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.