Brave New WorldAn analytic presentation of Lenina Crowne.

Raven Henry, Christian Todd, Kaci Green, Kelsey Mussaw, Maria Casas

full of air; a woman with a well-proportioned figure.

Huxley uses this word numerous times to describe Lenina throughout the novel.

He uses this to relate her attractiveness as a woman to her shallowness and dullness.

When Bernard tells her he wishes they would have waited to sleep together, she is too concerned with herself to realize he is showing genuine care for her. She instead thinks he is asserting her weight.

.pneumatic

concerning only with the appearance of something or someone.

Lenina is only attracted to John because of his physical appearance. She is used to being approached only for that same reason.

Instead of noticing and admiring his individuality and his mind capacity, she lusts over his body and looks.

Her thought when she meets John is this: "...such a nice-looking boy...and a really beautiful body."

.superficial

a typical or ideal example.

Like all the other promiscuous women in Brave New World, Lenina is used to emotionless sex and instant gratification. They only care for the moment of satisfaction, not the emotional commitment of a relationship.

Although she has that attraction or want for John, his proposition of marriage is repulsing to her. She finds no meaning in marriage and commitment, and cannot understand why John doesn't want her the way other men do.

.epitome

having pleasing qualities or properties;thought of as worthy to be seeked.

Every man seems to be obsessed with Lenina. She is not really unique, interesting, or challenging. Truly, she is not even particularly intelligent. The only reason that seems to define this, is her 'uncommon prettiness'.

She is so used to being an object of desire for the men in the Brave New World, that when John rejects her as a sexual partner, she is surprised to have her sexual impulses denied. Lenina feels distress for having to deal with a man not wanting her in bed.

.desirable

in accordance with some specifiedcustom or authority, agreement with social standards.

Lenina, although she does sustain an ongoing relationship with Henry Foster, is conformed with the standards of the Brave New World. She is obviously conditioned to do so, but she has many opportunities to change her views.

Lenina is a cold conformist and promiscuous just as the other members of that society. Her dating habits are identical to those of the other women. She expects to fulfill her sexual urges, as she expects to be desired.

.conformist

.possible hope

At the end of the novel we see that she has some slight care for John. Before he commits suicide, she puts her hands on her left side of her body (possibly heart) and cries. She steps towards him. This is as close to love as can be expected from her, but is definitely a change.