The Protagonist D-503 in We by Yevgeny Zamyatin Essay

We, written by Yevgeny Zamyatin in 1921 as a futurist depiction of protagonist D-503 living in a dystopian society controlled during the Russian revolution of 1917. It is the story of a head engineer writing in his journal who is living under the control of the benefactor, following laws in order to have the most efficient state and infallible happiness. The citizens are not given names they are given number and every hour of each of their lives are directed by a table. Zamyatin constructs the motif of machinery in order to convey the transition of the protagonist D-503 from a dehumanised cog in the OneState’s machine to an individual the readers could relate to. By analysing the tone, motif of machinery and diction to understand the†¦show more content†¦Zamyatin use a metaphor in D-503 language to reflect the protagonist lack of individuality. He indicates this lack of identity and beliefs â€Å"being original is to violate equality† (Zamyatin 1921, p27) co nstructing the collectivist beliefs of a communist stated. To further the transformation of the character D-503 is writing a journal which beings with â€Å"Record one† the â€Å"A Declaration. The Wisest of Lines. An Epic.† (Zamyatin 1921, p3) and ends in â€Å"Record Forty: Facts, The Bell Jar, I am Certain† (Zamyatin 1921, p138), written in chronological order giving the readers of the novel as strictly logical depiction of the characters thoughts. D-503 is conformist attitude towards the OneState is further highlighter when challenged by character I-330. Zamyatin introduces i-330 as a character who seduces and influences D-503 to begin going through various emotional and mental changes. D-503 has a chord struck of anger and passion for the OneState â€Å"Well, yes, it’s clear!† I cried (it was an astonishing intersection of thoughts: she was using almost exactly my words- the ones I had been writing before we walked in)† (Zamyatin 1921, p 8). Zamyatin changes D-503s tone to one of argumentative. Within the OneState it was against the law to argue â€Å"you see, even in our thoughts. No one is ever one is ever ‘one’, but always ‘one of’. We are so identical†¦..† her words: â€Å"are you sure†Ã¢â‚¬  (Zamyatin 1921, p8). D-503 isShow MoreRelated Crime and Punishment, Fathers and Sons, We Essay1555 Words   |  7 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Brilliance surely co mes with a price. Often a protagonist is, in his own right, an absolute genius, but for this gift of vision, he must remain isolated for eternity. Crime and Punishment (1886), by Fyodor Dostoevsky, depicts a poverty stricken young man who discovers a revolutionary theory of the mind of a criminal. Despite his psychological insight, Raskolnikov is alienated from society, and eventually forced to test his theory upon himself. Ivan Turgenev’s BazarovRead MoreAnalysis Of Yevgeny Zamyatin s The Motif Of Imagination 1264 Words   |  6 Pages Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We depicts a dystopian world ruled by the One State through the eyes and conscience of mathematician and protagonist D-503. We was written in 1921, after Russia saw the Great October Socialist Revolution of 1917, led by the Marxist Bolshevik leader, Vladimir Lenin. (Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d.) Zamyatin’s constructed ideals of the One State parallels that of his own country, under the totalitarian regime im posed by the communist government, in order to convey his satirical politicalRead MoreCrime and Punishment, Fathers and Sons, We1601 Words   |  7 PagesBrilliance surely comes with a price. Often a protagonist is, in his own right, an absolute genius, but for this gift of vision, he must remain isolated for eternity. Crime and Punishment (1886), by Fyodor Dostoevsky, depicts a poverty stricken young man who discovers a revolutionary theory of the mind of a criminal. Despite his psychological insight, Raskolnikov is alienated from society, and eventually forced to test his theory upon himself. Ivan Turgenevs Bazarov, in Fathers and Sons (1862)Read MoreAnalysis Of Yevgeny Zamyatin s The Road For Future Dystopian Novels 1935 Words   |  8 Pages Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We is known as the first dystopian novel and has paved the road for future dystopian novels, like George Orwell’s 1984. Both We and 1984 are scarily relevant to the 21st century and act as warnings aga inst the natural outcomes of totalitarianism. We’s protagonist is numbered D-503, a mathematician and the engineer behind the Integral. He lives under the careful watch of the Guardians and stays loyal to the authoritarian rule of the Benefactor. He lives in a city-state called the