We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

Analysis of a Symbol: 
     The symbol of the √-1 in this novel represents any and all questioning there may be in the society of We. The citizens are left to question nothing, everything is under control by the Benefactor, and the society is stricken with this overpowering dictatorship that is widely approved of. However there are questions that cannot be answered, phenomena that cannot be explained. This is displayed by the phenomena √-1, the irrational root, the insolvable equation. This symbol represents the fragility of a society that fears the unknown, and how easily it can be undone.  


Favorite Quote:
     "What's going on? A soul? Did you say, a soul? What the hell! Next thing you know we'll have cholera again. What did I tell you? [He tossed the thin one on his horns.] I told you so.... We should operate on all of them, on the imagination. Extirpate the imagination. Surgery's the only answer... nothing but surgery...." (Zamyatin 88).
     This quote, in particular, displays the hilarity of the novel, and is one of the most humorous moments throughout the text. The irony is hilarious in itself. This quote displays the whole idea of the novel really well, it shows how ridiculous the idea is of a world without creativity, imagination, inspiration, and love is, and world based on facts. The idea of a soul being compared to cholera, a horrible illness, is comical. Yevgeny Zamyatin is displaying through this novel the horrors of a dystopian society using comparisons that the reader can relate to and understand. 


Thoughts:
     I found We to be less thrilling than Fahrenheit 451 and Anthem as it concerns the plot of the story in regards to the dystopian society that Yevgeny Zamyatin creates. However, while it is less thrilling, it is intriguing in its contrast to both F451 and Anthem in that the main character, D-503, is not the hero or revolutionary in the end, he is nothing but a disappointment. D-503 has no characteristics typical to those of a hero, such as fighting for what he believes, and even being courageous enough to have those beliefs. This is what I find most interesting about the novel. While reading, I felt the turmoil within me much as D-503 felt, only it was concerning my hatred/love for D-503, not I-330 as his was. This I found interesting because it was so unexpected to have this feelings while reading. This turmoil forced me to continue thinking about the novel long after I set it down, and that is why I enjoyed the novel.