You will never see less sexy sex than you see in this book. Like everything else, it's controlled by the state. You have to get permission to have it, and it almost acts as a mechanical service rather than anything affectionate or caring (or even full of X-rated naughtiness like we expect). Part of that is intended to show us just how much we've lost in this horrible world, but it also reminds us that there are some things the state can't completely stamp out. We'll always need sex and the connection it brings (not to mention the babies), a fact that the state has to grudgingly admit.
Questions About Sex
- When is sex a mere physical act in the book, and when it is it an expression of genuine love?
- What does it say about sex that the State needs to make provisions for it, even though it is a supremely un-mathematical act?
- How does the need for privacy with sex demonstrate the limits of the State's power? Why would a State with no privacy at all allow the "curtains" to be drawn?
Chew on This
The book believes that sexuality can be reduced to a meaningless biological function, like urination or eating.
The book believes that sexuality is a powerful weapon for individuality, and is used here to help defy the State.