Lenina. She talks to Bernard who has just heard that his friend is going to be transferred to Iceland. This greatly saddens him and he feels awful. Lenina advises him to take some soma and make all the problems go away. “Was and will make me ill… I take a gramme and only am”. Bernard relents and takes four soma. Anxiety and grief and sadness are all emotions that none of us want to feel. They feel as though your body is melting and you become sick in your stomach. Lenina says to take some soma and all your problems will go away. No one wants to face these emotions, especially the World State. They engineer these beings to belive that having emotions is taboo. So if they begin to feel emotional they just take a soma. The saying rhymes and is supposed to be somewhat catchy. These people have been indoctrinated into thinking this way from a young age. This saying is supposed to resemble a nursery rhyme and be easy to remember. The saying itself has a lot of deeper meaning to it. The diction used by the author is very purposeful. It is meant to convey Lenina as almost not human, not living. The author specifically uses a couple words that stand out. “Was and will make me ill”. This is saying that you should not focus on the future or the past. We can regret things we have done in the past and be anxious about things that may come in the future. This is all part of life and these emotions make us human. “Was” represents what Lenina once was and “will” represents what she will become. “I take a gramme and only am”. This is a very important part. The author tells us through his diction that these people are not truly alive. Lenina is not truly living. They only exist. Lenina says to take some soma and just exist. This is the horrible world they live in where emotions are not to be had and people cannot truly live and be free. The author wants to convey a specific theme in his cautionary tale. He is trying to say that worrying about the future will only lead to anxiety and suffering. If you simply exist you won’t have to worry about the problems of life. We know this to simply be untrue, however even the thought of a society where emotion and individuality is shamed is frightening. This quote, all though admittedly small, carries so much significance to the book and sets the stage for how these people function in this society.
ReplyDeleteThe quote “‘Was and will make me ill’ she quoted, ‘I take a gramme and only am’” (104) is spoken by Lenina when she and Bernard are at the Reservation. Bernard finds out from Helmholtz that he is being sent to Iceland, and begins to panic. Lenina, in an attempt to comfort Bernard, says the above quote. In the quote, Lenina is encouraging Bernard to take soma as a way to make himself feel better.
ReplyDeleteThe words Lenina says provides an interesting insight into the ideals of the BNW society. She is quoting one of the sayings that are repeated to infants as a way to, in a sense, brainwash them. It is very telling that Lenina, when she is meant to comfort her friend, is unable to form an original thought and instead reverts to a saying that has been drilled into her since she was a baby. The saying also reflects the BNW world idea that the past and the future are unimportant, and it is the present that really matters. This is evidenced by the use of “was”, representing the past, “will” to represent the future, and the use of “only am” to imply the idea of being in the moment or in the present. This quote is representative of the theme, “In order to love a blissful life, the past and future must be minimized”. It also connects to the novels larger theme, “Without an understanding of history and a formulation of future goals, individuals can lose the freedom to think and act for themselves”. The citizens of BNW do not have an understanding of their past and do not think about the future. As a result, they are unable to form their own thoughts and feelings, nor properly empathize with others.
Alduous Huxley’s thoughtful diction also helps emphasize this theme of the novel. For example, Huxley chooses to use the words “was”, “will”, and “am”. These words are all different tenses of the verb “to be”. In choosing to use an extremely basic word, Huxley implies that the citizens who adhere by this saying are simply existing and not fully living. Huxley also uses the word “quoted”, referencing how a Lenina is reciting a saying rather than using her own free thought. Huxley also uses syntax to further emphasize how mundane and trite the saying is. It shows how brainwashed the citizens of BNW have become, that they have to revert to simple and song-like phrases. And thus, these literary devices further accentuate the theme: If the past and future are ignored, humans lose individuality.
DIBBLE ESSAY FOR TATI
ReplyDeleteWhen Helmholtz tells Bernard about his destiny of being sent Iceland, Bernard seeks comfort from Lenina. Lenina is so disconnected from genuine human emotion, she is only able to repeat what has been engraved into her brain through hypnopaedia. “Was and will make me ill,” she quoted. “I take a gramme and only am” (104). The thought of living in the past and the anxiety of thinking about the future is too much for the citizens in the dystopia of the World State. Instead of finding healthy ways to deal with despair or anxiety, the people living in the World State just pop some soma to forget about everything.
Huxley’s use of simplified diction emphasizes the lack of creativity and complexity in Lenina’s mind. She is only able to state small, childlike words. Huxley’s use of the simplest verb in the english language, to be, is very important. It shows that in this state, and in Lenina’s mind, nothing else matters other than the physical state of existence. Syntax-wise, the rhyming shows how brainwashed the people in this world are. They are only able to repeat a sing-song like quote instead of actually empathizing with people.
The theme of the novel that most closely relates to the quote is without an understanding of history and formulation of future goals, individuals can lose the freedom to think and act for themselves. The use of the simple verb, to be, conjugated in past, present, and future shows the fear of the past and future and desire to remain in the present. The people of the World State choose to just take soma to forget about their problems instead of having to find healthy ways to deal with them. The use of rhyming emphasizes the lack of individuality within Lenina and the rest of the citizens. Instead of telling Bernard something from her heart, Lenina is only able to repeat that quote.
“Was and will make me ill,” she quoted, I take a gramme and only am” (104).
ReplyDeleteThis quote was said to Bernard by Lenina when he learned he would have to be sent to Iceland. She tells him that instead of facing his problems, to just pop a gram and not face reality.
Just like at this scene, many characters throughout the novel choose to take soma and not face life. This choice means that the characters have no clue how to deal with real life and would rather only focus on the present instead of the past and future. Notice the key words was and will. Was stands in for the past and will is for the future. She is telling him that thinking about the past and future will make you sick, and to focus on the now. Just like now, people spend most of their thoughts on bad ones, and the majority of these are most likely stressing out about what you did and worrying about the unknown future. This may seem unpleasant, but if we did not worry then nothing would get done and we could never improve ourselves.
This leads to the issue that nobody in this society is able to solve problems. Living a stress-free life means that these characters have the problem-solving skills of toddlers. They are babies stuck in an adult's body. Even the sing song and alliteration of the quote shows how Lenina is childish. Notice the word Quote. She struggles so much in problem solving that she can't even give her friend genuine advice when he is upset. She can do nothing more than quote a rhyme she probably heard as a baby while she slept.
This all brings up the theme that hardships are needed so people can mature. The idea of focusing on the quote also shows that we must be aware of what happened and what's to come or else we will always be stuck in the now. Without thinking of the future, you can't plan how you want to live your life, and without hearing about the past, we can’t learn from our mistakes. And if they don’t focus on improving themselves, the they can never think for themselves. Like Lenina, all their thoughts are just replaced with endless slogans told from a machine. From hating Cargo pants to being glad you are not an upper class, they don’t have single self-made thought.
So how is this relevant to our society? Well from fake news to propaganda, ideas are constantly peddled through our head that may not necessarily be true. And the worst part is that people are just willing to accept it. Some people only find information from extremely biased sources or automatically think that a fact from social media is true. This only shows that it is much easier to believe what is given to you rather than putting in the time and effort of finding your own data. Following the opinion of the crowd is stress free and means you won’t be outcasted. But is it worth to belong at the expense of individuality? Should we sacrifice self –thinking in exchange for a sense of belonging? In the brave new world, society makes the choice of living happy, stress free lives at the cost of individuality. This is shown clearly through Lenina in her advice to John. Artificial advice that tells him to give everything up for the luxury of now.
In quotation #2, Lenina says this phrase when Bernard is informed that his fried, Hemholtz, is being sent to Iceland. Bernard, who should in our world, be devastated is told by Lenina to just take soma to feel happier. The quotation appears to be rather simple, but the underlying messages and themes of it explain a lot more than one would expect. The main theme of this quote is that in order for a person to live a content life, he or she cannot worry or ponder too much about either the past nor the future; instead focus on the present. In certain aspects, this theme can be true, but the book is telling readers overall that without true understanding of history and the future, people lose the freedom to act and think for themselves.
ReplyDeleteAldous Huxley uses words that often take time to analyze, therefore, this quotation is not an exception. The words in which Lenina says “Was and will make me ill…” means that the past (was) and the future (will) make her sick. To dwell upon things other than what is currently surrounding people may lead to individual thoughts of improvement or feelings, which is something Brave New World society does not welcome. The word choice of “was and will” is not specific whatsoever as it does not specify a certain verb, for the verb is simply “to be”. This symbolizes that humans in the Brave New World society just “exist” rather than living interesting, unique, and individual lives. To say “I take a gramme and only am” implies that taking soma will help to erase thoughts of the past and future, which will supposedly make people “happier” with their lives. In reality, this is not the case because individuality is lost when the history and the future is thrown away.
Huxley uses syntax in order to convey a message about the quote as well. Due to the fact that this saying is so engraved into Lenina and everyone else in that society’s minds, the phrase comes off as “sing-songy” just as nursery rhymes would in our society. These nursey rhymes do not have much meaning, which is what shows that Lenina does not think for herself, rather, she says whatever society tells her. It is very easy to simply say “Was and will make me ill, I take a gramme and only am,” so there is no true meaning behind the words Lenina says. Huxley also wrote this in that Lenina “quotes” this saying rather than her whispering, exclaiming, etc. This shows that it is not her original words developed by personal feelings such as joy, loss, anger, or sorrow, but instead a trite saying drilled into the citizens’ minds.
Quote number two, “was and will make me ill,” she quoted, “I take a gramme and only am” (104). Was said on the New Mexican reservation by Leninia to Bernard shortly after Bernard has found out from Helmholtz that he is going to be shipped off to Iceland. Lenina is watching as Bernard is struggling with all the emotions he is forcing himself to withstand despite never really experiencing emotions before. Bernard has decided to face these emotions without the help of the soma he had once relied so heavily on but Lenina has far different ways of looking at emotions and trys to get Bernard to deal with his emotions in the way they were conditioned to do so. With soma. Lenina’s choice of words in this quote are very telling to the themes of the quote and the themes of the book overall. The way she used the words “was”, “will”, and “am” show the past, future, and present of her being and all depict that Lenina is simply being there and not truly living to her heavy conditioning and dependence on soma. The so called “gift of soma” has given the people of the new world the ability to leave all things that make them human behind and simply just live or just be. Another use of diction is seen through the author’s use of the word “quoted” when describing Lenina saying the words “was and will make me ill”. This shows that these words are simply something that has been taught to her and something that is ingrained in her head and lacks her free thinking and ideas. This is also shown through the use of syntax and the song-like melody that the quote depicts, showing that once again it has simply been shoved towards Lenina without her own thinking put behind the words of this world state. Other uses of good diction are seen through the word “only” in the quote showing that Lenina is once again just being part of this assembly line that is the world state and in order to do so she has abandoned the emotions and thoughts that were never truly hers to have. It shows that Lenina is just another person and all that matters to her is herself and her needs much the same as everyone else in the world state. The theme presented in this quote specifically is that focusing on the present Is the only way to live joyfully. This is backed up through the diction stating that only you matter and only your life and your desires should matter, just the same as the things one doesn’t want can be taken away through the use of soma and a soma holiday. In contrast, the overall book and the author are trying to show that without looking towards the future as an individual it is easy to lose emotions and freedom to think for yourself therefore losing the joy in one’s life. The whole books support this idea of the loss of free thinking because of the lack of future plans and individuality. The fact that Lenina is saying how wonderful soma is further shows the dependence on soma the whole new world has because of her everyday use of soma and brightness towards the ideals of how incredible of a thing soma is for everyone. The book as a whole is trying to depict, through this quote, that the lack of free thinking and individuality is because of the strict control the leaders have on their people they are left joyless due to their lack of future goals and emotions towards others and connections to themselves and people rather than just living beings.
ReplyDeleteRoxana Berentes
In the Brave New World, Bernard Marx had just discovered that he was going to be banished to Iceland from his friend Helmholtz. Bernard was on a vacation of sorts to a New Mexican Reservation with a girl named Lenina, who was an avid soma user and slightly brainwashed member of the world’s new society. While Bernard had previously wanted to feel some type of emotionally triggering great challenge, when faced with one he couldn’t handle his feelings. During a conversation where Lenina was trying to convince Bernard to take some soma to forget his troubles, she says a quoted line.‘“Was and will make me ill,” she quoted, “I take a gram and only am.”’ Bernard proceeds to ingest four soma pills. What was it about this line that convinced Bernard to shut it all off? What was the author trying to convey?
ReplyDeleteIn order for the quote to have had an effect on both Bernard and Lenina and for the reader to internalize its meaning, the author needed to use literary devices to create a deeper meaning than what meets the eye. Firstly, the author uses diction, or word choice, to affect the mood of the scene and the way that the characters are perceived. The author uses the words was, will and am. Was is used as a term for the past and will is used as the future. Am is used as the present. Basically, Lenina is saying that the past and the future make her ill; that she can take a gram and only be in the present without any thoughts of different timing. Those in the World state can simply just exist to be happy, and they need not think about anything else besides simply being. Another important word is quoted. Instead of saying exclaimed, or said, or stated, the author chose quoted to show that the words Lenina is saying are not her own thoughts or ideas. Because Lenina has never experienced any personal struggles or emotions of her own, the only thing she can say to comfort Bernard is what she has been taught through hypnopaedia. The final important word would be only. The word only refers to solitude, one, by yourself, alone. The people in the world state are slightly narcissistic, and have been taught from a young age that connecting with others only causes issues, that one can simply exist in the present without having to worry about others.
The second literary device used is syntax. The rhyming and sing-song nature of this quote leads the reader to feel as though there was no thought put into what Lenina was saying, and that it simply came easily to her to quote her teachings. The rhyming, thoughtless nature of how Lenina says the quote is what truly shows how little their society can think for themselves, and how the people have been trained like animals to have no core beliefs, morals, opinions or feelings of their own. All of these ideas culminate into a central theme of the quote, and as an extension, a central theme for the entire novel. The main idea that the quote is trying to convey is that focusing on the present is an effective way to be happy, and if a person worries too much about the past or the future, they can become too emotionally triggered; they may succumb to despair. This is highlighted by the meaning behind the simplistic words that give way to how the character feels about the past and the future. As for an overall theme, throughout the novel the basic point is made that without having any context of history or thoughts and aspirations towards one’s own future, one can lose their initiative to make their own decisions and have their own thoughts. This is backed up by the analyzation of the word quote. Overall, the speaker (brainwashed Lenina), the (what in our world would be saddening) situation, and purposeful use of literary techniques all create not only a central quote theme but give a perspective for a continuing theme throughout the book.
This quote is stated by Lenina when Bernard and she were at the Savage Reservation. The reason Lenina said this is since Bernard is starting to become really stressed about the fact that he just received news about himself being moved to Iceland. In order to cope with this, Bernard, at first, wants to just bear through it without any soma. However, when Lenina quotes this quote, he changes his mind and takes lots of soma, four tablets to be exact.
ReplyDeleteAlthough this quote, at first glance, looks like it is just Lenina telling Bernard to take soma, there is actually a larger meaning why the author included this quote into this scene. First off, the main thing one sees when evaluating this quote is the rhyming syntax Lenina uses. This quote is not just Lenina giving Bernard advice on what to do, it is one of the thousands of sayings the people in the civilized world are brainwashed into using. Think of several sayings in this modern world. For the people of the civilized world, saying phrases such as the quotation is second nature to them. Another part of the quote that further explains how Lenina is a representation of the civilized citizens is the word “quoted”. Instead of using other kinds of diction such as stated or exclaimed, the author uses “quoted”. This is used in order to further demonstrate how every citizen in the entire civilized world grows up in this stable yet freedomless society. All the citizens are bred in order to work in their intended caste as expected. It is like humanity is becoming more and more like this technology, an opinionless machine that works on the activities in which they were created for.
Also in the quote, Lenina describes how “was and will make me ill” and “ take a gramme and only am”. What she is trying to explain here is how in the present and the past, those moments do not matter. However, when you are in the present, then that is the only time you should spend the majority of your life thinking about. In the sense of the theme, the quote seems to show that worrying too much about the past and future is bad while being in the present is the only thing that matters. In the civilized society, the main purpose is to maintain stability and to be happy at all times. If you think of events in the future or the past, this may give stress and worrying to people. In order to maintain at peace and stay relaxed, “taking a gramme and only am” is the best way to do so according to civilized terms. This connects to the theme of societal control. In order for the government to maintain this type of control and disallow any confrontation that can interfere with their plan, they must manipulate their citizens' mind to conform to society’s expectations. When Linda returned from the Savage Reservation, she immediately went and swallowed so many soma tablets that she died in less than two months. Linda did not care about the future or the past, she only cared about enjoying herself, even if the consequence is dying soon after. This is a prime example of how, as a child growing up in the civilized world, this mindset developed in these civilized labs can never change.
“’Was and will make me ill,’ she quoted, ‘I take a gramme and only am.’” Lenina says this to Bernard while they are touring the savage reservation when Bernard finds out he is being deported to Iceland. In this moment, Bernard starts to panic and is in need of comfort and advice. Diction plays a major role in this excerpt. The words “was” and “will” represent the past and the future, which are known to cause anxiety and stress. In our world today, people are capable of dealing with their stress in healthy and proactive ways, such as physical activity and spending time with others who will support them. In the Brave New World, the only way known to cope with difficult thoughts and feelings is to “take a gramme”. Huxley uses the word “only” deliberately to show readers that the only expectation of the citizens is to exist, as “am” means “to be”. This implies simplicity in the citizens’ opinion of life and shows how they cannot think for themselves because they are not expected to. The word “quoted” also stands out because it shows that, during Bernard’s time of need, Lenina cannot reflect on her past experiences and empathize with him because she has never endured any hardships even relatively similar to his. So, she quotes a simple phrase which has been repeated to her so many times that she associates that phrase with any situation which she would describe as difficult. The structure of the sentence, or the syntax, is also important to the message which the author is trying to convey to readers. The past, present, and future make up all of existence, and even the question of eradicating one of those aspects of life is unquestionable and an extremely sophisticated idea. This quote transforms those high-minded ideas into a children’s rhyme; What philosophers could discuss when questioning the meaning of life, the citizens of Brave New World don’t bother to question and regurgitate the same phrase which has been repeated to them since they were infants.
ReplyDeleteThe quote was essential to the novel because it shows the mindset of the citizens and of the people who created the rules. Lenina is the one to quote the hypnopedic lesson as she is a typical member of their dystopian society, and she represents the lack of humanity and independence in the new world. When readers see how Bernard is feeling and the grimness of the situation, the author inserts this small excerpt to completely contradict what we expect to be said next. This way, readers understand how the society has perverted all values and stigmas which exist today. Though there is danger and feelings of stress or anxiety associated with the past and future, they also allow us to create goals for ourselves and make sure we don’t repeat past mistakes in order to live life as accomplished as possible. When those under the rule of his Fordship put aside the thought of the past and the future so simply, it stands out to readers in a way that makes them want to avoid that brainwashed state of the Brave New World. The present is made to be remembered, and without the understanding of the past and a goal for the future, it becomes meaningless.
“Was and will make me ill,” she quoted, “I take a gramme and only am”(104). The hidden value in that text is extremely important to the novel itself. While such a sentence is rather short and simple to read, there is depth beyond the basic phrases of the page. Contextually, this is being recited by Lenina Crowne, a character with known emotional limitations, for she is an average representation of the society in the Brave New World. She confesses this expression, addressing Bernard in response to his clear distress and overwhelming emotion at the threat of going to Iceland, all as they are heading to tour the New Mexican Reservation. Lenina’s only response to this pain he is feeling, is this saying; something she’s been conditioned to recite, know, and live by for her entire life, without access to any alternatives. This is not only the case for Lenina, however. In this Brave New World, everyone has this mindset, and has been molded to not deal with emotional stress, or even acknowledge it. They are simply meant to exist.
ReplyDelete“I take a gramme and only am,” truly highlights this point. Life to this society, is simply being. With a gramme of soma, any pain felt can go away, as long as one is still breathing. The objective in this world is to live in a state of neutrality, never experiencing the true highs in order to shelter the population from the lows. People like Lenina rely on an artificial and unreliable source of happiness, meaning they’ll never know true happiness for lack of feeling anything at all, ever. This rhyming phrase, with a sing-songy tone, vividly illustrates to the readers the seeming innocence that comes with a statement so disheartening. They truly are brainwashed into believing what is being said is okay. With just a tablet of soma, all emotional problems can be resolved; just like that. With a gramme, they only are.
“Was and will make me ill,” further extends this idea of simply living. Society is meant to focus on the present and live through the present only. The past and future aren’t components worth remembering or understanding. Learning the past and thinking about the future are sickly things to do. These are some of the ideas that come with that statement, something so easily skipped and short, that still says so much about these people who have simply lost their humanity.
In this quote directly, the message given implies how worrying too much about the past and the future can alter your view of the present. If one focuses only on the future and the past, then presently, happiness is not prioritized. However, in relation to the entire novel, this quotation allows you to understand the contrasting opinion. If individual freedom to think and feel is compromised by persistent control and lack of emotional confrontation, then society loses the ability to live with true happiness. Overall, this captures the overwhelming idea that one must always be happy, and happiness will come to those who take soma. However, Huxley allows you to realize, as you read, that it is a false idea. One can only understand happiness if given the ability to confront their emotions, and feel despondency without immediate dismissal of the pain. With nothing to compare happiness too, and happiness being the only way to feel, then it’s simply a normal feeling. This quote dissects the fabric of this world, and openly displays the damaging ways in which the people believe are necessary for a happy existence. However, happiness is all there is to feel, so this society is sacrificing their ability to comprehend emotion and the authentic world, all in exchange for just existing.
BNW Quotation#2: "Was and will make me ill, "she quote, "I take a gramme and only am"(104).
ReplyDeleteThis quote is said by Lenina when Bernard was going to be sent of to Iceland. Bernard was touring the New Mexican Reservation with Lenina until he is faced emotional problems. Bernard want to feel certain emotions without taking soma, so he tries to do it, but lacks courage to do it. Lenina tells him to take soma, so he does and forgets about all of his worries. He enjoys the sights of the reservation and continues on with his day.
The quote's central messages are to live in the present, and don't think about the past and future for your own happiness, masking your emotions and feelings doesn't nothing good but cause you great anguish, and without individuals understanding their goals/dreams and history. The present is the place where your are living your life, not the past and future. Worrying about the past and future, leads to anxiety and depression, which takes away most of the joy in life. Also it's very important you experience hardship and not escape it. In BNW, the people don't face any sort of personal dilemma due to the fact they are taking soma. Soma hides away all of their problems found present in their lives. Lenina convinces Bernard to take soma because she's not going through the same personal struggles, he is going through which makes BNW's society very lackluster of empathy. Anyway, your gonna have to face those issues, since they come back, then how will you deal with them. When humans through away empathy, they become cold-blooded robots incapable of deep personal feelings and relationships. Finally, individuals don't know history or their goals. Bernard doesn't have a goal in this world, because he cannot grasp it. Everything has been given to him on a silver-platter, which are a job and his social standing. He in other words, pretty much has nothing to work towards to, which is pretty sad.
Many literary techniques have been used in this quotation, which are syntax, diction, foreshadowing, and symbolism. Syntax is present as a rhyme that Lenina says to Bernard, which shows us, the audience how utterly brainwashed the people of BNW. They can't comprehend any difficult situations other people are having. We know that taking soma isn't really a solution to any problem, and actually leads us to become sensate. Huxley uses this quote also to foreshadow that our society might end up like this if we simply allow it to happen. In the real world, drugs are used to escape difficulties in life. Sometimes it can be dangerous for us to use drugs to numb our feelings and humanity. We all should face our difficulties, and not escape them. Also this is where symbolism comes in. Drugs are a symbol in the book of a solution to our problems, even if it's not. Diction plays an important role in conveying all aforementioned with only, will, am, was, gift, and to be. Will, am, was are used to express time like past, present, and future. Gift and to be are used to draw focus on the se times.
The main theme overall, is that we shouldn't draw away from what makes us human. They suppress their emotions/feelings and never learn to deal with them. In BNW, there is no such thing as deep personal relationships or dilemmas, which have been stripped away through soma and the World State. The quotation's significance to us is this contributes to the plot of the book. John the Savage wants a relationship with Lenina but can't due to not understanding his morals and ways which are different from hers. John feels he has to prove he's worthy of her and she doesn't get due to being so brainwashed or mindless.
In this quotation, Lenina is talking to Bernard. They are at the Savage Reservation. Bernard is depressed because he just learned he is being transported. Lenina says this to him trying to cheer him up and get him to take soma. Bernard gives in to his feelings and takes 4 pills of soma. Lenina had this quote engraved in her head during hypnopedia. This shows how controlled society is and how the people in it have these phrases said to them over and over when they were babies. Now it is just natural for them to say phrases like this. The only way for people in the World State to cope with problems is through soma. They don't actually find long-term solutions to their problems, when something goes wrong they will just use some soma to "make it all better." Soma shows how they are too dependent and focused on the present and living in the moment.
ReplyDeleteIn this quote, Huxley uses diction. He uses the words was to indicate the past, will to indicate the future and am to indicate the present. By doing this, Huxley displays how the people in the World State don't care or worry about the past or future. All people in this society care about is the present. Everyone in the New World just exists. They don't think on their own; they don't have individuality or freedom. Society is controlled and the people are so programmed that they can't learn from the past or make goals for the future. They are a bunch of automatons walking around doing what they've been told since they were born. In the quote, it says "Lenina quoted". This shows how it's not even her own words or her own thought. There is also sing-song type rhyming in this quote. This rhyming demonstrates how programmed they are to say certain phrases and quotes. In the quote they are exhibiting how most people in the New World live in the present, which is typically good, but not at the expense of your free thinking, free will and individuality. Also, when Huxley uses "...make me ill" he is displaying how the controller makes the people believe the past and future is a bad thing. In reality, Huxley and the reader both know that learning and studying the past and making goals for the future is a good thing. This thinking allows us to make connections with other people, it also gives us experiences and memories.
This quote says worrying too much about the past and future is negative and you should live more in the present. The novel says without learning from history and creating goals for the future, you are not truly living or thinking for yourself. Lenina speaking is important because it demonstrates how brainwashed these people are and how they will never think about the past or future, but only the present. Also, having Lenina speak shows how most people in that society deal with problems, by taking soma. The situation of being at the reservation and saying this to Bernard is important because Bernard normally doesn't use soma, but because of how depressed he, he takes a lot of it. This displays how even the strongest, most independent member of this society is willing to take soma when times get rough. The literary techniques are significant to the overall theme because they emphasize how no one wants to be free thinking or individual, they just want "to be." The rhyming amplifies how engraved these phrases are in their heads and how they just naturally say these quotes.
This quote is opened with a conversation between Lenina and Bernard on the Savage Reservation. Benard is emotionally conflicted and anxious about being exiled from society because of how he broke the many codes of the community. Lenina tries to calm Bernard down and encourages him to reduce his worries by taking some soma. Bernard falls into this temptation and pops four soma pills. The message conveyed in this quote is that in order to live a blissful life, one should not worry about the past of future, but to focus on the now and work up from there.
ReplyDeleteThe beginning of this quote is started with the basics of all life, just existing, as Lenina uses the words was and will. This signifies how basic and ordinary life for their society is and are almost seen as just animals nothing more than just living and being in the present. These two words also mean the past and future, which would connect to Bernard’s past of not fitting into society and to his future problems of maybe getting kicked out of society. There is also the word “am” used, explaining the present time that they are living in. Lenina is trying to show Bernard that he needs to live in the moment, and not to dwell among his future or past events. The word “only” is also used to describe the self-being of someone, “...and only am”. “Only” is used in this instance as a more selfish meaning, focusing more on personal needs than human connection. This shows the fact that they are willing to have no desire for new ideas and thoughts just fill their own wants and needs of being happy and relaxed. In addition to this, the author uses the words, “she quoted” when Lenina recites this. The author here is trying to show that these are not her own words, but because of their brainwashed society, this statement was drilled into their heads when they were infants. This could also mean that Lenina is unable to provide emotional support to Bernard through his hard times because of her lack of experience and the lack of ability to think on her own with her own ideas. The use of rhyming is used as more of a sing-songy which implies that these ideas are simpler and more basic than it should be. It wants to replace the wholesome ideas of this world and flip this which the more looked-down upon actions and ideas. The quote is relating to one of the main themes of the book with the idea of without understanding the past and future, individuals lose their freedom to think and act. Lenina has been under heavy hypnopedia which rewired her brain to think differently and with more basic ideas. She only sees one other option to get out of this situation and this is through the use of drugs, soma.
When all thought about the past and future is given up, one is no longer able to think for themselves. In Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, two people from a society that believes this to be true venture to the land of “savages” who are all able to come up with their own thoughts and feelings. Lenina and Bernard have ventured into the savage reservation as a way of taking a vacation. While the two are on their “vacation” Bernard calls Helmholtz eager to hear the results. Helmholtz then tells Bernard that he will be shipped off to Iceland soon. After the conversation, Bernard becomes livid and despondent.
ReplyDeleteLenina, in an attempt to calm Bernard down, tells him,”’Was and will make me ill’ she quoted,’I take a gramme and only am’”(104). An important part of this quote is diction. Huxley used the words was, will, and am. These words represent the past, the future, and the present. Huxley also uses the word “only”, this shows Lenina only wants to completely forget about the past and future and live in the present. This also shows that Lenina not only wants to forget about the past and the future but be completely alone in the present. The people in Brave New World’s society only care about themselves and their own happiness and well being. Another important word in this quotation is the word “quoted”. This implies that Lenina did not come up with this on her own. The word shows that this was something Lenina was fed as a child, most likely using the literary device, syntax. The syntax is present because the statement rhymes, almost as if it is from a nursery rhyme. This makes the quotation even sadder because not only does Lenina rely on drugs to keep her happy but she also can not even say something that she thought of.
Lenina is saying the past and present make her sick and she takes soma so she only has to think about the present. Soma gives the people of Brave New World the ability to forget about the past and future, and the people in the society seem perfectly content with it. The only problem is when you only live in the present you miss the lessons that history has taught you, and you do things in the present that will completely mess with your future. We learn about history in our society so we do not make the same mistakes that others have before us. By completely forgetting about it a person can no longer think about the mistakes they have made therefore cannot prevent them in the future, thus leading them to no longer be able to think for themselves. If one is no longer capable of thinking for themselves not only do the past and future no longer matter but the present as well, because then one is no longer truly living.
In the novel Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, there is a quote which states “‘Was and will make me ill,” she quoted, ‘I take a gramme and only am’” (104). During this time in the story, Bernard has become distressed since he is going to be shipped off to Iceland. Lenina then convinces Bernard to take some soma in order to alleviate all the negative emotions he is feeling. In our society today, when we have stressful or negative emotions, there are healthy ways of dealing with these emotions such as talking to a friend or switching up the task at hand. Our society is strongly against the use of mind altering substances as a way to escape natural negative emotions. In the same way that people in our society often stay clear of mind altering substances, Bernard had also originally wanted to abstain from the usage of soma and deal with his natural emotions on his own terms. Eventually, Bernard decides he cannot handle his negative feelings, and gives in to taking the soma.
ReplyDeleteThere are different themes presented between the theme offered by the quote and the theme offered by the novel itself. The quote contends that worrying about the past or the future leads to unnecessary negative feelings that can be easily removed. However, this theme is not the actual message that Huxley is telling the reader. Huxley’s true message to the reader is quite the opposite. One theme of the novel itself is that if humanity does not learn about history or set future goals, then the ability to think freely and rationalize will be lost.
One literary technique that Huxley uses in this quote is simple diction. A few key words in this quote are “was” which refers to the past, “will” which refers to the future, and “am” which refers to the present. All three of these words are conjugations of the simplest verb “be”. This shows how Lenina and other citizens of The World State only need to exist to be fulfilled in life. This supports the theme of the novel by showing that these citizens do not feel any need whatsoever to think for themselves or have any individuality in Brave New World’s futuristic society.There are no other words that refer to life experiences. These people only need to “be” in order to feel satisfied with their life. Another word that Huxley uses is “quoted.” This shows that Lenina was not sharing an original idea, but instead regurgitating information that had been engraved into her brain from an early age. The word “quoted” also shows how brainwashed the citizens of the World State are. Even during a time of emotional stress for Bernard, the only way that Lenina knows how to comfort him is by repeating words that automatically fly out of her mouth instead of making an emotional connection with Bernard. This emphasizes the theme of the novel by showing how Lenina is unable to think for herself or offer any kind words based on her own experience that might comfort Bernard. The last significant word that Huxley uses in this quote is the word “only.” The definition of only is that something is alone or apart from everything else. Lenina needs no emotional connection or human interaction in order to feel fulfilled. The word “only” shows that she can simply exist and feel as if she has lived a meaningful life. Instead of thinking about the future or setting goals, the citizens of the World State simply live their life existing in one moment to the next. Another literary technique that Huxley uses is syntax. This quote has a rhythmic cadence and rhyming words that further emphasize how brainwashed Lenina and the rest of the World State citizens are. Lenina is able to automatically quote these words without a second thought which further shows how emotionally disconnected and indifferent she is to Bernard’s feelings in the moment.
The cautionary tale, Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley expresses many significant quotations throughout the course of the novel. “Was and will make me ill,” she quoted and “I take a gramme therefore I am,” is just one of the many quotations that contains major themes and important literary devices incorporated in Brave New World. To give some context, Lenina is the character who expresses this quotation to Bernard Marx. Bernard Marx just came back from hearing that he is going to be sent to Iceland. Since Bernard is feeling extremely despondent, Lenina suggests for him to take four tablets of stoma. It is very worthwhile to know the context of the quotation, as the reader then can better understand some of the literary devices.
ReplyDeleteThe literary devices include syntax and an eye opening use of imperative diction. The words, “will” and “ill” and “gramme” and “am” indicate how each and every character revolves around stoma. The words “only” and quoted” are also essential choices of diction that Huxley uses. “Only” indicates how Lenina and her society are only happy when they consume more and more stoma. The word “quoted” emphasizes how Lenina got the saying from hypnopaedic conditioning and not from her own head. The people are so conditioned to think and say whatever the world state says, that they forget to think for themselves. Also, the characters are so focused on the present that they never focus on the past or future. “Was,” “will,” and “am,” indicates that the only thing that matters to them is being happy in the present. The loss of real thoughts, happiness, and being in the present are all examples of themes within the quote.
As all of the themes within the quote are just as pivotal, so is the overall theme. The quotation’s preeminent theme is, if there is a state controlled nation taking over society, then there is a loss of humanity and all the day to day qualities that go along with it. This is specifically pointed towards Bernard because Bernard does not fit into the new society the world state has created. The literary devices, the themes in the quotation and in the novel, are all paramount in having a deeper comprehension on what complex pieces of literature, such as Brave New World, are all about. As this quotation may seem like there is not a lot of meaning because of how short it is, it contains more depth and essence than one can imagine.
“Was and will make me ill,” she quoted, “I take a gramme and only am.”
ReplyDeleteThis quotation is the shortest on the list, but contains many examples of theme, literary devices, and significance. After Bernard is told by the Director he is going to be sent to Iceland, he and Lenina take a trip outside the World State to visit a Savage Reservation. Bernard exclaims his want to experience pain and emotion without the immediate aid of soma. Lenina responds to Bernard’s statement on the side of soma, reciting a quote about the drug that has been drilled into her brain since birth. In Brave New World, the people replace soma with human relationships and are taught to simply exist in the present. To them, the past and future is meaningless to worry about and living at that moment is what will bring joy and fulfillment. Huxley weaves impressive diction into this short quote using the words “was”, “will”, and “am.” These are all conjugations in the three tenses of the most basic verb in the English language, to be. This enforces how the people are solely existing or more simply they just are. This is also shown with the author’s use of “only." With no responsibilities or care to think for themselves, only soma is needed for satisfaction. This society is becoming indistinguishable with animals. They lack understanding and value of art, literature, and history because in their world these concepts aren’t useful or needed.
In this quotation, Huxley describes Lenina speaking by utilizing the word “quoted.” Lenina did not create words of her own, she recited, almost in a robot-like manner, a phrase that is taught to be used as an answer to every problem. Lenina is unable to speak from personal experience in order to conjure up advice for Bernard and presents him with gibberish instead. The phrase in whole rhymes, has a catchy, sing-sonny tune, and is simple to say and remember. They are brainwashed into thinking soma is the only answer and feeling happy about that. Huxley however is aware that hardship can’t always be fixed with drugs and substances or else humanity will slowly cease to exist. In regards to the quote specifically, it is preached that worrying about the past and future is wasteful because the present effectively brings all the happiness a person could need. Overall, the underlying theme of the novel expresses the importance of the past and future. Without an understanding of history, literature, and personal goals, free thinking and humanity itself is lost.
Lauren Larking
In this quote we begin to see the darker truths behind their main principles in Brave New World. In this situation Bernard was feeling fretful about potentially being moved to Iceland. Lenina, in the moment, not being able to empathize with Bernard or even remotely give any sort of advice recites this quote. A phrase her mind has been ingrained with since birth. Looking for deeper symbolism in some of the words themselves we come across the word was and will. Both was and will are forms of the word to be, one meaning existing in the past the other existing in the future, therefore representing the past and future. Lenina continues to recite “Was and will make me ill…” symbolizing the idea that the past and the future make her ill or harm her in some sense. The author chooses to say that she quoted this. Not said, not exclaims, not mention but quoted. To quote something means to recite someone else’s words which even further clarifies that this is not an original thought Lenina has had. This is a message she was programmed to say since a young age. The phrase “I only am” also contains a much deeper, darker meaning. The word only refers to one thing and the word am is another conjugation of the word to be, to be in the present. Essentially this phrase means that in that one moment all the matters is the present, to exist. We see a common pattern throughout Brave New World and begin to notice their top priority at any given time is living at the base level otherwise known as simply existing. The author uses incredible and interpretive diction to unveil the deeper levels of this quote. Another literary device the author expertly utilized was syntax. The author chose an extremely sing song-y rhyme to convey this message showing that Lenina has this forever memorized and in such an innocent way. An almost nursery tune rhyme shows how nonchalant and innocently Lenina perceives this message to be though it is the polar opposite.The author uses these literary devices to relay the theme of the quote that if we give the past or future to much thought then we fail to live in the present. Since Brave New World is a cautionary tale in the broader look of the novel the quote contributes a completely opposing message. It relays the fact that if humans sacrifice their individuality and mindlessly listens to authority we lose the ability to think for ourselves and empathize with others.
ReplyDelete-Ananya C
Quotation #2:
ReplyDeleteBrave New World by Aldous Huxley is an abstract precautionary tale that contains meaningful concerns of what could potentially become of humankind. It holds truth in dangers of society today and will continue to as the future grows nearer. This excerpt disregards the future as well as the past and only values the present. It is a simple phrase that is mostly comprised of monosyllabic words. Yet, Lenina recites this phrase to Bernard when he expresses his deep state of despondency regarding his exile to Iceland. Lenina, who is a fully-matured adult, is offering nothing but a nursery rhyme to relieve Bernard of his despair. And he listens; he follows directions and pops not one, but four pills of soma.
Simple and bland as it may be, the phrase consists of significant literary devices. The first being the fact that it rhymes, which is a component of Huxley’s syntax. Rhyming is a distinct trait in children’s songs and books, which shows just how childish Lenina is. It is clear in her interactions with other World State civilians that Lenina is not the only one who communicates through nonsensical and dull proverbs. This shows that the majority of the population is brainwashed and incapable of expressing ideas beyond the short nursery rhymes they have memorized from childhood. Each individual lacks the traits that define their individuality and instead function entirely on concepts that are equally ingrained in every other being in their society. The second literary device used is diction; “was”, “will”, and “am” are the most essential verbs and are conjugations of “to be”. The phrase “was and will make me ill” translates to the idea that the past and future are too troublesome to contemplate. Instead of pondering on these, people should instead “take a gramme” and fulfill the absolute minimum, which is to exist.
There is no issue in enjoying the present and choosing to not dwell on the past or future; however, there are deep consequences when mankind decides to entirely exclude the significance of history and future achievements. When there is no history, there are no mistakes to learn from and no future means no hope. If society chooses to ignore the past and future, there would be no memories to find delight in nor goals to desire. Huxley presents a universal message for all to adhere to in this novel that reminds readers of the possibilities in our future, which is: If history and the inevitable future are erased from the concerns of the human mind, humanity as a whole will have lost all originality and become nothing short of a factory of clones.
This simply worded quote yet deep meaning message contains many truths about the society of Brave New World. First, the speaker of this quote is Lenina describing the benefits of taking soma. As Bernard becomes angry after hearing he is moving to Iceland, she suggests he takes the drug and reasons that it will make him feel better. Derived from the quote, can be made a theme. Forgetting the past and forsaking the future forces the freedom and individuality out of humans. Within the quote, the diction and syntax stick out tremendously. The basic wording and rhyme phrases make it simplistic, too simplistic. The words “was, will and am” are all conjugations of the simplest word in the English language, to be. Simple diction reinforces the fact that nothing special is needed. Just by existing, one can fulfill his or her purpose within society. By choosing these specific words, they symbolize or represent the Epsilons and Deltas in the story, showing that being alive is enough. Next, the word “quoted” proves the fact that Lenina is so dependent and unsophisticated that she must quote something in order to help Bernard out. This, again, emphasizes the point that she has lost her freedom and is unable to think on her own volition. Moving on, the word “only” holds vast meaning with the given context. “Only” means alone, just, or no more than. When the characters within Brave New World take soma, they are “only” by themselves. Soma encourages isolation, narcissism, and a false sense of fulfillment. Behind the scenes, soma secretly pulls the strings and puppeteers the population around. Yet again, this loss of control, backs the theme up on the fact that people will lose freedom and individuality. Lastly, the rhyming and catchy lyrics show how easy it is for someone to learn. It almost acts as a nursery rhyme to show that little kids can understand the song. This simple mindset and thinking will transform the human population into simple machines and auto-matrons. With the removal of the past and the neglect for the future, humankind will be devastated and lose their uniqueness.
ReplyDeleteLenina and Bernard were touring the New Mexican Reservation, when Bernard found out he’s going to be shipped off to Iceland. Bernard was someone who wanted to feel the pain of going through difficulty. He tried to lay back on the soma and go through this problem head on, but he lacks the power to do so when the problem is presented. This makes him vulnerable to Lenina’s advice, which persuaded him to ingest four pills of soma. “Was and will make me ill,” she quoted, “I take a gramme and only am”, is what Lenina said to Bernard. This made him forget his whole situation about being shipped off to Iceland, and instead made him enjoy the Reservation a bit more. The whole context of this quote and the theme behind it portrays that worrying too much about the past or the future can cause a person to drop in a mind state of anxiety; instead, they should focus on what’s present. This contradicts the novel’s theme because it states that without accepting the past’s history and the future’s goals, individuals will lose their own ability to think and act for themselves. Each part of time is hit with the quotes inventive diction: “was” for the past, “will” for the future, and “am” for the present. Each one showing how to truly be able to handle ones problems and being yourself, you need to know the history, the plan, and what to do now. In the quote the word is “quoted” and has the word “only” showing that this is not someone’s personal thought. Instead, this is a phase that was planted into Lenina’s brain to make her thing this is the norm, showing that she is not be able to think for herself. Including the fact that the whole society in Brave New World thinks that this is the only way of happiness. Which makes it scary because their happiness is not through human interaction, it’s through the use of drugs.
ReplyDeleteChristopher Leng
Without reflecting back upon past experiences, both the positive and the negative ones one cannot truly abide by the trite statement of “live life to the fullest”. Though this is trite, it is important especially into what Huxley is attempting to convey throughout the novel. ‘“Was and will make me ill” she quoted, “I take a gramme and only am”’. Through this quotation made my Lenina, the everlasting problem of forgetting and not worrying - avoiding feelings is elucidated in Brave New World. Through the careful and meaningful diction and syntax the theme of the novel is beautifully illustrated.
ReplyDeleteHuxley by using all three forms of time; past, present, and future exemplifies the problem of existing and pondering thoughts which are unnatural and “bad”. In other words, by using the simple form of “to be” in the past and present tense Huxley is able to bring up the key issue of not dealing with past experience or future arising issues. Anything that would seem to be in a “normal” life for the audience is simply disregarded or turned away from in Brave New World’s citizens lives. The simple word “am” was purposefully chosen by Huxley to point out that a citizen of this society is merely a human, because no true purpose lies of their life but their sole purpose in following what is being indoctrinated. The word “quoted” demonstrates how Lenina has no empathy in this situation because she was taught to forget and disregard all emotion. The intentional avoidance of dealing with the consequences and applying that to the present or future problems leads to the theme that is conveyed by Huxley in the novel; Life cannot be “lived” without reflecting, expecting, or experiencing the good and the bad, when these are shunned upon all that is left is lack of individuality.
By having “was and will make me ill” and “I take a gramme and only am” have a sing-songy rhyme it allows for the citizens of Brave New World to easily memorize this and have it stuck in their mind, as it is believed that words which have a rhyme or tune to it are more easily remembered. Lenina is a prime example of how the World State in Brave New World brainwashes the citizens into believing that their emotions and experiences are worthless and are instead bad to society. This leads to the theme of not being able to think for oneself and losing out on individuality which is necessary to a society.
Huxley through the simple yet specific and symbolic diction is able to convey a potential issue in the audience’s society and the definite issue in Brave New World. If today’s society was anything similar to the one in Brave New World then there would be no creativity or innovation thus downsizing on human worth.
In Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, Lenina’s lover Bernard is being sent away because he thinks differently and does not fit in their dystopian society. This leaves Bernard with some unpleasant emotions so Lenina persuades him to take a lot of soma, a drug that takes away negative emotions leaving the user without the ability to think for themselves. Lenina states “Was and will make me ill,” she quoted, “I take a gramme and only am”(Huxley 104). Lenina is telling Bernard not to worry about it and just to focus on the present. Bernard listens to Lenina and hides his worriness with soma so that he can enjoy the time he has left.
ReplyDeleteThe first literary device shown in this quote is diction. The one sentence contains three tenses. Was, will and am are all conjugations of the infinitive: to be. The use of the same infinitive in three different tenses represent the past, future and present. Lenina is saying that the only significant one is the present.This is a direct result of soma, which removes stress from the user by making them to only focus on the present. The use of the word “only” also relates to this. The next literary device used is syntax. The rhyming make the quotation a sing-song cadence which shows that it is embedded in her minds due to the pure simplicity.
This quote is significant because it shows just how brainwashed Lenina is. An overall theme of the novel is without an understanding of history and formation of the future, individuality is often loss. From the quote it can be inferred that Lenina only exists in the present moment and does not focus on past or future events. Also, the use of the word “quoted” signifies that she is not using her own words but restating someone else's. This shows that she is not living and thinking for herself but merely existing. Therefore, Lenina has no identity and has lost all form of individuality.
In this quote, Lenina is speaking to Bernard, and urges him to take soma. Bernard, in this scene of the book is overwhelmed and riddled with anxiety about his exile to Iceland. Lenina gives her advice for Bernard to take soma, make his anxiety go away, so he could enjoy the savage reservation. Though the theme in this context is worrying to much about the past and future can cause a person to descend into depths of despair or anxiety, focusing on the present is an effective way to live joyfully. This theme is supported by the constant use of to be, in the quote, but in continuously different uses; such as, was, will, and am. In using these words, the character Lenina’s message is simply just to exist. The rather use of this constant simple word is being repeated to show that just living in the moment is much better than worrying about the other troublesome times. To the readers of this book, or the audience, in our current society, this is the equivalent to YOLO. Saying “to be” in many formalities just shows how little Lenina has experienced in her life (emotions) to a point that she recites nursery rhymes to try to cheer up Bernard in one of his lowest times. In contrast, in our society it is socially acceptable to show emotion and live through past experiences, instead of just existing, and utilize those emotions to help another. But in this novel, Brave New World, the idea of past and emotions have basically extinguished. All there is left is mindless people and a society that lacks free-thinkers. Because free thinkers are missing in this society, they use simple and understandably easy words that rhyme to brainwash the people of this society into believing that it is most important to focus on the present, instead of worrying about the past. Overall, this quote is a cautionary tale for people of our society to not let go of our emotions and not procrastinate or push away all of our worries.
ReplyDeleteTiffany Cha
This quote was stated by Lenina in the novel, “Brave New World”. In this scene, Lenina and Bernard are at the Savage Reservation in New Mexico, and Bernard has just found out that he has been given an order to be shipped away to Iceland. As Bernard is trying to figure out how to deal with this shocking new development in his life, Lenina offers him some advice with this quote. “Was and will make me ill,” she quoted, “I take a gramme and only am”. While Bernard previously had wanted some kind of trial in his life, he eventually gives in to Lenina’s, and ultimately the World State’s, advice, and takes a few soma. In the very recent past, Bernard had complained about his life, saying if only there was a struggle he could go through in order to prove himself, to show that he would not live his life as passively as the rest of the World State. However, when finally given the opportunity, Bernard finds that he doesn’t have what it takes to persevere, that the influence and control of peace and relaxation is too strong. Lenina’s quote to Bernard convinces him that he should let go of his worries, that they aren’t worth thinking about, and that the only thing that should matter is the present. She is a representative of the World State’s message, that the only job for humans is to exist, not to feel emotion, not to struggle, but to merely exist.
ReplyDeleteThe literary devices used in this quote really emphasize its message. Lenina’s response to Bernard’s internal struggle is automatic, it is easy advice for her to give. The use of the word “quoted” stresses that this is not Lenina’s original thought. This line has been inputted into her brain so strongly and so forcefully that she does not have to think in order to say it. For her, it is an automatic response. Lenina quoting this message just shows how much control the World State has in this society. They have programmed their society to give the exact same responses at the exact times that they should, and none of the people protest or have their own original ideas. They act as robots, outputting information whenever it was programmed for them to do so. The use of the words was, will, and am are also extremely impactful in this quote. Not only do they add to the nursery rhyme-like cadence of the quote, but they also serve to drive home the point of simplicity in this society. The use of was and will are substitutes for the entire past and future of society, and yet in this quote they are reduced to mere stages of being, and not important ones at that. They show that the World State not only controls the society’s present actions and thoughts, they also control the society’s past and future. They do this by completely eradicating each individual’s ability to think for themselves, their ability to create goals and hopes and dreams, or to dwell and reflect on the past. In doing this, the World State puts complete emphasis on the present, or in the quote, “am”. The emphasis on this word that sums up the moment in which we are living right now. It boils down the human experience to one word. It reduces our lives to not living, but existing. In using this word, Huxley shows the readers what a drastic change has been made to our society, and the implications those changes come with. He gives us a warning, with the entire novel but especially with this quote, that if our past and future are taken away, then we as humans lose our individuality. We might gain happiness, but it will only be artificial. If we lose our ability to reflect about the past and hope for the future, our ability to be unique, to create a life for ourselves, is lost. And when this individuality is lost, when our past and future get taken away, so does the present. Our purpose in life, our meaning for living is all gone. We might be alive in a physical sense, but our minds are dead, we stop living and merely exist.
Maddie Yeh
Bernard and Lenina decide to visit the “savage lands” to experience something different and upsetting. When Bernard and Lenin arrive, Bernard finds he can’t handle it and is distraught on what they find in the lands: old people, the sick, the dying, etc. Lenina tries to cheer Bernard up who is quite despondent by exclaiming “ ‘Was and will make me ill,” she quoted, “I take a gramme and only am’ “ (104). In the quote Lenina is trying to cheer up Bernard with what she knows to be the only thing to cheer people up with, soma. Lenina then convinces Bernard to take three tablets in one sitting; this is very peculiar because Bernard rarely will take soma. In this quote, Huxley uses diction and syntax. Diction is shown through the simplicity of the word choice,“Was and will” instead of the past and present and “take a gramme and only am.” Syntax is also in this quote through the sing song, rhyming sensation happening with the words. It makes it easy to remember like many of our own phrases. For example, it’s similar to see you later alligator or not in a while crocodile. What Lenina is repeating says that living in the past or future or even dwelling it it too long makes her sick. By taking a gramme of soma and forgetting all of the past and future forces them to live in the present. By living in the present, Bernard and Lenina don’t have to worry about anything: all they have to do is exist. Lenina says this particular line to Bernard because it is all she has that she can relate to. Lenina has no real life experiences of her own; she has no real thought for herself so all she can muster up is this one quote. Since her childhood this phrase has been grilled in Lenina’s mind so many times she doesn’t hesitate to say this to Bernard. What this quote is communicating to us is that in order to live a happy care free life we try erase the past and the future. This adds to the overall theme of the novel because without history and something to look forward to, we lose the meaning of life and all we are doing is existing. This brings us to our overall theme that without goals and rollercoasters to look forward to and choosing the easy life we become a shell of a person with no true reason to exist.
ReplyDeleteAnnika Daniel
We all know how it feels to be anxious. We go to Peninsula High School. Imagine being shipped off to Iceland because you didn’t fit your society’s “ideal person”. Well, you can only try to think of how Bernard felt when finding out that this might actually happen to him. After Bernard expresses his anxiety to Lenina, Lenina can only naturally come up with one response. That is “Was and will make me ill,” she quoted, “I take a gramme and only am” (104). Even though Bernard has resisted taking soma in the past, Lenina persuades him to take them, and eventually he gives up to the drugs.
ReplyDeleteAlthough this quotation is a short one, it is filled heavily with diction. The narrator says that Lenina quoted these lines, he did not say that she said them or told them. The narrator uses this word in specific because he wants to show that these thoughts are not emerging from Lenina’s free will, but from her years of hypnopaedia as a child. Lenina quotes the words “was, will, and am”. These words are all different conjugations of the same word, to be. The denotation of “to be” is literally to exist. By using these words when responding to Bernard’s depression and anxiety, Lenina is telling Bernard to take the soma so that he can only exist in the present, and nothing more. The word “only” has a purpose as well. Lenina is explaining that when she takes soma, she is only existing, not truly living. By only existing, you will lose your humanity, because you do not have to free will to do anything more. The other literary technique used is syntax, meaning rhyming. The narrator has this quote rhyme on purpose. It is so that in hypnopaedia, it will be easier for these children to fully grasp this quote, and be able to say it without thinking at all. Saying “Was and will make me ill,” she quoted, “I take a gramme and only am” (104) is supposed to be as easy as saying “hello” to a friend when they walk into the room. This tells the reader how messed up and controlling the society is, as they need to make each person have exactly the same thoughts.
What makes this quote significant can be shown in the theme of this quote. The theme is that worrying about the past and future can distract you from fully being in the present. The word “only” used in the quotation can relate to this theme, because by taking soma, people are only existing in the present. The words was, will, and am can also relate to this theme because it is similarly saying that by taking soma, you are simply living and breathing. Even though this is what the theme says, it is not what Huxley wants us to think. What he wants us to think is shown in the theme of the overall novel. It is that we need to be educated about our history and be able to set goals for ourselves in order to have free will and individuality in this world. Lenina obviously does not have these qualities, as she is literally reciting a quote that the society has drilled into her head to “comfort” her friend. The theme truly shows how it is impossible for the people in the society to be people at all; they are stripped from their humanity until they are only animals.
Part 1
ReplyDeleteThis passage occurs when Lenina and Bernard are touring the New Mexican Reservation. Bernard has just received the news from Helmholtz that Bernard is to be shipped off to Iceland for his unorthodox behavior. After hearing this jarring information, Bernard is presented with the opportunity to experience pain and struggle, and to follow through emotions as a true human. Bernard has wanted to do this ever since he realized the revolting truth of the robotic World State. However, Lenina is able to convince Bernard to forget that dream of his, and to instead take four soma tablets. Lenina tells Bernard this quote while persuading him to do so. Bernard gives in, and proceeds to forget all his worries regarding his Icelandic expulsion. Lenina and Bernard are then able to enjoy the New Mexican Reserve with no internal troubles.
In this passage, Lenina reveals to Bernard how taking soma helps you live in the moment, without worrying about what happened before or what might happen soon. Through this message, the passage conveys the theme that humankind is better off focusing on the present, rather than dwelling on the past or the future, which can cause regret, sorrow, and a multitude of other emotions. Emotions of this sort are unspeakable in the World State, and so this theme teaches the citizens to let go of everything except the present. However, within the context of the novel, this passage more so portrays the theme that without considering our history and our ancestors, as well as hopes or worries for the future, individuals are rendered unable to think or act for themselves. Huxley shares with us, through this passage, the dangers of ignoring other timetables. He shows that without consideration for our future, none of our decisions truly matter, as no action affects another. Without this cause and effect, humans loose the need for and ability to think on their own and make decisions for themselves. This is how the society of people that only follow commands, and each other, is created.
Several literary techniques are used in this passage to emphasize and enhance the novel’s and the passage’s core messages. The first is the use of simple, yet captivating diction. Firstly, the use of the simple verbs “was”, “will”, and “am” shows how the citizens of BNW are living their life simply by existing. Rather than using verbs full of life, Huxley portrays the monotone, base level existence the citizens hold through elementary, non-action words. These words emphasize the passage’s theme by showing that life need not be a complicated, multi-faceted experience; rather, life should be about only the present moment and nothing more. Secondly, through the use of the word “quoted”, Huxley subtly demonstrates that these words are not Lenina’s own. Instead, this phrase is most likely one she was taught through hypnopaedia as a child. This easily proves the novel’s theme. The use of another’s words, as well as Lenina’s inability to produce her own empathy for Bernard, shows that if knowledge of the past and hope for the future are erased, individuals can no longer think for themselves. Humanity is then reduced to the equivalent of dogs that simply obey commands, or parrots that unknowingly repeat adages impressed upon them.
Part 2
ReplyDeleteAnother literary device used to explicate the themes is syntax, specifically rhyming. This passage is written in an extremely poetic, sing-song manner, which allows Lenina to remember and repeat the message with ease. However, the message behind the seemingly simple phrase is actually quite important; the quote deals with casting off history and the future. The childlike cadence of this quote exemplifies how little the World State cares about the past and future, and how easily they will give these things up for stability and for ease. This exemplifies Huxley’s message that hardship should not be so easily solved. The struggle for inner solidarity and peace is a solely human struggle, and so defines us as human. Without this struggle, and with the ability to solve the issue with such simplicity, dehumanizes society even further.
JJ Abele
In quote two Bernard is in a spout of despair at the savage reservation, after hearing the dreadful news that he will soon be sent to an island where he expects to be cut from all civilization. Lenina then speaks to Bernard trying with all she knows to encourage him and give Bernard the lightheartedness she so cherishes. Lenina has been living a repetitive life of sleep have fun take soma that she can hardly even give a deep meaningful response. Using what she learned through hypnopedia she says, “Was and will make me ill,” she stated, “I take a gramme and only am”. This quote has its own specific theme which leads to a mare broad theme going over the entire novel.
ReplyDeleteThe theme in this quote is how focusing on the present and not worrying about your past or present is an effective and joyful way to live your life. While the quote infers this the novel brings a whole different theme into play. The novels theme is how without the understanding of history and future goals one's individuality can be lost. In the quote there are many literary devices that help support the theme. For example, there are many simple yet sagacious words that help the reader understand the theme. These words are, was; which indicates the past, will; which indicates the future, and finally am; which indicates the present. Was and will are affiliated with ill in the quote which refers to sick and bad things while am is affiliated with gramme which refers to happiness and stability. Overall these words support the first quote by giving the past and future unhappy vibes while the present gets affiliated with happiness. Also, in the quote it says Lenina quotes these words instead of simply saying or exclaiming them. This shows how what she said is ingrained in her head leading her to know very few things and only know about the present. This proves the novels theme how Lenina continues to follow society she is always just present which leads to her free thinking and individuality to be lost. Another literary device is syntax the effect of rhyming. The quote is simple but almost too simple. The quotes simplicity and song sound to it shows how the deepest Lenina can even think is so basic and trite. The syntax also shows how the government brainwashed their society so much that they can't even think for themselves let alone realize what is going on and fix it for themselves. This also relates to the novels theme of losing individuality. In conclusion the novels theme based on quote two tells the reader that if someone focuses on the present not looking at the past or future then they will lose themselves and freedom.
On their way to tour the New Mexican Reservation, Bernard contacts Helmholtz for a favor and learns that the Director plans to exile him to Iceland. He is overcome with rage and fear at the prospect, having lived in the World State and never experiencing a range of real, human emotions on his own. In an attempt to calm Bernard, Lenina quotes “Was and will make me ill, I take a gram and only am.” Despite the opportunity, he is convinced to take soma and forget about all of his worries.
ReplyDeleteIn this quote the author uses specific diction to really emphasize the mindless state into which the people of the World State are conditioned. The simplicity of the statements, using the past, present, and future conjugations of “to be” and the fact that Lenina quoted, rather than stated something she thought of herself both show how knowledge-less and almost animal-like they were created to be. The word “am,” representing the present minded mindset, is preceded by the word “only,” showing that simply existing is all that’s necessary for the society. The author also uses syntax to emphasize the power of being present in this society. Lenina utters the rhythmic phrase with a speed that denotes that worrying or even thinking about the past or future is merely a waste of energy.
In this situation it is obvious that the world controllers, in an effort to eradicate any kind of pain and suffering, conditioned their people to simply exist as it is far more preferable to focus on the present. However, the state of ‘simply existing’ that soma brings about, which leads to a perfect and unchanging, stable society is meaningless. Having beliefs and values leads to the freedom that gives a society meaning. Without the ability to formulate goals and reflect on the past the existence of individuals is insignificant.
“Was and will make me ill,” she quoted. “I take a gramme and only am.”
ReplyDeleteLife is a period of both highs and lows. It is the lows in life that allow us to appreciate the highs. Without the lows, we live at a constant state of just nothingness.
People deal with grief differently. Some people gravitate to talking about their emotions and facing the problem head on; while, others resort to the vices or run from their emotions. When you feel emotions of sadness, anxiety, or anger there are many methods in which to cope. However, in Brave New World, their sole solution for problems is soma.
In this society, you are encouraged by the government to numb yourself from any unpleasable feelings until you are nothing more than mindless automatons. If you evaluate this quote carefully you can see that was (which represents the past), will (which represents the future), and am (which represents the present). If you insert the words I put in parenthesis, then the quote says the past and future make me worry, so I take a gramme of soma and only remain in the present. Only am used in the quote means that only the present matters. In saying this, Lenina gives up her personal freedom of humanity. She sacrifices the past and future to merely exist. This society chooses to exist rather than live.
These are not even Lenina’s words. She quotes it. The quote is something she learned through hypnopedia at a young age. Lenina knows no pain or feeling because she simply decides to sing a catchy rhyme( syntax) and pop a pill. When the quote takes place in the Indian Reservation, Hemholtz informs Bernard that Bernard is to be exiled to Iceland. So, Lenina does the only thing she knows and advises Bernard to take a gramme of soma. Bernard in his weakness chooses to numb himself rather than to face his problems.
The theme of the quote completely contrasts the theme of the book. The book sides with my argument stating how much of your freedom you are willing to sacrifice for stability. Whereas this quote states not to worry too much about the past or the future because you can lose sight of the present.
In Brave New World by Aldous Huxely, Barnard visits the reservation with Lenina to check it out after getting approval from the director. Later he calls Helmholtz to inquire about the verdict of his trial regarding whether or not he is going to be shipped off to Iceland. He learns that indeed he is going to be isolated on Iceland. Understandably, Bernard becomes very upset at his being uprooted from where he has lived all his life. Lenina in response quotes “was and will make me ill” “I take a gramme and only am”(104). She says this as this is the first thing that comes to her mind is to tell Bernard to take soma pills in order to get away from his predicament by taking essentially, drugs. Huxley uses precise diction to show that Lenina “quoted this”. She had no personal feelings with Bernard at that moment and she had never undergone anything in her life that had resulted in any other intense feeling other than happiness. Therefore, she recites what has been ingrained into her very being as a young child by society, that if any problem arises that makes one think or worry over the “was and will” the answer is to take soma. Huxley also uses syntax by rhyming the statements that Lenina recites just as easily as we rememberer nursery rhymes. Lenina regurgitates these without any thought showing that she has not challenged what society has taught her or come up with any original thought on her own. The theme of this quote is that worrying about the past and future is unnecessary as we only need to focus on the present. This statement made by Brave New World proves the deeper theme in this novel that if we allow society to take over what we think, what we do, and how we act, then we can no longer be defined as human. Lenina has allowed society to tell her that feelings of anxiety are not necessary and the only ones she needs to feel are happiness. Society has made sure that whatever Lenina does, if she ever feels uncomfortable she will take a soma, dictating her actions against any possible change in her world. Lastly, It has taken over how she acts because it turns her into an emotionless “person” with her whole life being planned out for her. Because Brave New World has taken over people’s lives and thoughts, turning them into pieces of society, they can no longer be defined as humans.
ReplyDelete“Was and will make me ill,” she quoted, “ I take a gramme and only am”. This quote from Brave new world is said by lenina to bernard after he finds out that he will be shipped off to work in Iceland. He enters a state of deep depression and sadness and this is were lenina says the quote. It persuades bernard to take soma pills in order to feel nothing even though he had been searching for a way to experience real emotion, but when it comes down to it he is not strong enough and chooses the easy blissful way out. The theme of this in particular quote can be simmered down to simply the past, and future can make you fill with dread and despair but living in the present will always leave you happy. Even though this quote has a theme of its own it also has a theme that is slightly more relatable and ties into the overall theme of Brave New world as a whole. If you ignore the past and the future and only consider the present then humanity, freethinking and the freedom to experience things is lost to only what you are living in the moment.
ReplyDeleteDiction is widely used as one of the main literary devices in the quote. “Was” “Will” “am” are all used for a specific reason. Was is included to represent the past and what has come before us, like our history and ancestors. Will represents the future or what is to come later in our lives. Finally Am signifies the present or what is currently happening in the moment. These are all used to add depth and make you think about the power and influence behind these words, they also help tie into the theme of ignorance of the past and future removes humanity and freethinking. The author also uses quoted instead of said to show that this is something that she has learned from someone else and is now repeating to bernard. Finally the word only is used to indicate to the reader that by taking the somma lenina wants to become separated from the world around her and live in a single moment in the present.
Syntax is also used in the quote to show how the sentence flows. It is said in kind of a sing-song way that shows that this is something that lenina has had repeated to her over and over again until it is almost a habit. This ties back to the diction of quoted that is used in order to convey that this is something that lenina has had said to her repeatedly until she is brainwashed to only believe this. The author made a choice to use this literary device in order to show the reader the extreme effects that this society efforts to control its people has gone.
Ewan Macfarlane
“Was and will make me ill,” she quoted, “I take a gramme and only am”
ReplyDeleteIn Aldous Huxley’s dystopia Brave New World, the citizens are in a constant sense of happiness, often induced by their pleasure drug, soma. This specific quotation is recited by Lenina to Bernard shortly after he learns that he is going to be sent away to Iceland as a result of his radical ideas. When Bernard tells Lenina about his struggles while they are on the New Mexican savage reservation, Lenina automatically offers the advice, “Was and will make me ill. I take a gramme and only am”. Rather than staying strong and dealing with his problems, Bernard’s resolve weakens and takes a four tablet soma-holiday in which he is temporarily happy again.
In this quote, Aldous Huxley effectively utilizes diction in order to bring to light the ideals and beliefs of the World State. In this quote, the reader notices all three tenses of time in the form of was (past), will (future), and am (present). Lenina is quick to disregard the “was” and “will” and decides to only focus on the “am” as everyone does in the World State. This reveals that this New World is quick and eager to remove all traces of the past and future; instead, they want the citizens to only live happily in the present. Through Lenina’s hypnopaedia, she is taught this fundamental lesson and easily repeats it as serious advice. Furthermore, these tenses are all conjugations of the English verb “to be” which shows that society no longer values the past or future. They simply want you just “to be”. Huxley also uses a playful, rhyming syntax structure. In the quote, Lenina rhymes will/ill and gramme/am. This rhyming scheme makes this quote quick and easy to learn, remember, and say and is taught to all the infants through their sleep conditioning.
Through this quote, it is made apparent that Huxley wants to convey to us that without an ample understanding of the past and circumspect planning of the future, individuals lose the ability and freedom to think and act for themselves and is best noticed through Lenina’s automated response to Bernard’s troubles. Seen through Huxley’s usage of simple words, we see that the people in this society aren’t required to do anything except to just exist, an existence that is without the burden or trouble of thinking or acting. Also, through the author’s syntax, we can truly see what society has become. All traces of past and future have been erased; all thinking has been preplanned; all actions have been programmed. With the easy rhyming scheme of this quote, Lenina is simply quoting what she has heard all her life. This is the point in society where humankind is unable to string together coherent thoughts and must resort to memorized information and recitation. Therefore, Huxley tells this cautionary tale of this unthinking futuristic society, while foretelling the dire consequences if individuality and humanity are sacrificed in our society today.
Every being in Brave New World is conditioned by the government to do their jobs properly and without disagreements so that society could be there version of perfection. We as humans need our individuality to separate ourselves or we would all be the same. Brave New World is in a time of our true selves being stripped away and living lives controlled by the government. Lenina and the rest of society is conditioned to enjoy certain things so that it will help them in their roles in society. They are also not given an option of freedom and so as a substitute the government hands soma to keep every being happy. In the quote Lenina is telling Bernard to take some soma because he is very stressed. Her mind is so accustomed to the idea of soma being a way out of a troubling time that she is trying to help Bernard ease his mind of future problems. Also, in the first part of her rhyme ‘’was and will make me ill’’ could be defined by was as the past and will as the future with, both time periods make her ill. Thus, making her want to take soma to forget about annoyances in the past in future. Lenina doesn’t like to face the problem but instead make it disappear like what everyone else does which makes for the ability to think of a better future impossible. No one can think for themselves because they have had rhymes like ‘’ I take a gramme and only am’’ ingrained in their heads from such a young age that no person has any original thought. No society shouldn’t be relegated by phrases unless we want to give up our free thinking and our future. The Government strips away human individuality and molds each person to fit societies standards but if the government were to mess up then that individual is thought of as not normal. Which is exactly Bernards case and because of how he is treated and does things differently than others like not taking soma. However, in that moment Bernard gives in because in the end he gives into the pressures of society to help him cope with problems because he like everyone else was conditioned to. This should never be what we think is right in our society because we face our problems and hope for a better future without using substances. Without future goals people lose the ability to think and act for a better future.
ReplyDeleteThis quote was quoted by Lenina. She is telling Bernard to stop worrying about Iceland, to forget about his emotion, and to take a soma so he can enjoy his trip to the savage reservation. This quotes theme is that caring about the past or future can cause pain, worry or despair. It is better to focus on that present and be sanguine. This is what is drilled into the minds of the people in the society. However, the theme of the book is without knowing your history and making plans for the future, humans can lose their individuality and freedom of free thinking. This is the opposite of what the society belies because Brave New World is a cautionary tale to stop us from going down the past of inhumanity.
ReplyDeleteOne of the literary devices is diction and in the quote is the word used to describe what Lenina is saying is "quoted". Lenina did not say, yell, or whisper, "Was and will make me ill... I take a gramme and only am", She quotes it. The author is impaling it was brainwashed into her head at a very young age. This is not her idea or her own thought. The theme states that forgetting about the past and future can cause humans to lose the freedom of free thinking. Lenina can't think of her own ideas or ways to comfort Bernard but must quote someone else's thoughts.
Another important part of diction are the words, was will and am. They are all conjugations of the word to be but in different tenses, past, future and present. Lenina quotes that was and will are bad which translates into thinking about the future and past is bad. Then Lenina says "I take a gramme and only am" which implies that soma will keep you in the present which results in happiness. Even though she says them so casually they are the main values of her society.
The last lit device is the syntax of the quote. The short phrase that Lenina quotes sound like a nursery rhyme. The way its worded makes it easy to remember and easy to brainwash into little children. Huxley is warring on the present society that forgetting about the past or future, ignoring or getting rid of hardships, or taking mind-altering drugs will lead us to the path of this society and take away our humanity.
Victoria Oginski
Throughout Brave New World there are numerous occasions where the drug soma is taken to ease people’s feelings. When Bernard and Lenina are on vacation in the reservation, Bernard finds out that he may be exiled to Iceland. Upon hearing this, Bernard goes into a state of anxiety and sorrow, and decides to face his emotions without the aid of soma. However, Lenina disagrees with this approach. “Was and will make me ill,” she quoted, “I take a gramme and only am” (104). Above, the use of the words “was”, “will”, and “am” is crucial because it highlights how even though soma only allows one to be in the present, there is still a past, present, and future. In addition, the word “quoted” is important to this excerpt due to it implying that the line originally came from someone else, even though it is said by Lenina. Furthermore, this quotation is a syntax, which implies that the quote was repeated many times. This is likely why Lenina recited this quotation instead of thinking of a way to emotionally connect with Bernard, along with the fact that she may not know a way to connect with Bernard emotionally. This is due to Lenina and her close friends all taking soma instead of confronting their emotions, causing them to never have learned how to face painful emotions. Thus, the universal theme of without a perspective on the past and not knowing how to consider the future, individuals will never know how to think and act on their own is evident since this quotation consists of Lenina trying to comfort Bernard, yet not knowing how to.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of brave new world, after Bernard has been confirmed to be sent off to Iceland he is very distressed. To try to help Bernard get through this stress lanina says to Bernard “was and will make me ill. I take a gramme and only am” (22). In the context of the book the outside meaning of this quote is lenina telling Bernard to get high on soma to forget his problems. However, as you analys more closely and compare it to the world they live in you start to realize the deeper meanings and how the quote represents a theme in the book. For example, a deeper meaning is represented when the book reveals that the saying lenina used is from when they were being conditioned. This means that in BNW it is taught that when you are troubled by anything from the past or future just resort to drugs to focus on the present. Diction helps support that idea. In the quote “was” is representing past and “will” is representing the future and “ill” is representing stress in someone's life. Furthermore, “gramme” means soma and “only am” represents the present. So, in layman's terms the quote is saying, when the past and present stress you out focusing on the present is all that matters. That is what I think the theme of this quote is in the context of BNW. And this goes into the theme of BNW that people don’t need to worry about the past and the future, and existing in the present is all that matter cause that is what's best for society at that moment.
ReplyDeleteWhen Bernard and Lenina take their vacation to the Savage reservation in New Mexico Bernard finds out that he is going to be shipped off to Iceland for misbehaving and doing things almost abnormal to his society. To help her friend through pain, Lenina offers him support through quoting the quotation.
ReplyDeleteHuxley chooses his words carefully and uses descriptive diction. Huxley utilizes a very simple verb in the English language, “To be”. The past, present and future tense of the word are repeated by Lenina. In the quotation she first says “was” and “will” and says that they make her ill. She is trying to convey to Bernard that he should not focus on the his past and his uncertain future. The word “only” in this context can mean alone or solely which suggest that she thinks he should focus only on the present (as conveyed through “am”). She is him to just exist in the moment and to forget about everything else. Lenina also quotes the quotation, suggesting that she didn’t create this thought herself and that it is just a regurgitated piece of advice that she has been taught to say as of a young age. This connects to a common theme of the novel that when an individual does not have a proper understanding of history, the individual cannot think or act for themself. Lenina regurgitated something someone else taught her and couldn’t think as an individual. She told Bernard to forget the past and his history and to focus on the present further proving the theme of the novel.
Huxley also uses rhyming words within this quotation. Rhyming words emphasize the simplicity of the verse Lenina cites and since the quotation rhymes, it is comparable to a nursery rhyme or something that takes little mental capacity to understand. The simplicity within the quote and the rhyming make it rather simple and shows the simplicity of Lenina’s mind and that she can’t think as an individual. Since Lenina cannot think as an individual and is rather simple-minded, she proves the theme that when individuals don’t understand history, they can’t act for themselves. As Lenina is ignorant of history and cannot think of simple advice for a friend in need, she proves a common theme in the novel that when individuals don’t have a proper understanding of history, they cannot think and act as an individual.
Bernard is given the terrible news that he is to be banished to Iceland, because of this he begins to feel down. Lenina talks to Bernard about his situation and encourages him to take a gramme of soma to feel better. “‘Was and will make me ill,’ she quoted, ‘I take a gramme and only am’” (22). Bernard agrees to this, but takes four grammes of soma instead of one to deaden his feelings.
ReplyDeleteHuxley uses diction critically. “Quoted” is used in a way to show that these words are not Lenina’s. These are words that she has been brainwashed with as a result of living in the World State. Living in the World State has completely stripped away people’s own opinions and thoughts. The word “quotes” is a result of this because Lenina can only give Bernard advice that she was given from the World State at a very young age. Lenina can’t respond to this situation with her own personal thoughts and opinions, that would have been more meaningful to Bernard in a time like this. This quote also uses syntax in a way that is in a rhyming sing-song tone. This is significant because it shows how in the World State people are influenced with these thoughts at a very young age. The tone would attract a younger audience in a way for them to remember the saying more easily. The rhyming sing-song tone also shows how even memorised at young ages, the people of the World State still bace their lives on opinions given to them years ago.
This quote is significant because it shows the controlled World State affecting people’s own opinions on how to deal with any situation that comes their way. This is important because Lenina uses the Words State’s opinions that were engraved into her brain at a very young age, to help Bernard through a tough time. These words are unmeaningful in a way that they didn’t come from Lenina’s heart but her general knowledge on the World State's opinions and views. Original thoughts and ideas are completely stripped away, forcing everyone to use opinions influenced by the world around them.
While in the Mexican savage reservation, Bernard feels depressed and sad about the prospective of having to go to Iceland, due to his weird behavior in society. When he expresses these feelings of his to Lenina, she says these lines to him so as to make him take soma, after he which he takes four and forgets about his worrisome state.
ReplyDeleteThrough these lines Aldous Huxley highlights some very important parts. First of which is his elaborate but extremely influential use of “was”, “will” and “am”. All these words are forms of the verb “to be”. In the brainwashed society that these people are living in. Their sole purpose of existence is simply to exist. It’s as if their opinions, thoughts, feelings and ideas are completely disregarded. In fact, they aren’t even given the ability to express these emotions. Their humanity has been corrupted to take the meager form of simply existing. Their actions have turned their populations into mindless animals, whose single purpose in the world is survival.
All of this then in turn leads to the theme, that Regretting the past and fearing the future gives so much pressure and tension, that our present focus should be on living a happy present. While this may seem true to some extent, the way it is adopted in the novel is frightening. To achieve the present state of happiness they simply strip the grief and any memory of that experience off. In the process they lose their ability to think, learn and most importantly feel. The only motion they every encounter in their lives is that off happiness, and due to never experiencing pain they don’t see the importance of friends, and family who are there to support each other. However, the them that Huxley wants to convey through the entire novel is that in our quest for happiness we should not lose what makes us who we are, the ability to feel and accept pain and to emerge stronger once we do so. If we look at our lives, almost every regretful experience that we have had holds a lesson in it. Isn’t that the reason we study history, to not make the same mistakes that our ancestors did. Moreover, our fear of the future guides us to be our best selves.
Another important word to highlight is quoted. Lenina doesn’t say or advice Bernard to do take soma, she simply just quotes all the stuff that was fed into her brain through hypnopedia. She has no ability to empathize with Bernard, and how could she, when the only way they know to deal with stress is the use of soma. Repeating these words for Bernard is just like telling him to accept the unquestionable ideas that they have been forced to accept since birth. As a result, Bernard himself, collapses under all the pressure when he finds no one who could understand him and support him in this moment of grief, and accepts defeat by ingesting those four tablets of soma.
The last key word is only. Which denotatively means just one or no variety. By saying that I only am, Lenina emphases the fact that she is simply a person. She doesn’t say that she is only happy, weak or a girl, but simply am. This highlights the way the world state regards its people, some meager servants who help them maintain their so called stability, which has taken away their freedom and individuality and creativity just to establish a world, where humans have been stripped off of their defining features.
This quote occurs when Bernard and Lenina are at the savage reservation, and Bernard has just found out that he is going to be shipped off to Iceland. Lenina says this to Bernard in an attempt to get him to stop worrying about what is happening. Diction is one of the literary devices and although the words used in this quote are the simplest of words, they still carry a deeper meaning. For example, the word "was" refers to the past life, the word "will" refers to the future times, and the word "am" refers to the present time. It is important that these words are some of the simplest words in the English language because it demonstrates how life has been ground down to the smallest simple matters. Another important word in this quote is the word "quoted". Huxley added this in between Lenina's lines because he wants us to see that she cannot think for herself when Bernard needs someone to sympathize with him, but she can only recite something that has been fed to her by people who want to control every aspect of peoples' lives. Another literary device used in this quote is rhyming. Because Lenina says this in a sing-songy way, it truly shows us how brainwashed everyone is, because they treat these lines as nursery rhymes. The main theme in this quote is that in order for someone to live a happy and peaceful life, they must forget everything about the past and the future, and only focus on what is going on right now. However, we know that without the knowledge of history, and the making of future plans, we lose the ability to think for ourselves and make decisions that will benefit us in the long run. This quote is a good example of how the characters in this novel lose their personality because they have been deprived of the one big thing that truly makes us individual human beings, the power to think for yourself. As shown with Lenina, the only thing that the people in the World State can do to achieve a state of happiness, is to take a pill to make them stop worrying about the past or the future, but we know that sometimes a little bit of worry can be good for us.
ReplyDeleteIn Brave New World, written by Aldous Huxley, the idea of lack of freedom is often mentioned throughout the book. Without understanding past experiences and future hopes and dreams, individuals can lose the ability to think and act for themselves. After Lenina and Bernard arrive at the Reservation, Bernard is worried over being shipped off to Iceland. To help Bernard feel at ease and relax, Lenina offers him some soma and says, “Was and will make me ill.” she quoted, “I take a gramme and only am”(104). The use of diction with past and future tense with the words “was” and “will” help to show how thinking of the past and future will make one sick when thinking about it, while the use of “am” and being present with the asist from the soma is the only way that this society lives. This shows how this society has lost its ability to think for itself and now relies on soma to ease the pain. Lenina has no personal experience of feeling loss, anger, and pain. Because she can not relate to Bernard, she says the only thing she thinks will help him. She quotes a trite, easy to utter, saying she grew up with. This proves that Lenina has lost the ability to think for herself when she relays information given to her from the government like a robot, a robot incapable to emotionally connect with others. In this society, the people are only wanted to exist and not think for themselves. Because Lenina turns to soma and trite sayings to take all of her pain and sick feelings away, she has lost the ability to think and act for herself and connect with others.
ReplyDeleteThe scene starts out with Bernard, who wants to feel real
ReplyDeletepain after realizing he is going to be shipped to Iceland. He explains to Lenina about his feelings and she simply states, "Was and will make me ill" and "I take a gramme and only am" (104).
In her reply, there is a use of syntax since the quote is similar to a nursery rhyme. The simple phrase proves that it is designed for children to learn this phrase. Lenina says this statement casually because it is a nursery rhyme for them when people begin to feel emotions. Children in this society are manipulated that they recite phrases without thinking or any emotions. When the children repeat the quote, they are simply saying what they were taught, without any of their own opinions, creating a restriction on their critical thinking skills.
In addition, the straightforward diction is noticeable. The word "only" tells how future goals or past mistakes don't matter to them since emotions and individuality is lost. The present where one is solitary with soma is considered their way of living life. The idea of dealing with stress by talking it out is completely wiped out and replaced with drugs. People in Brave New World's society have lost human characteristics and would be considered as robots with set minds. Without any regrets from the past or future objectives, people would not be able to think or make opinions since they are not exposed to personal problems. All what matters to them now is the present with soma.
The theme of this novel is, "The neglect of the past and the future can lead to the inability to make rational thoughts and have opinions", and this quote shows how it can cause humans to lose these thinking skills.
Only concentrating on the present can create a society where past mistakes are completely ignored, resulting in a world without opinionated people.
-Nanako Tanisaka
Soma is something artifcialn made by the humans in this book to help the human race cop with any troubles or hardships. This is shown when Lenina, tells Bernard to take some after Bernard hears bad news about his future. Bernard falls into this trap made by society and instead of thinking about his hardships, gets his next high. This artificial way of happiness is something created so that people don’t enjoy life and instead of doing something they might love, have only one option and that is Soma, because Soma is the only thing they know. This quote uses lots of diction and has something of a childhood rhyme. Instead of something like, see you later alligator, the humans are simply taught, “I take a gramme and only am”. This rhyme taught to the blind people of society shows nearly how much this so called Soma happiness has changed them and that because their individuality is taken away so is their true happiness. Diction also relates here because the way Lenina starts her introduction of, “Was and will make me ill.” helps snowball towards the second half and shows how any challenges you face can be “fixed” by swallowing a pill. Huxley was trying to show that when true happiness is taken away, so is part of a human and that real happiness can help affect our lives in a positive way both as a success and a person.
ReplyDelete-Holden Sanderson
When Bernard is informed that he will indeed be sent off to Iceland, he is livid and ecstatic. Bernard was actually showing emotion which is forbidden for him and the people in the society. Lenina after he says Bernard all worked up and furious quotes, “was and will make me ill, I take a gramme and only am.”
ReplyDeleteLenina convinces Bernard to take 4 soma pills which ease him and lets him live in the present, without worrying about his upcoming deportation to Iceland. Lenina is basically saying that the past which the word was means and the future, which is will makes her sick. Lenina explains that the past and future make her sick and that she takes soma to remain in the present. The past and the future represent anxiety along with despair as people are always worrying about the past and the future. But if you live in the present, you can live joyfully without any care or anxiety. This quote is one of many that Lenina has been brainwashed by her society to recite which she probably doesn’t even understand. The quote Lenina recites is a sing song cadence, which is called a syntax or rhyming scheme. This quote contexts to the novel because without understanding of history and formulation of future goals,individuals lose freedom. When Lenina recites her quote she says it without any context not knowing that her freedom is lost because she is brainwashed into what her society wants not what Leina wants.
In this quote, Lenina is clearly the speaker. She’s speaking to Bernard Marx at their trip at the Savage Reservation in New Mexico. She is speaking to Bernard upon hearing about his stresses, his inner struggle, his emotions, all caused by news that the Director will be sending Bernard to Iceland for disobeying him. Bernard tries hard to think for himself, to neglect the idea of soma and let his emotions be a part of him. He wants to overcome his struggles, and be an individual. However he lacks the willpower to do so, and Lenina shows her disagreement with this reaction, encouraging Bernard to take a large dosage of soma, which eventually does happen.
ReplyDeleteThe entirety of this quote shows Lenina as the simple and mindless human being, a poster version of all the genetically engineered people in the New World. The quote’s theme, simply about the quote itself is that focusing too much about problems in the past and future will cause stress, and a layer of other ideas and problems that prevent life from being lived in the present. The theme for the whole book provided by this quote is that the ability to think provides individuality in a beautiful way, however it is lost without a proper understanding of education and history. The most basic verb in English is “to be”, which is simply to exist. “will”, “was”, and “am” are the past, present, and future tense version of “to be”. This is an obviously deliberate and basic diction choice by Huxley, planting simple words in Lenina’s small monologue. It first shows how microscopic Lenina’s thoughts are, and how little she can be herself and be an individual. She uses the mere basics of an already basic verb. Lenina is merely existing, and at the lowest level possible. Any diction that would be more challenging than “will”, “was”, and “am” would change the definition of existing, or the little amount exhibited by Lenina. This diction choice by Huxley amplifies the theme of existing the past and future, not in the present, by Lenina speaking with such basic tongue, we see the consequences. Another word Huxley obviously uses to amplify to message is “quoted”. This shows that Lenina can not think for herself. Instead of using believed, thought, or explained, Huxley chooses the word quoted. Quoted being the word that directly takes from another message, and is not the original thought or idea. Lenina is clearly shown in fifteen words how mindless of a human being she is, symbolizing the entirety of people in Brave New World, as well as the theme for the whole book, being lack of individuality. The final word Huxley uses that brings so much meaning to this quote is “only”. It is another extremely basic and easy to understand word. Lenina says that she is “only am”. She “only” exists. She has no other meaning, no past or future, exemplifying the idea of the lack of individuality the entire book warns in the future.
ReplyDeleteIn the dystopian future novel Brave New World, Aldous Huxley continuously warns our society about different dilemmas that may occur in our life. In the novel, while Bernard is worrying about him being deported to Iceland, Lenina Crowne convinces him to take soma by stating, “Was and will make me ill,” she quoted. “I take a gramme and only am.” The overall theme of this quote is, without the understanding of history and the thought about future goals, one may lose the freedom to think for themselves. This quote is packed with many literary devices as well. Diction plays a key role in this quote, the words was, will, and am are all conjugations of the verb “to be”. Huxley uses the simplest words of the English language, with the easy understanding of what the words mean, the quote portrays a more sharp and powerful message. The author also uses the word “quoted”, this word is important because it proves that Lenina was not muttering something that she was thinking about, however she was reciting a saying that she was taught from a young age. This truly portrays the corruption of the brave new world society. Finally there is syntax in this quote, it sounds as if it were a song, making it simple for Lenina to utter it.
Kristie Lee (p1)
“Was and will make me ill” she quoted, “I take a gramme and only am” (Huxley, 101)
ReplyDeleteIn context, this quote belongs to Lenina as advice to the moody Bernard who was in a poor mental state from recalling past events of the Directors threats to exile him to Iceland (in turn thinking about the consequences in the future as well). Despite pondering a “soma-less” lifestyle and depending on nothing but his own intelects, he was unable to cope with pain without the induction of soma. Notable literary devices that can be studied from the quote are diction and and syntax (in this quote rhymes). Huxley chose simple rhymes and words such was an “will” and “ill”, not only to underscore the simplicity of Lenina's character but to accentuate the accessibility of this concept. To decode the diction “was” literally means the past and will is the tense for the future. Even though it is questionable whether Lenina could fully comprehend these words on an emotional level, she is essentially telling Bernard that because the past and future makes one ill, taking some and only focusing on the present (where problems don't exist without the past and future) is the optimal state of being. And therefore the underlying theme that Huxley illustrates is simply stated in the quote, that worrying too much about the past and future can cause a person to descend into depths of despair and anxiety. To extend on this philosophy, if the concept of past and present simply do not exist in ones perceptions of the word, we merely exist, merely breath only capable of interpreting the present, what we feel with the five senses. However despite Lenina’s lack of moral construction, it is fallacious to define her as a mindless automaton, as she is capable of feeling sympathy to the despaired Bernard. The aspect that makes her a two dimensional character is in her advice which excludes the possibility of thinking beyond the literal image presented in front of us. Within the periods of existence, homonspaines have accumulated the ability to think across the ridges of time, creating a four dimensional world where mere existence cannot be contained inside human intellect. Although hard to distinctively say is whether good or not, humans have defeated the struggle to simply exist in the present and risen the concept of life to a new, profound level. As humans we have no choice but to humanly embrace this state of mind.
Alyssa M
Throughout Brave New World there are numerous occasions where the drug soma is taken to ease people’s feelings. When Bernard and Lenina are on vacation in the reservation, Bernard finds out that he may be exiled to Iceland. Upon hearing this, Bernard goes into a state of anxiety and sorrow, and decides to face his emotions without the aid of soma. However, Lenina disagrees with this approach. “Was and will make me ill,” she quoted, “I take a gramme and only am” (104). Above, the use of the words “was”, “will”, and “am” is crucial because it highlights how even though soma only allows one to be in the present, there is still a past, present, and future. In addition, the word “quoted” is important to this excerpt due to it implying that the line originally came from someone else, even though it is said by Lenina. Also, the word “only” is used in this quotation to demonstrate that one should concentrate specifically in the present. Furthermore, this quotation is a syntax, which implies that the quote was repeated many times. This is likely why Lenina recited this quotation instead of thinking of a way to emotionally connect with Bernard, along with the fact that she may not know a way to connect with Bernard emotionally. This is due to Lenina and her close friends all taking soma instead of confronting their emotions, causing them to never have learned how to face painful emotions.
ReplyDeleteThe universal theme of without a perspective on the past and not knowing how to consider the future, individuals will never know how to think and act on their own is evident throughout Brave New World. The diction of this quote contributes to the theme by highlighting that there is a past, present, and future, causing the reader to consider that many people from the world-state may not understand the concept of past and future since societal pressures and soma force people to only focus on the present. In addition, the use of the word “quoted” contributes to this theme since it depicts that many people in the world-state society cannot think for themselves since Lenina cannot even think of original advice for a friend. Also, the quotation being a syntax further supports the theme of people being unable to think for themselves since reciting a syntax requires almost no thought due to it constantly being repeated. Lastly, how Lenina responds to the situation of Bernard being possibly sent to Iceland by merely telling him to take soma further supports the aspect of theme of never knowing how to think for oneself. In conclusion, many parts of this quotation come together to represent the overall theme of Brave New World.
(Ignore the comment above.)
After Bernard is warned by the Director that he will be transferred to Iceland, if he continues to voice his individual opinions, Bernard makes his way to the Savage Reservation, where he visits with Lenina. Bernard rages over his course of actions. “ Was and will make me ill,” [Lenina] quoted, “I take a gramme and only am”(104). Lenina tells this to Bernard to ease him from his discomfort over the threat of being sent to Iceland. Bernard, in response, takes four somas and spends the rest of the night with her. This quote uses diction to explain the theme of the novel. The words “was”, “will”, and “am” are used to describe the society which Lenina lives in. The use of these words separate the past, present, and future to describe that she never dwells in the past or worries about the future, but rather only thinks of the present. Lenina takes soma, every time she faces discomfort, to ease her pain away. This shows that the citizens of the World State are brought up to believe that nothing else matters, other than simply existing. Huxley also describes her as “quoting” the phrase she has learned since childhood. Through hypnopaedia, the people of the BNW has learned to recite someone else’s words, stating that they themselves have no experience or emotion. This mindless recited phrase uses the word “only” to illustrate that nothing more, but just existing matters in the World State. Huxley also uses syntax by rhyming to show the thoughtless behaviors of Lenina. The simple rhyme scheme underscores the simplicity of Lenina’s mind and the World State’s ideas. All of the history of the World State is put into one simple, rhyme filled phrase. Once again, relating the implication that they have become mindless creatures without individual thought and original opinions. These literary devices support the underlying idea that if the prospects of the future are forgotten and understanding of history is lost, then individuals lose their ability to act and think for themselves.
ReplyDeleteOvercome by emotion and terrible anticipation for his terrible fate - being deported to iceland Bernard receives this scripted advice from Lenina, "Was and will make me ill," she quoted, "I take a gramme and only am" (104). Both are at the savage reservation when bernard, a man who proclaimed not so long ago that he wants to feel real emotion and real pain, receives the news. Instead of dealing with this, he follows the quote and retreats into the blissful numb of soma.
ReplyDeleteThe simple quoted rhyme akin to a child's song, or a marketing slogan proffers some dubious information when looked at closely. The first segment with its was and will says that caring about anything but the very present is meaningless and should be avoided. Secondly Lenina recites, "I take a gramme and only am” - when blissed on soma the only thing that matters is the present and how one feels - witch, as coping advice, is destructive at best.
While the quote may contend, focussing on anything but the present is harmful and the only thing one needs to do is experience the pleasure of not caring about anything other than one’s self, the book as a whole states quite the opposite. The book is a mirror and it is plainly stating that it is better to care about reality and to be human than the alternative. This is crystal clear in the quotes syntax - it is that of a child and it holds a child’s point of view wrapped in a child’s logic. The speaker isn’t a fully rational human being and this message segments this fact. Huxley wants us to feel descuat at this quotes message and he certainly achieves his goals.
-Connor
In Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, Huxley is using literature to convey different themes and messages to his audience. More specifically, one quotation in particular reveals a very important theme to the readers. "“Was and will make me ill,” she quoted. “I take a gramme and only am”” (109). In this quotation, Lenina is trying to convince Bernard to take soma in order to rid his anxiety. Earlier in the chapter, Bernard was told that he was going to be deported to Iceland while at the savage reservation. Bernard starts to lose his composure and that’s when Lenina recites the rhyme used to convince people to take soma.
ReplyDeleteImportant diction is used in this quotation. The words was, will, and am are conjugations for the English verb to be. Huxley specifically uses these words to show how in the BNW society, living life is just merely existing. It is also significant that Lenina quoted the phrase. “Was and will make me ill” was not a phrase that Lenina formulated on her own, but a saying that was taught to her as a child through hypnopedia. This is extremely meaningful because it shows how even in times of stress and need, the humans of BNW cannot even form and give their own advice, and instead, resort to restating idioms taught to them in their sleep. Lastly, the word only is also important as it has the underlying implication of narcissism which shows how the BNW humans are very self-serving.
Collectively, Huxley is able to showcase one of the many important themes of the book through this short quotation. When humans choose to not acknowledge the past and future, they are also indirectly choosing to not think for themselves.
Quote #2
ReplyDelete“Was and will make me ill, I take a gramme and only am”
Said by Lenina to Bernard at the savage reservation
Reply:
The quote is about the past, present, and the future. When we investigate the meaning, we can see that what Lenina is saying “our history makes me ill, I would rather not look at the future, and how about we stay in the present, and have no emotion while getting high!” Absolutely ridiculous! Very clearly the quote is trying to portray the message “the only way to be happy is to live in the present.” There are some aspects that I agree with, but on the opposite hand it is also telling us to forget about the past. HISTORY is VERY important, it is one thing that we should not forget! It teaches us to learn from our ancestors' pasts while also being dang cool.
Furthermore, when we investigate the next part of the quote “I take a gramme and only am,” we see that Lenina or any normal world state member has no coping devices. This is a byproduct of BNW society. If we translate that quote into modern day it is the equivalent of me saying “I’m going to go get high on lsd” which we know is not a healthy thing. Finally, after discussing both quotes we can summarize what Huxley really wanted, and that is for us not to forget the past, be wary about the future and still try to live in the present. (without drugs)
Note: I truly adhered to the 25 minute limit as I got home from swim with 25 minutes to spare, Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIn the dystopian future novel Brave New World, Aldous Huxley continuously warns our society about different dilemmas that may occur in our life. In the novel, while Bernard is worrying about him being deported to Iceland, Lenina Crowne convinces him to take soma by stating, “Was and will make me ill,” she quoted. “I take a gramme and only am.” After being truly convinced that soma will be the only way he would find ease, he takes a few grammes. The overall theme of this quote is, without the understanding of history and the thought about future goals, one may lose the freedom to think for themselves. This quote is packed with many literary devices as well. Diction plays a key role in this quote, the words was, will, and am are all conjugations of the verb “to be”. Huxley uses the simplest words of the English language, with the easy understanding of what the words mean, the quote portrays a more sharp and powerful message. The author also uses the word “quoted”, this word is important because it proves that Lenina was not muttering something that she was thinking about, however she was reciting a saying that she was taught from a young age. This truly portrays the corruption of the brave new world society. Finally there is syntax in this quote, it sounds as if it were a song, making it simple for Lenina to utter it out.
Kristie Lee (p1)
After Bernard discovers that he will be shipped off to Iceland, he is contemplating whether or not to take soma. Initially, Bernard wants to be able to go through painful experiences without the need for soma but Lenina is able to persuade him to take 4 tablets. Lenina tells Bernard "'Was and will make me ill,' she quoted, 'I take a gramme and only am'"(104). Aldous Huxley chooses to use syntax and simple yet provoking diction in this quote. The "sing-songy" approach allows the saying to appear as simple and easy to remember, similar to nursery rhymes. Will rhymes with ill as gramme rhymes with am. The World State society has become brain-washed through hypnopaedic sleep with sayings similar to this one. Huxley chooses to use the simple words "was", "will", and "am" to emphasize the fact of the World State's brainwashing. All three words are conjugations of "to be", the simplest, most basic verb in the English language. "Was" refrences the past, "will" references the future, and "am" references the present. All three are simple, easy to memorize words that are perfect for brainwashing. Huxley also chooses the word "quoted". This shows that Lenina is not speaking from personal experience, nor does she have any personal experience to speak from. During this time of Bernard's hardship and sorrow, the only thing Lenina is able to say is a trite saying from the World State. Huxley uses this to convey the fact that people in the World State are robots and not able to think for themselves. He also uses the word "only". The denotation of the word only means alone or exclusively. When Lenina says "only am", she is saying that after taking soma, she is nothing else except what she is right now. She is not reminiscing about the past or anxious about what the future holds for her. When she pops those pills, she becomes entirely in the present. This relates to the theme of the book "Without the past or the future, there is no present." The quote appears to say the opposite of the theme, but the setting of the quote is in a dystopian society, a society one would not want to live in. Huxley is warning readers that without focusing on the past and future, the present is meaningless.
ReplyDeleteAidan Kaneshiro
Part one
ReplyDelete“Was and will make me ill,” she quoted, “I take a gramme and only am” (104). This quote, stated by Lenina, is her response to hearing that Bernard will be shipped off to Iceland because he is different from other Alphas. This information was received in New Mexico, when Bernard hears over the phone from Helmholtz that the World Controller will be forcing him to relocate to Iceland. Bernard becomes angry and tells Lenina, who seems a little bit shocked and responds. This specific quote is most important in revealing more about Lenina’s personality as well as the personalities of everyone else back in London.
One of the literary devices that helps to bring out the main idea is diction. Although the words that are considered diction are simple, their simplicity is what helps to emphasize the point that is trying to be made. The words “was”, “will”, and “am” seem like such simple words when used in simple sentences. However, when these words are used in this complex quote they help the reader to understand something: life in the brave new world is the simplest that it can be. These simple words show life taken down to the most basic idea. Aldous Huxley could have chosen many different words, but he specifically chose the simplest words imaginable to show that life has been watered down to the bare minimum, where all one needs to survive is happiness and sheer simplicity. It is also evident that Huxley chose to write the Lenina “quoted” instead of just “said”. This means that the phrases that Lenina is spouting are mere statements fed to her over and over by the voice recording that they listen to everyday. It shows that Lenina has never had to deal with a situation where one feels sadness or anger, and if she had, she would always take soma before she felt any strong emotion. Therefore, she cannot relate to what Bernard is feeling and has no empathy, and so the only thing that she knows to say is “Was and will make me ill. I take a gramme and only am”. This word choice also symbolizes that the people living in the seemingly perfect society cannot think for themselves, and regulate on the words that have been forced into their brains. Finally, the word “only” used near the end of the quote symbolizes that the only thing that matters to an individual is their own happiness and needs. That is why Lenina doesn’t really seem to care...because as long as she is happy, that is all that matters.
Part two
ReplyDeleteThe second literary device found in this quote is the use of syntax, or rhyming. In our world right now, rhyming is usually associated with nursery rhymes and childish thoughts. To relate this to Brave New World this rhyming shows that many things in this future world are taken lightly, when they are sometimes very serious. The reader is then led to think that this little phrase is made to rhyme because the new people of the future can’t deal with hardships and instead take soma to become happy and forget about obstacles that may stand in their way.
One of the themes of this quote is that if one were to only think about their past, then they cannot live and enjoy the present. In the quote, Lenina is basically trying to say that thinking about the past and the future make her feel sick, and that the only way to feel happy is to take soma and live in the present. She doesn’t need to think about anything else except for what is happening right at that moment, and therefore, she will always be happy(which is really the only thing that matters to her. However, although it is true that it is healthy to live presently, part of what makes someone human is being able to reflect and feel certain ways about something that happened in the past, or something that is going to happen. Whether it be sad or happy, feeling emotions other than selfishness and happiness is in the end what makes someone human. This quote theme relates to the novel theme as a whole because it shows that a person needs to consider their actions and how it will affect them in the future, as well as reflecting on the past to correct mistakes. That is the only way that one can learn, through trial and error and learning from mistakes.