Sources

Hutchings, William. "Structure and Design in a Soviet Dystopia: H.G. Wells, Constructivism, and Yevgeny Zamyatin's We." Journal of Modern Literature, 9.1 (1981): 81-123. EBSCO. Web. 31 January 2011.

Parrinder, Patrick. "Imagining the Future: Zamyatin and Wells." Science Fiction Studies. 1.1 (1973): 17-26. JSTOR. Web. 3 February 2011.

"Totalitarianism." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011. Web. 31 January 2011

Zamyatin, Yevgeny. We. Trans. Natasha Randall. New York: Modern Library, 2006. Print.

Every line after the first of a source gets a hanging indent.

Thesis

For my paper, I am going to write about how the author warns of the dangers of a totalitarian government. At the time he was writing this novel, there wasn't really a term for this kind of government, but the later definition describes the cipher's lives perfectly. If given the chance, government will control all aspects of life.

Prediction

Before I finish the book, I would like to guess how it will end. At the point I am at right now, D-503 has to decided whether he wants to be with the one he loves, or be "happy." They are performing operations on them to get rid of every one's imagination. The government has decided that without this "sickness" everyone will be happy. I-330, though, is still rebelling. She doesn't want to be cured. More than that, she doesn't want D-503 to get the operation done either. Does she really love him or is she simply using him? I think she is just using him because it is obvious that she picked him for the reason that he has access to the Integral. It's possible that she fell in love with him during the process of changing him, but it is unlikely. The only thing I-330 loves is freedom. Maybe if D-503 follows through with the plan she eventually could love him, but for the moment she just wants to live. If the story follows its pattern, D-503 will follow through with the plan because he always does what she wants. But books like to surprise us, so I think he will get the operation after he helps I-330 escape.

D-503 did end up getting the operation but he did not help I-330 escape. In fact, he actually led her to her death. Once he gets his operation he can't even believe that he once had such crazy thoughts. It took great power to get him to realize that she only used him. That's the way love is; your heart thinks more than your head. Logically, you understand that something isn't right, but your heart overrides these thoughts and prevents you from seeing it. The only character who has a truly happy ending is O-90 because she escapes and gets live with her child and the rest of the unnumbered people.

State of the Union

Personally, an important issue that Barrack Obama brought up was the education points. I am double majoring in elementary and special education. Getting rid of No Child Left Behind is a good thing for me. Hopefully the new Race to the Top program will be beneficial. He put emphasis on the importance of educators. We need to further our education in order to be on top of the world economy.

I also thought it was interesting that the Democrats and Republicans sat next to each other. Usually, they are split in the middle. At times it looked like it was kind of awkward because every-other person would be standing up, while the other people sat.

It was kind of annoying how they clapped after everything the President said.

Living in the One State

The thing I would dislike most about living in the One State would be the loss of a family. My family is very close, and I can't imagine not having that relationship. These days, there are many different varieties of families. Some people have more than two generations living in their household. Some live in single parent homes. I live in the traditional, mom, dad, kids home, although my dad is gone most of the time working. I'm the youngest and was heavily influenced by my siblings, especially my sister. Over the last couple of years she has not only been my sister but one of my best friends. We share the same group of friends and if we hadn't grown up together we probably never would've becam friends.

Reader-Response

Love is a powerful thing. It can make people do crazy things. When I read We, I get the feeling it is about something more than totalitarianism. There is a powerful love story behind it. You can't use logic to figure out love, most of us know this. D-503finds this out first-hand. He knows what he should do, but there is something keeping him from doing it. He even goes as far as to convince himself he will do what is right, but at the last minute he can't get himself to do it. His love for I-330 is so strong that he would do anything for her. The government did their best to keep anything like this from happening, but it the end you can't keep stop love.

We Post Number One

Style: The author writes in a purposefully messy way. He makes the reader feel like he or she is really in D-503's head by cutting sentences short and jumping from thought to thought. He also uses mathematically terms a lot to enforce the that thought everything can be calculated to perfect life.


Tone: I think it has a mocking tone. The author is ridiculing society for the way it is. In this futuristic One State, they think it is funny how we used to do things. I don't know maybe this is way off, but that's what I get out of it.


Irony: I think an ironic moment occurs after D-503 and I-330 have sex. When O-90 comes over for her turn, D-503 tells us he can't. He says I should, but i mustn't. Today, you shouldn't have sex with two people but for them, it was like a duty.


Plot: The plot occurs in a chronological order. It's a diary, with an occasional flashback; like the one of him in school.


Characterization: The author tells us how the characters are by giving physical descriptions which also relate to their personalities. We also learn about the characters through their actions. D-503 is a dynamic character. We watch as he transforms from as he puts it the "real me" to "sickness." So far O-90 seems to be a static character. She does as she's told. 

Setting: The story occurs in the One State, in spring of many years from today. 

Symbolism: Cipher I-330 represents the old ways of freedom, fun, and sin.

Theme: What would happen if government controlled every aspect of our lives?

Point of View: The story is told through D-503 in a first person narrative of a major character.

About Me

Hey! This is my first year in college and so far I love it. I decided to go to USD because I wanted to stay in state, and I didn't know what I wanted to do. A few months after school started, I decided to double major in elementary and special education.

Throughout high school I was involved in activities. My favorite one was gymnastics. As a freshman in high school I only competed varsity vault, but the last three years I competed all four events. My senior year was filled with many injuries, keeping me from participating in some of the meets. As a junior I experimented with drama club and had a part in one of the school plays. Also that year, I helped plan and set up prom as a prom co-chair. Senior year I participated in DECA and was the class secretary. In the summer, I play co-ed softball.

Working is something that has always taken up a lot of my time. I started working at Hardees at the beginning of freshman year. I was a cashier for two years, but when I turned sixteen my boss began training me to become a supervisor. I also learned how to cook. I am still currently employed there. I have also taught gymnastics seasonally in the fall and summer.

In my spare time I like to read, color, play Just Dance, cook, watch movies, and hang out with my friends and family.