Like Yesterday is Gone

“And all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death.”  Brave New World (p. 254)

Finally, the end has arrived!  After reading the entire book, I’d have to say I was confused for about 30% of my reading, but I think everything has finally come together.  I still do not understand why the book had to end with John being so angry and even attempting to whip Lenina, but I guess the New World affected him that much.  Personally, I thought John was being a little dramatic in the last chapter.

In the excerpt above, Huxley is using an aphorism (or a brief statement that makes an observation about life).  I also think this is also foreshadowing John’s downfall.  John spends the last chapter of the book worrying about what he did in the past – all of his sins, Linda’s death, etc.  He keeps worrying about yesterday instead of his life in the future, ignoring the Controller’s advice of experimentation. 

I found that this aphorism was a little contradicting to the rest of the book.  First, Huxley warns us of technology, but then, he tells us to stop worrying about yesterday.  Well, if we are moving forward with technology, isn’t that helping us move towards the future?  I find this message to be extremely confusing and not in sync with the rest of the book.  In fact, I thought this entire chapter was entirely different in style and technique compared with the futuristic, detail-oriented style in the other parts of the novel.  This chapter just seems to mock John and his lifestyle. 

The quote I found reminded me of the song “Gone” by Switchfoot.  It may not really connect, but it’s a good note to end on.