Originally posted by Daedalus
i like BNW but I HATE JOHN SOOOO MUCH!!! ARRGGHHHHH IF ONLY I CAN POUND HIM HES SOOOOO ANNOYING AND CLOGGING UP THE BOOK
I am annoyed with John because of his weird culture/attitude. It doesnt reflect on my views, as the main problems he found with BNW like sexuality and technology I think, is quite minor (if they are even considered problems) compared to problems I found such as totalitarianism and lack of individuality and freedom.
His stubbornness to adapt or even accept the new concepts, and especially his insistence of pain as a salve for the soul further infuriates me.
Also, his worship of Shakespeare and the way he obtains cues for his behaviour from it shows that he is no better that the other BNWolders. Both parties are conditioned, albeit by different things.
Chapter 17 and 18 infuriates my the worst. John keeps on quoting Shakespeare when arguing against Mond, as if by doing so he would sound objective. He treats the words of Shakespeare like inarguable code of law.
In Chapter 18 John somehow feels he is unworthy of luxury and therefore resorts to self punishment of drinking mustard water, pain and prayer. What can he gain from doing this? Did drinking mustard water bring him closer to God? Will inflicting pain upon himself make God look upon him with greater favour?
What is wrong with getting rid of unpleasant things (p196)?
Why is God a reason for nobility and heroism?
Why is being too comfortable and having an easy life bad? (Nothing is too easy)
Most of all I hate Johns stubbornness. I can understand to some extent why he disagrees with the above issues since they are different to the Indian ones he is used to. However, there are some where he is not only unreasonable, but childlike. For example, why should he refuse synthetic starch even if its more nourishing. His stubbornness spills over to stupidity when he would rather starve instead of eating what he calls civilized food (he would never eat it, even if he was starving)
