We Journal Topic C

In We, Yevgeny Zamyatin is warning the human race about the pitfalls of conformity. His novel stresses the importance and beauty of individuality and imagination. In the book, everyone is the same. They eat at the same time, sleep at the same time, and walk at the same time. This vision/idea is not believable, in my opinion. I cannot imagine anyone letting someone else control their life like that. However, I do believe this vision is powerful, if only because the concept is so interesting. The citizens in the dystopian society are (or seem to be) genuinely happy, which fascinates me. If conformity is so great, then why would D-503 begin to think and act rebelliously and individually? I think Zamyatin is saying that it is in human nature to want to be different and special. Everyone wants to be their own person. The idea of such a rhythmic society is impossible to me, but I think the message is clear. A society composed of millions of practically identical "numbers" is doomed to fail because if represses the innate human desire for individuality. I wouldn't say Zamyatin gives us hope in his novel, but rather an idea for an alternative. His world behind the "Green Wall" is natural and free. He presents the option to break out of one's comfort zone, to be unique. This idea is an answer to the "wake-up call".

We Journal Topic B

                In We, D-503 is the Builder of the Integral. He is supposed to be one of the most enthusiastic believers in spreading mechanical, mathematical happiness to other planets. He shouldn’t be questioning his beloved logical society, but he starts to do so. In his relationships with other numbers, he is usually very practical and does what he is supposed to do. For example, D-503 always goes to the auditorium when he is supposed to, meets up with O-90 when he is supposed to, and even wakes up at the exactly correct time. He loves the One State and loves being able to use his skills to contribute to the One State’s glory. However, D-503 starts doing things that are not logical, that are not precise. He starts to notice I-330, a rebellious female number who does crazy things like drink alcohol and wear pretty yellow dresses instead of her uniform. I-330 starts to influence D-503, and D-503 is very worried about himself. He decides he must be ill, and someone tells him he must have a soul, apparently a very unusual occurrence in the One State. D-503 is not victimized or forced into rebelling. It is all in his mind. He begins to sleep and wake at unusual times, obtain certificates of illness instead of going to work, and think primitive thoughts (he says he has “ape hands”). D-503’s resistance is relatively successful two-thirds of the way into the book, because he has gone outside the Green Wall, has accepted that he has a soul, and continues to meet with I-330. Others are starting to notice his resistance, however, and it won’t work out for him in the end.

We Journal Topic A

“He had given us certificates that we were ill and could not report to work. I was stealing my services from the One State, I was a thief, I saw myself under the Benefactor’s Machine. But all of this was as remote and indifferent as a story in a book…I took the slip without a moment’s hesitation. I-all of me, my eyes, lips, hands-knew that this had to be” (Zamyatin 73).

                This passage from We has many important yet subtle elements. First, it reveals a few aspects of the dystopian society that Zamyatin has created. The first is the idea of the certificate, or slip. In this society, “numbers” get slips or coupons for almost everything: if they are too sick for work, if they want to have sex, and if they are doing anything out of the ordinary. The second aspect of this society that is evident in the passage is the idea of the mechanized One State. D-503 recognizes that he is part of one giant machine, and that his actions are threatening both to the One State and to himself (“I was stealing my services from the One State, I was a thief”). Also in this section of the novel, D-503 is becoming “ill”, i.e. he is starting to go off the beaten path and do unusual things.  This is the beginning of D-503’s rebellion. Finally, in the last sentence of the passage, D-503 describes his body. He mentions lips countless times during the novel, and this is an important aspect of his character-he is very observant of his own and others’ features, especially their facial features. He is noticing the “numbers’” individuality, which is part of his epiphany that people are different. He realizes his society’s ideas about everyone being exactly the same are wrong.