What's the most important phrase in the text? Explain briefly why you think it's so important.
"Not quite. I'm thinking of a queer feeling I sometimes get, a feeling that I've got something important to say and the power to say it--only I don't know what it is, and I can't make any use of the power."
I don't think any other phrase in this chapter competes with this statement. It is so revealing about the kind of society that has been created and it's effects on it's citizens. Helmholtz and Bernard are close friends and they were in the middle of having a conversation. For the most part, this conversation was pretty surface level. However, near the end of the conversation we begin to see how Helmholtz's mind really processes his own desires. Unintentionally, he also reveals his thinking towards how the society has created mankind and the minds they are "issued". I don't think he meant to comment on Brave New World's brain-washing techniques, but he sheds some light for us readers.
As readers, we understand that this society determines the way certain groups of people think and behave. We get a glimpse of that in the very first chapter. We must take those details into consideration when we ponder this statement that Helmholtz utters. If society is telling people how to think and behave, essentially one cannot speak it's own, unique utterances. They also are barred from anything that enables independent thought and critical thinking. No matter how much society decides to control, they will never be able to control this underlying power that Helmholtz speaks of.
He acknowledges the power that his natural mind has: to think. However, he admits the struggle that he has with that idea and the action of thinking. This society is so in control that Helmholtz, and I presume the rest of society, has no clue what "thinking" is. This society is doing something right, in regards to control, because when you think about it, our thoughts are the most controlling factors in our lives. We make decisions through thinking, we create our own opinions through thinking and we figure out who we are as individuals through thinking.
Out of this entire phrase, I think the word "power" is the most important. I wonder if Helmholtz understood the implications of the word "power" when he uttered it. I find it fascinating that that was the word he used because everyone clearly understands that Ford is the only thing that truly has "power" in this society. How could Helmholtz believe that there was some kind of power residing within himself? Has he already participated in this thing called "thinking", but doesn't realize it? Also the word "power" implies that the act of "thinking" itself has power, and Helmholtz understands that somehow. Is it the queer feeling he grapples with that makes him think that? I wonder what tipped him off to understand that with thinking comes power.
What a powerful example of a close read--I hope you can share this with students some day as an example of the power of a phrase, of a word. One of the things I love about this book is HOW it is written--how the craft itself is used to reflect the thoughts and experiences of this brave new world--not only what he/she says but how he/she says is so revealing throughout this text. So thoughtful, Alyssa--my mind is a bit blown--
ReplyDeleteAlyssa,
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mary, I think this would be a wonderful example to share with your students some day. I agree with you that the phrase that you selected is very powerful and important. I think that Helmholtz is beginning to understand the implications of the word power at this point in the novel. I think he is also aware of who holds the power and his lack of complete control over his life.