"Helmholtz Watson listened with a certain sense of discomfort....He wished Bernard would show a little more pride." (Page 71)
The mood in this scene is bogged down by the lives these men live. Neither is happy, and the mood resembles that of stressed students who take a brief ten-minute break or power nap. Helmholtz Watson is a new character, and he is like Bernard in that he is slightly different than those of his caste. However, whereas Bernard suffers from that difference, Helmholtz is treated like a special specimen. Helmholtz doesn't feel elated by this special treatment, though. He simply feels like he can never reach his full potential. Bernard experiences the same feelings, but in a different way; he feels his true potential is never quite up to par. He is ecstatic that Lenina agreed to have him in New Mexico, but he can barely react well to his good luck. He feels disconnected from her because she is normal for her caste; she acts as she should in social situations. All of these details are minimal when separate, but when added together, they make for a rather depressing mood. Needless to say, this chapter was not a joy to read.
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