Ethical Dilemma with Brave New World reading assignment

[Zoopdedoopdeboo]

I am supposed to read two books over the summer. One I chose is Brave New World. I have under 100 pages left to read, and I want to read it, but some parts in the book get me sexually aroused. I want to avoid any occasion of sin. What should I do?

 

[holly_potter]

As an English major, I’ve been pondering that subject myself. Is it right to read something that may lead to sin, if we’re required to do so as a class assignment? Because, quite frankly, many writers have dirty minds…

But…it sounds like you have some options. A) you could finish reading it since you’re almost done, and try to suppress any sinful thoughts, if that works for you.
B) Or you could skim over the parts that are disturbing to you, and just make sure you’re well-versed on the whole theme and everything for your teacher.
C) I know this is a pain since school’s so near and you’re almost done, but since you chose this book, could you possibly choose to read a different book? That would be a sort of sacrifice, but a good and worthy one, to save your soul.
D) If there is no other good book, you could suggest to your teacher that you read a different (and cleaner) book that covers the same theme/idea/author. That way you’re not trying to weasle out of an assignment; you’re offering a compromise. If your teacher won’t let you, try one of the above suggestions
E) Worst case scenario, I wouldn’t advise it, but…you could not do the assignment. Think thoroughly about how that would affect your grade, and if it’s a few points, then you could do extra well on the other assignments, get attendance credit, do extra credit, etc. to make up for it.

Anyway, that’s my battle plan I hope this helps

 

[Nevarlander]

If you have under 100 pages left to read, I think you’re through with anything that might give you issues. Have you read the part where John the Savage goes to the movie-ish thing? If you have you’re done with all of that.
Though I can’t understand how anything in BNW is sexually arousing. It’s all so over-the-top and painted to be ******.

 

[paradoxy]

You can just skim through the parts you find arousing (I don’t remember anything of the sort in BNW - the book had the exactly opposite effect on me, but I’m female)

I think it would be a literary transgression not to finish it - it’s a prophetic, fundamentally moral book, imho.

 

[rpp]

Consider getting the Cliff Notes and finishing it that way.

 

[Chesapeake]

This doesn’t really answer your question, but I found the ultimate message in Brave New World to be strongly in tune Catholic values, despite the method through which it broadcasts that message (and it has, and continues to be, misinterpreted by readers who wish to use the book to validate immoral life choices). Just my two cents.

 

[Biblioassistant]

I’ve read Brave New World any number of times and can’t see how anyone could get aroused at it, but then I am female. Anyway, that book and 1984 are the two great dystopias of our time and I can see some of what they predicted coming true - and it’s frightning.