We by Yevgeny Zamyatin is a dystopian novel set in the future in the city of

OneState, a totalitarian society that controls every aspect of its citizens’ lives. The
protagonist, D-503, is an engineer who is tasked with building a spaceship called the
Integral to spread OneState’s ideals throughout the universe. Throughout the novel,
D-503’s thoughts and feelings are in constant conflict with the strict rules of the state,
and he struggles with his sense of individuality and freedom.

We is a powerful commentary on totalitarianism and the suppression of the

individual. Through its characters and setting, Zamyatin shows the dehumanizing
effects of a society in which the individual has little control over his or her own life.
For instance, in OneState, citizens are referred to by numbers rather than by names,
and their actions and thoughts are constantly monitored by the state. This serves to
suggest that the state has complete control over its citizens, and that their sense of
identity and freedom is completely eliminated.

Zamyatin also illustrates the consequences of a state that suppresses its citizens’
individuality. In the novel, D-503 is constantly struggling to reconcile his sense of
individuality and freedom with the rules of OneState. His inner struggle is a symbol of
the struggle of the entire society to maintain its oppressive system of control. In
addition, D-503’s eventual realization that he must reject the state’s control and
embrace his own individuality is a powerful statement about the need for individuals
to assert their own freedom in the face of oppressive systems.

We is a powerful example of dystopian literature that serves as a warning against the

dangers of totalitarianism. Through its characters and setting, Zamyatin illustrates
the dehumanizing effects of a society in which the individual is deprived of freedom
and individuality. The novel’s protagonist serves as an example of the individual’s
struggle to maintain a sense of self in the face of oppressive systems. By showing
the consequences of a state that suppresses its citizens’ individual freedoms, We
serves as a powerful warning against the dangers of totalitarianism and the
importance of asserting one’s own freedom.