Death

"Undoing all their wholesome death-conditioning with this disgusting outcry-as though death were something terrible, as though any one mattered as much as that!" pg 206

In chapter 14, we see how death is truly regarded in this society. The nurses at the Park Lane Hospital for the Dying could care less about saving the lives of the people there. They are left to die in a room "full of modern conveniences," including soma, air conditioning, and a TV. Our culture regards death in quite the opposite way--when someone dies, there is sadness, mourning, and grief. We miss that person and we never want to forget their place in our lives. Yet here, no one matters as much as that (above quote) and there is absolutely no emotional attachment. I cannot imagine living a life like this, because it would basically have no meaning...if you're just going to be forgotten when you die, what is the point? I'm glad that John has feelings and he grieved over his mother's death. At least someone still has a heart. Even more frustrating was that when everyone saw John crying, they thought he was acting insane, and the nurse ignored it and asked the children if they wanted chocolate éclairs. When people die in this society, life goes on the second it happens and people move forward. They are forgotten, and they're just another person. It's almost like the people are manufactured goods--they're made the same way, used the same way, and they're discarded in the same way.This novel's depressing. I hope our world never ends up like this.