"We" by Yevgeny Zamyatin is a dystopian novel set in a future totalitarian society governed by logic and reason. The story is narrated by D-503, a mathematician and chief engineer of the spaceship Integral, who lives in the One State. The society is controlled by the Benefactor, and individuality is suppressed for the collective good.
The citizens live in glass buildings, allowing constant surveillance, and their lives are regulated by strict schedules. Personal freedom is virtually non-existent, and even emotions are considered dangerous. The story begins with D-503 enthusiastically supporting the state's ideology and documenting the construction of the Integral, which is intended to conquer and bring the state's ideology to other planets.
However, D-503's life changes when he meets I-330, a woman who introduces him to forbidden experiences and ideas. Through his relationship with her, he begins to question the principles of the One State and experiences a transformation, developing emotions and desires that conflict with his previously rigid worldview.
As D-503 becomes more involved with I-330 and the underground resistance she is part of, he struggles with his loyalty to the One State and his growing sense of individuality. The novel explores themes of freedom, individuality, and the conflict between the collective and the personal.
"We" is considered one of the first dystopian novels and has influenced many later works in the genre, including George Orwell's "1984" and Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World." The book was banned in the Soviet Union for its critical portrayal of totalitarianism.
No comments:
Post a Comment