BNW Chapter 5

1. What would Michael Pollan (Remember? The Omnivore's Dilemma) say about the first paragraph in Chapter 5?
Michael Pollan would say that if the hormones and milk were the raw materials for the factory, then everything the factory produced would, at it's base, be from corn, as the cows eat the corn and in turn, everything they produce is made from corn.

2. Do you see any similarities with how the World State views death as compared to the Hindus? How does Lenina's remembrance of hypopedia compare with what is discussed in Plato's Republic?
There is a strong similarity between Hinduism and World State views on death, because they both believe that their bodies are recycled and returned to the Earth, and their energy is used to continue life on earth. Lenina's remembrance of hypnopaedia is also very similar to what is discussed in Plato's Republic in that at each level, everyone is conditioned to be happy where they are. "Epsilons don't really mind being Epsilons," in the same way that warriors, of silver, don't mind being warriors. However, one difference between the two is that in the World State, your heredity matters, as Henry mentions on page 74. In the Republic, Socrates argues that golden children can come from bronze or silver parents and vice versa.

3. What do you think of Lenina's and Henry night out on the town?
To me it's fascinating that in order for not only them, but everyone else to have a good night, they need to get high. They call it being "happy," and they say that "everyone is happy now," but it seems almost sad that they need several does of a drug to enjoy themselves, and that their own positive emotions are not enough to produce that effect for them. I do like the way that the music seems to fill them, although that too could be because they're high, but Huxley uses such wonderful adjectives and details in describing the music, that one can almost enjoy it, simply by reading about it.

4. Why do you think Huxley uses the word "pneumatic" to refer to some female characters?
I think Huxley uses the word "pneumatic" to refer to some female characters because they don't really have any substance to them. The word "pneumatic" means "containg or operated by air or gas under pressure." This seems to fit the girls that Huxley is describing, at least through Bernard's eyes, on page 80. He finds Clara Deterding "really too pneumatic." She is not "plump, blonde, not too large," the qualities Huxley has Bernard use to describe Fifi and Joanna who "were absolutely right."

5. What is Solidarity Service and what are Bernard's feelings towards it?
Solidarity Service is an orgy, meant for those at the service to achieve "rapture," and "calm ecstasy," and to come together. However, Bernard does not feel this way. Again he feels isolated, empty, "separate and atoned."