We- Analysis and Thoughts

Yevgeny Zamyatin's novel, We, has been by far my least favorite novel. I found the whole situation and plot of the book far fetched and irrational. Although it did do its part to show the ultimate failure of Utopias I did not like the novel because I could not relate to it. I find that in order to truly enjoy a book you must be able to relate to it. I am not saying however, that We was a bad novel, it was well written and got its point across, I just am not interseted in this genre. As for showing the unlimited failure of utopias, We is one of the best. While reading this novel it becomes clear that forcing people into a certain way of life, forcing them to abide by predetermined schedules, and forcing them to accept the laws set before them inevitably leads to a society's downfall. You cannot have happiness without feeling sorrow, and you cannot be free but have no free will. D-503 and the citizens of One State are forced to feel the way they do, and they cannot think on their own. Because of this, the society has already failed them, and as shown, this leads to a society's downfall. We has an important that we should all abide by- think for yourself, embrace who you are, because individuality can set you free and that is the best utopia there is.

As for an analysis, I found the Benefactor to be an extremely interesting character. The Benefactor is god in all but name. His name is enough to strike fear and praise into those that hear it. Very few people in One State have ever seen the Benefactor in person, yet all have heard about his ways and his persona and fear him. I saw this as a direct connection to God because very few people had ever seen and come into contact with him, yet people still follow and praise him with no hard proof that he even exists.

The Benefactor also has the power to create and destroy, much like god. The Benefactor is able to create fear, rules, and laws, and he is able to destroy life and anything he creates. This brings up another good point- the Benefactor is seen and refereed to as a male character, not just in the book but when discussed in class. I do not remember reading anything that stated that the Benefactor was a man, yet from the description of its hand and voice we are to assume that it is indeed, male. This goes the same way for god. Yes, we have the bible that says that God is a male, but what if it is wrong? The bible was not written by God himself, no picture of him was included, no one in our lifetime has seen him in the flesh, so how are we to me sure? Without even seeing God, people show their allegiance to him, much like how people showed allegiance to the Benefactor.

God is also able to create and destroy. He can create and destroy life, he can bring about or take away happiness, much like the Benefactor, he has ultimate control. People look up to the Benefactor of leadership and guidance, much like how people look toward religion today. In this way, I see the Benefactor as a reference to God and our spiritual connection to him.