Brave New World question- what is the significance and what is the gesture?

Submitted by goppeldanger t3_z69y9n in books

Chapter 18: “On the north the view was bounded by the long chalk ridge of the Hog's Back, from behind whose eastern extremity rose the towers of the seven skyscrapers which constituted Guildford. Seeing them, the Savage made a grimace; but he was to become reconciled to them in course of time; for at night they twinkled gaily with geometrical constellations, or else, flood-lighted, pointed their luminous fingers (with a gesture whose significance nobody in England but the Savage now understood) solemnly towards the plumbless mysteries of heaven.”

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DJGlennW t1_iy09tbw wrote

Seven skyscrapers, an allusion to the beast with seven backs from Revelations.

The gesture seems to be reaching toward the Creator and never quite touching It.

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SirLeaf t1_iy0ut0l wrote

I agree with the commenter that the gesture is the "reverse V sign" or a middle finger-like gesture to the heavens, which Huxley describes as containing [infinite] mystery.

The significance of the gesture being that the lights and buildings represent the technology/scientific and industrial progress, which was prompted by mankind's desire to understand the mysterious universe. The product of that desire and skepticism is "developed" society [the gesture], in the book, now used to sedate man from mystery and discovery and skepticism. (imo)

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Motoreducteur t1_iy067vl wrote

Guess they’re giving the finger to Heaven

Basically they deny any and all spirituality

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neiromaru t1_iy08wp0 wrote

Considering that it says "fingers" plural, and implies it's an English gesture, I would guess it's the "reverse V-sign" gestural insult that is popular in the UK. It has pretty much the same meaning as the middle finger.

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brideofgibbs t1_iy0rk3g wrote

Isn’t it that the 7 skyscrapers point to the heavens and therefore God but the Brave New World has no religion? The Savage does.

Guildford is an ancient town now city tho its cathedral is 20thC, built after the novel. It does stand at the top of a hill to dominate its environs.

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casadecarol t1_iy07v03 wrote

I took it to mean the hand of control, the firm grasp of authoritarianism, that only the "Savage" can see for what it is.

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Exploding_Antelope t1_iy1hzmv wrote

“Pointing solemnly to the plumbless mysteries of heaven” gives me an image of the towers accentuating the endless awe-inspiring capability of the night sky - but John’s the only one who can see that, as the “civilized” characters are too caught up in their hedonistic lives and soma trips to look up. I don’t think “fingers” needs to be read into too deeply, it’s just to go along with the pointing out metaphor.

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