The Juxtaposition of Three Scenes in BNW’s Chapter 3

Juxtaposition: The arrangement of two or more ideas, characters, actions, settings, phrases,
or words side-by-side or in similar narrative moments for the purpose of comparison, contrast,
rhetorical effect, suspense, or character development.

Part 1: Fill the columns with information that we learn about the World State society and the
individual characters.

The Lessons of Mustapha The Women’s Locker Room The Men’s Locker Room
Mond

“Pre-modern” “Have” = sex Bernard = Alpha + =

- History = people were
miserable
- too emotional, no progress
- war = destructive
- religion
- different types of
governments
- pharma drugs (soma),
illegal, alcohol
- Lenina does not follow the
rules
- “perfect gentlemen” (sleeps
around)
- Lening = date
Demand (savage reservation)
- Lenina = Malthusian belt =
fashion statement = status
belt
deficiencies
(Psychology Bunau)
Bad reputation = “glum”
- Henry = Lenina
A.P. = “have Lenina”
“pneumatic”

Part 2. Response Needed: THINK ON YOUR OWN!!!

Write a response: What effect does the juxtaposition of these three scenes have on the overall
story? What is the purpose for overlapping these story lines? What effect does this have on you
as the reader? What does this teach the reader about World State?

The juxtapositions are there to be interpreted by the reader because they have different and
significant meanings behind them. The scenes are overlapped because it shows different things
that are happening at once. It also allows the reader to get a break from a single storyline and
read about another. The way the book is written like this makes it feel like things are always
moving non-stop, which is exactly what the author was going for. This is an always productive
and moving society.