We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

Analysis of Symbol

                      Throughout We, Zamyatin uses the mirrors and the eyes as symbols, representing windows to the inside (the truth) and mirrors to the outside  to enhance D-503’s conflict of finding his true self; the one he physically sees in the mirror (the one loyal to OneState) or his true hairy, wild self (the one that craves I-330 and freedom). Zamyatin utilizes these symbols and incorporates them into the text more frequently as D-503’s conflict of deciding who he really is brews, and he sanity diminishes.

                       One of the first real descriptions of eyes is seen when D-503 and I-330 are in the Ancient House:

            At that moment all I could see were her eyes…

            I saw before me two ominously dark windows, and inside there was another life, unknown…a flame – there was some sort of “fireplace” inside (of I-330)…What I saw there was my own reflection. But it was not natural and it did not look like me. I felt absolutely afraid, I felt trapped, shut into the wild cage, I felt myself swept into the wild whirlwind of ancient life. (Zamyatin 28-29)

This is D-503’s first glimpse into the mysterious fire of freedom that burns within I-330; her eyes are windows that allow him to see the truth inside of her. Not only are her eyes windows, but they are mirrors that reflect his own image. This self image is at that moment unrecognizable to him, but soon becomes his “second” self. Zamyatin is able to launch the start of D-503’s drawn out conflict with his two selves, yet also spark his curiosity for I-330 through the use of eyes.

            This conflict and realization of D-503’s two selves is later seen in the novel:

            I became glass. I saw myself, inside.

            There were two of me’s. One me was the Old one, D-503, Number D-503, and the other…The other used to just stick his hairy paws out of his shell, but now all of him came out, the shell burst open, and the pieces were just about to try in all directions…and then what? (56)

At this point, D-503 has been around I-330 for so long that he cannot keep hiding his true inner self; her visions of freedom and individuality have forever changed him and have awakened and freed a version of him that he has suppressed for quite awhile now. In standing before this mirror, he becomes transparent, as if he were looking into his own eyes to see his inside; this is his real self.

             Zamyatin describes another scene with mirrors and eyes:

           

            I’m in front of a mirror. And for the first time in my life, I swear it, for the very first time in my life, I get a clear, distinct, conscious look at myself…I am looking at myself, at him, and I am absolutely certain that he, with his ruler-straight eyebrows, is a stranger, somebody else, I just met him for the first time in my life. And I’m the real one. I AM NOT HIM. (59)

Again standing in front of a mirror, D-503 is faced with who he physically sees in the mirror, his physical self, and his other self, his internal, true self. At this point however, he knows which self he is, the self from the inside. He has just been having difficulty accepting that because he has kept this true self of him submerged deep within him for so long. D-503 is sure of himself and acknowledges the fact that the self who he physically sees in the mirror is not who he is, but once was, just a being, a body, a presence.

            Thus Yevgeny Zamyatin depicts D-503's battle through the symbols of the eyes and mirrors. With several scenes revolving around the eyes and mirrors, Zamyatin heightens the severity of D-503’s conflict with his two selves (his insanity) and in doing so is able to guide D-503 to the point of deciding which self he is going to be and wants to be. Ultimately to the decision of whether or not D-503 will remain loyal to OneState or break free with I-330.

Favorite Quote

“All were saved (from freedom), but there was no saving me, not any longer. I did not want to be saved…” (179).

This quote is one of my favorites because it is decisive, final, but also bittersweet. After 178 pages of confusion, and conflict in choosing from his two selves, D-503 gets to page 179 and finally knows what he wants. He knows that this life of beautiful precision, math, and logical reason, is not the life he wants to live; this is not who he wants to be. He does not want the 100% happiness, he wants his freedom. In this moment in time, he is thinking clearly, is adamant in his choice and declares with conviction that he will not be saved, that he, D-503 will not get the Operation. For D-503 to finally come to such a conclusion after such a mental battle of incomprehensible, overwhelming emotions, it is a very triumphant, glorious moment for him. Then by the end of the novel, after finding out his fate, it is depressing and slightly numbing to know that he endures so much throughout the course of the novel only to get back to the mind set and life that he tries so very hard to escape from.

My Thoughts of the Novel

Overall, I really did enjoy reading this novel. I enjoyed the contrast between the logical, reasonable, mathematical, precise life of OneState that D-503 is so accustomed to, and the unpredictable, asymmetrical, unique life of freedom that I-330 preaches. As the novel progresses, these contrasting lives only intensify as does D-503’s conflict in choosing which life he wants to live, who he wants to be. Is he destined to be an individual like I-330, or just another body in the crowd of we? Such confusion and uncertainty is only enhanced with each of his encounters with I-330, who not only feeds his mind with the concept of “freedom,” but his soul and body with new unknown emotions - passion, love, and sorrow.  With I-330’s use of seduction to get exactly what she needs from the INTEGRAL builder to make freedom a reality, and D-503’s love for her and indecisiveness on whether he wants “happiness” or not, Yevgeny Zamyatin kept me entertained and intrigued throughout his novel, We.

Other Connections:

In We, there are many "Long lives..." which reminded me of some others that I have come across.

"Long live OneState! Long live the Numbers! Long live the Benefactor!" (Zamyatin 4).

"Long live the Builder!" says I-330 (151).

"Long live the Great Operation! Long live OneState! Long live the Benefactor!" (173).