Brave New World 7

"I want to know what passion is," she heard him saying. "I want to feel something strongly." pg. 94

At this point in the novel, Bernard encounters his first direct external conflict. Lenina has trouble comprehending how Bernard is able to think on his own and break away from his conditioning. This further emphasizes Bernard's difference from the rest of the World State. Bernard longs for a woman he can connect to and commit to; however, Lenina desires the exact opposite. She wants to have fun with many different men. I find that kind of ironic because today in America the role of each gender is switched (stereotypically at least). Its odd to read about a man wanting to settle down and a woman wanting to let loose. But then again, this entire book is strange and twisted so why am I surprised? Bernard has fantasies about a world without predestination and conditioning, and Lenina would not even fathom what that could be like. I thought that this conflict would be the end of their time together, but I was wrong. Even though Lenina refers to Bernard as "odd," she still accompanies him to New Mexico. I think that Bernard hopes that this blossoms into a relationship, but I do not foresee that happening. I don't think Lenina will be able to stray from here pre-conditioned beliefs. But, who knows, maybe Bernard's continuous influence will overcome Lenina's chosen mindset.