Brave New World: Comparing Conditioning

In Brave New World, John and Lenina are both conditioned through different sources. John's conditioning came from the reading of Shakespeare's works and Lenina's through hypnoeapedia. Both however, do not really understand their conditioning but still follow it.

Lenina is often found quoting her conditioning when something happens that reminds her of it. She can not really understand what she's saying or why it is right, but it is what she has always lived her life by. She believes that sex is something you share with anyone you want to. She also was taught that having one person is wrong and selfish. She was conditioned to be comfortable with death and taught that it is a fun adventure.

John is also always quoting lines from Shakespeare and most of the time he doesn't really understand what he is reading. He applies these quotes to day to day life and believes it is right. He is the exact opposite of Lenina and believes that two people should be together forever and shouldn't have sex until they are married and committed to each other for life. Also, John sees death as horrible. He feels the deep loss of the person and freaks out when Linda dies and all the children think it is no big deal.

Neither one can explain why they believe what they do to each other and this causes problems when they try to understand each other. They can not see life from the others' point of view. They have trouble believing that anything but what they have always been taught can be right and that they may not be completely right themselves.