'We' - Yevgeny ‘Eugene’ Zamyatin. Record 8 & 9
0"We," a dystopian novel by Yevgeny ‘Eugene’ Zamyatin, depicts a totalitarian society called the One State, where individuality is suppressed and citizens live under strict control and surveillance. The protagonist, D-503, a mathematician and builder of the spaceship Integral, initially embraces this rigid order but his encounter with I-330 challenges his beliefs and leads him to question the One State's values. The novel explores themes of individuality versus collectivism, freedom, and the dangers of unchecked authority.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
• Setting: The story is set in a future where a totalitarian state, the One State, controls every aspect of its citizens' lives.
• One State's Society: Citizens, known as "numbers," live under a rigid schedule dictated by the Table of Hours and are identified by numbers, not names.
• D-503's Journey: D-503, initially a loyal citizen, experiences a transformation as he grapples with his emotions and begins to question the One State's ideals.
• Impact of I-330: I-330 introduces D-503 to concepts of individuality and rebellion, challenging his perception of the One State.
• Dystopian Themes: The novel explores themes of individuality vs. collectivism, freedom vs. control, and the dangers of a society built on reason and logic without emotion.
• Loss of Individuality: The One State aims to eliminate individuality through forced operations, highlighting the destructive consequences of suppressing human emotions and desires.
• Influence: "We" is considered a seminal work in dystopian literature, influencing later works like George Orwell's "1984".
Yevgeny Zamyatin's "We" was first published in English in 1924, translated by Gregory Zilboorg, though the original Russian text wasn't published in the Soviet Union until 1988. The novel, written between 1920-1921, was suppressed in Russia for many years due to its critical portrayal of totalitarianism.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
1920-1921: Zamyatin writes "We".
1924: First published in English by E. P. Dutton in New York, translated by Gregory Zilboorg.
1931: Zamyatin, facing increasing pressure in the Soviet Union, is granted permission to leave the country.
1952: The original Russian text is first published in New York.
1988: "We" is finally published in the Soviet Union, after a long period of suppression, coinciding with the period of Glasnost.
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