Record 8 - Close reading

Record eight explores the irrational root - square root of -1. D-503 is scared of this 'foreign, alien' irrational number that cannot simply be comprehended as it 'was beyond ratio.' He fears them, to the extent that he 'wants to build a little wall' around it. As readers, it may seem silly that he has this attitude towards a simple number; but for D-503, this is normal since he has been brought up believing that everything is rational and 'logical.' Yet, ironically, D-503 uses this irrational number subconsciously to provide reasons for unexplainable concepts.  Perhaps, this use is due to the government imposing the belief that all things can be explained by mathematics on its citizens. However, this is contradictory as Zamyatin uses repetition to convey that D-503 wants to '[tear] that [square root of minus 1]' out of himself, to 'stifle [the] damned [square root of minus 1]' in order for him to once again, be at peace with himself. Internal conflict is thereby created within D-503, it is this that is taken advantage of by I-330 and results in his betrayal of the One State later in the novel. At this point, it is almost as though I-330's influence is subtly affecting the ways in which D-503 thinks. Earlier in this novel, he believed that 'it is a given' that he and all the other ciphers are 'permanently [part of] a quadrilateral predicament.' However, he begin to feel that sometimes it is good to relax for 'a short time in this simple strong triangle', formed between R-13, O-90 and him which is 'not [perfectly] equilateral.' Conformity is still being illustrated, however this time, it is slightly different from the previous sections in the novel as D-503's attitudes towards uncertainty, irrationality and the unknown begin to change.

Record five

Rereading the novel We by Zamyatin, I have noticed many things that I missed out in my first reading.

Record five is a chapter with rich details. At the beginning of the record, the One State is likened to 'a quadrilateral', to the ciphers, it is 'a living and beautiful square.' Quadrilaterals vary from regular to irregular, here, Zamyatin uses the most special case - a square to convey the equality within the One State. A square has equal sides, this illustrates the confinement of the ciphers within the One State. Additionally, the citizens are likened to 'four equal angles', this is used to emphasis the uniformity of the One State. It is important to note that in a square, all angles are at a right angle; even here, rationality is shown, the One State revolves around logic and perfection. However this concept of equality is 'just a given, every day,' that all the ciphers are 'permanently in that same sort of quadrilateral predicament.' Here, limitation of knowledge and the boundaries determined by the One State's government have resulted in the citizens being extremely satisfied with their 'utopian' society where everything is built on the fundamental 'equivalent of four angles.'

'Bliss and envy' are supposedly the two items that make up 'the fraction known as happiness.' To achieve total happiness, enviousness must be completely eliminated so that the fraction can be 'transformed into a glorious infinity.' Enviousness is a primate human nature, it has 'remained' after the Two-Hundred-Year-War despite the One State's attempts to create equal beings. This is result of the subtle differences that are inevitable in society, 'noses are still "button" noses and "classical noses', 'some has achieved the love of many [while others] achieved the love of none.' However, being a totalitarian society, after eradicating the problem of hunger, the One State conquered the 'masters of the world - against love' in order for the state to be logical and fully 'mathematicised.' Love is an intimate subject, by the government's exertion of control over this, totalitarianism is pushed to the extreme.

• 'four-pawed X, inside me' - Already, I-330 has created an influence on D-503, though at this stage he does not realise this. This serve as a 'forewarning' of 'future catastrophes' and rebellion.
• '...beyond the bounds of my preselected keywords for this record. But then I decided: I won't cross out anything.' - Subconsciously, D-503 begins to challenge the laws of the One State, he goes beyond the boundaries that the One State's government has imposed on its people.