In addition to expanding John's perception of eternity, this moment represents a unique connection for the displaced character in modern society.

At the beginning of chapter 11, Linda takes comfort in continuously digesting soma and experiencing its tranquil effects as she becomes completely oblivious to the world around her. Against the doctor's advice, Linda begins taking higher doses of the drug and digests up to twenty grams a day, which will eventually kill her in a relatively short period of time.

When John the Savage raises doubts about his mother's health, Dr. Shaw explains to him that although they are shortening her lifespan, each soma experience seems to last an eternity. John, who is completely out of place in Fordian society, immediately associates the word eternity with a line from Shakespeare's classic play Antony and Cleopatra. John responds to Dr. Shaw's comment by murmuring, "Eternity was in our lips and eyes."

John continually quotes Shakespeare throughout the novel while analyzing the modern world, which helps him make sense of the strange, foreign culture. By quoting Cleopatra, John is making a connection between his concept of eternity and Fordian society's view of eternity. John is recognizing that eternity is not an absolute concept and relies upon one's personal experience and perception. In Fordian society, eternity is not a defined period of time—and he is realizing that the concept depends on one's perception, which is in their "lips and eyes."