"What a wonderfully intimate relationship," he said, deliberately outrageous. "And what an intensity of feeling it must generate! I often think one may have missed something in not having had a mother. And perhaps you've missed something in not being a mother, Lenina. Imagine yourself sitting there with a little baby of your own . . .
"Bernard! How can you?" the passage of an old woman with ophthalmia and a disease of the skin distracted her from her indignation.
"Let's go away," she begged. "I don't like it."I think this excerpt says a multitude of things about Bernard and Lenina's characters. Bernard seems to be a dynamic and round character. Huxley has given him many different qualities, including self-consciousness and diffidence, and he continues to reveal different aspects of Bernard's character throughout the novel. Bernard's inner conflict of individuality versus conformity is currently leaning towards individuality, but that changes throughout the story. I feel this inner conflict enhances the dynamic aspect of Bernard's character.
Lenina, on the other hand, seems to be a static and flat character. Unlike Bernard, her views on society do not change at all during the story. She has been trained to accept unconditionally what she's been told by authority. Bernard, though he received the same training, has witnessed other people being trained. I think that, along with his separation from the others, is what led him to question the way things are done.
Also, the introduction of John and Linda was a very interesting twist. Linda is clearly the woman the Director left behind, and I can see why. If the Director had brought back a son to the city, there would be a huge scandal, disastrous for his reputation and career. Maybe Bernard will use this to destroy the Director and to keep himself from being sent to Iceland (because what's a good story without a little baby mama drama?).
Until next time,
Alysse
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