Brave New World

Novel | Aldous Huxley
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Roll of Lelina in the Novel Brave New World

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Roll of Lelina in the novel Brave New World.

Or, Explain Lenina’s importance in the development of the plot in the novel “Brave New World”.

Lenina Crowne is a young, beautiful embryo technician at the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre. Aldous Huxley (1894-1963) represents her as an embodiment of sexual desire in “Brave New World” (1932). She is not unique, interesting, challenging, or even particularly intelligent. As best we can tell, she is just "uncommonly pretty."

Lelina as Pneumatic: Huxley explains that Lenina is "pneumatic."  The official definition of pneumatic is basically "full of air," but this is totally metaphorical. It seems to mean that she's busty, curvy, and all-around sexy. Lenina's body may be all cushiony, but she's pneumatic mentally. She is lifeless and dull. In this way, "pneumatic" becomes a buzzword for everything about the new world. Everything is without meaning; everything is full of air. That this term is frequently used in association with Len

ina is just another reminder that she embodies the World State female. 

An embodiment of Pervert Sexual Pleasure: Lenina is used to having emotionless sex and instant gratification. She is excited to have John to gratify her sexual pleasure. She relates,

Hug me till you drug me, Honey.

This causes Lenina a good amount of distress. It raises an important question: does Lenina really love John, or is this simply a case of wanting? Well, look at the way Lenina talks about him. Is she struck by the capacity of his mind? Not exactly. Does she wonder about his individuality? Not really. Is she in awe of his morality? no, not so much. It's more about his body. When she first meets him, her thoughts are as follows:

 …such a nice-looking boy, ,,,,,,,,,,,, and a really beautiful body.

 She can only think of sex and can't understand emotion.

Caste of Lelina: In Chapter 4, Lenina expresses her disgust for the Gammas as she passes by Gammas boarding monorails after work:

My word," said Lenina, "I'm glad I'm not a Gamma.

Later, when talking with Henry, it's clear that she is not an Epsilon - but a Beta. Lenina's job is taken into account. She works as a technician at the Hatchery - a position that needs some intelligence and skill but is, for the most part, repetitive and monotonous. An Alpha would not be needed to do such work, but a Delta or Epsilon could not do it, and even a Gamma might not be a good choice. The skills indicate Lenina is a Beta.

Lenina is a woman of free will. She is also a comic character in the novel Brave New World. But the most influential and representative part of Lelina's character is her sexual appeal and Soma addiction.

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Aldous Huxley
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from Brave New World