Anthem

The novel Anthem by Ayn Rand was a short yet meaningful depiction of a dystopian society. The main character Equality 7-2521 lives in a world where having your own identity is a crime. "It was not that the learning was too hard for us. It was that the learning was too easy" (9) Equality always knew he was different at a young age. His teachers chastised him and others like him for being too tall, and too smart. His brightness did not earn him a fit job in the Home of Scholars, ironically, it earned him one of the lowest ranking jobs, a street sweeper. In this society, everyone becomes "brothers" with those in their same job field. When Equality discovers the light bulb he is convinced he will be accepted into the Home of Scholars. All through the reading you find out the obstacles and fences Equality has to climb in order to reach his happiness.

I as well as others thought that the symbolism with the characters names in the novel is very unique. Equality 7-2521, International 4-8818, Solidarity 9-63647 and Liberty 5-3000 are the main names in the novel. Having numbers in the names of the characters allows for the reader to get the sense of robotics, math, and loss of identity and individualism.

Solidarity 9-6347- unity (as of a group or class) that produces or is based on community of interests, objectives, and standards
Equality- the quality or state of being equal
International- of, relating to, or affecting two or more nations
Liberty- the quality or state of being free

The irony of the name Liberty is that they are quite the opposite of being free. They live in a society where sameness is a necessity and being an individual is not of question. Solidarity meaning a group that is based on interests or objectives, which is exactly what each job is. International perhaps meaning their society, and how the rules and expectations are affecting everyone. Lastly, Equality, where everyone is equal is in fact what their society doesn't seem to be, or to Equality 7-2521 at least.

My favorite part in the novel was when Equality and Liberty ( The Golden One) try and tell each other their feelings on page 112. Because their vocabulary does not consist of the word "I", it is not simple for them to portray their feelings. Liberty states, "We are one . . . alone . . . and only . . .and we love you who are one . . . alone . . . and only." Having these words come out of her mouth instead of a simple, as we know, i love you, is genius. I really like this passage because it was the first time either has told each other something of value, it was as if they had just gone through a milestone in their relationship.

Overall i thought this book was at first confusing by the means of the wording and syntax, however once the plot started to thicken i enjoyed the skin of the novel, right through to the backbone. But i definitely have to say that because of the relationship that Liberty and Equality had it definitely made me enjoy the book more.

The Handmaid's Tale

To end our unit of reading novels on Utopian societies The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood went out with a bang. This novel is focused on extremes of the literal interpretation of the Bible. The main character, a handmaid named Offred is forced to live in a society where social commentary is clear, the government has been overthrown, and confusion is amongst many.
Offred lives in a world where human production is lacking immensely. Coming from being a woman from a “regular” family/life style she is chosen to be a Handmaid. Her duty is to have sexual intercourse with her Commander hoping to produce a child. Under these circumstances Offred and her Commander are not allowed to converse in any way except for the Ceremony in which the Commander’s wife is present as well. There is no kissing amongst Offred and her Commander; there is no love, no passion or feeling. In this society the people have been stripped of their feelings and beliefs, and are now numb to any sensitivity. The entire novel is a vivid journey on Offred’s challenge to rising to the expectations of her society.

I think the scrabble game played by the Commander and Offred is a symbol of hope. The Commander invites Offred to his study at night, while everyone is sleeping. Offred is skeptical about this due to the fact that it is unheard of to be alone with the Commander under such circumstances. She is assuming he wants some sort of sexual duty from her. When the Commander welcomes Offred into his room and pulls out the scrabble board she is relieved, yet questioning what is actually going on. While playing, both exchange glances and without speaking, they are communicating. Offred spells out different words that have meaning, such as larynx, valance, quince, and quandary. Coincidentally after looking up the definitions to the words, they are coming from Offred's heart, telling her story to the Commander, in an unspoken way. I think both are feeling a sense of hope in this scene. Offred feels as though her and the Commander are bonding in a way that they both have had past experiences in which they miss and are both forced to endure what has changed. They conclude the night with a kiss, however it is clear to see that the scrabble game was more sensual than the kiss. They both leave the night feeling a sense of remembrance and hope.



My favorite passage from the novel is on page 121, a scene that depicts the feminist theory. “A man is just a woman’s strategy for making other women.” Offred's mother is the main character in the story who shows feminism traits. Her mother was demanding and independent, both things that have been now taken away from women. Along with feminism, the abortion topic comes into play as well. When she got pregnant and told her friends that she was going to keep the baby, they all shied away from her. Offred's mother has many negative things to say about men and isn't afraid to say what's on her mind. A recollection of the past brings us to a park scene where Offred and a group of feminists are burning pornographic magazines. It describes this scene as somewhat of a chanting religious ceremony. I think that the way Atwood portrays feminists is brilliant with her use of characterization, symbolism, vivid details and interpretations.

This book was definitely my favorite out of the many books we've read so far. I thought that the subject matter, and the society itself grabbed my attention from the very beginning. I enjoyed the fact that it left you thinking after reading every sentence. I however, believe that Offred found what she was looking for in Nick, i think that even only having him for a period of time set her free in a way and allowed her to escape. I think in the end Offred does find happiness and does "step up in to the light".

We

"We" by Yevgeny Zamyatin was an extreme Utopian novel. The setting is set in the twenty-sixth century. The novel is full of technology, math, and sameness, all ruled by one "Benefactor" who controls what you do and how you do it. The main character D-503 is only one of the mathematicians in his world, and builder of the Integral in his society, OneState. He is controlled just like everyone else by The Table of Hours. D-503 opens the novel by admiring OneState and its values. Though once he meets I-330, a defiant girl who is clandestinely using him to get the integral and escape passed the Green Wall, his entire life is flipped into something he has never felt before. I-330 takes D-503 out of his comfort zone and he isn't sure how to react to this. D-503 is consumed with love, or is it lust? The major controversy of the novel is the question: does I-330 love D-503 or is she merely using him? After dealing with the confusion and consumption of what to make of his own feelings, he reports his illness (soul). His imagination gets taken away from him as he watches I-330 die with no emotion at all, just a smirk on his face. Proving a Utopian society with always be doomed.

My favorite passage is on page 33. "The cheerful little crystal bell in my headboard dings 7:00 AM; time to get up. To the right and left through the glass walls i see something like my own self, my own room, my own clothes, my own movements, and all repeated a thousand times. It cheers you up: you see yourself as part of an immense, powerful, single thing. And such a precise beauty it is: not a wasted gesture, bend, turn." This excerpt creates the image of a hundred mirrors all reflecting D-503's room and movements when in fact it is glass, with everyone doing the exact same thing and looking identical. Not only is D-503 expressing this in a natural, easy-going tone but he states that it cheers him up. He states that it is comforting knowing he's apart of a powerful, single thing. In our society now one feels cheerful and powerful by independence. The contrast of this passage to now is what captures my attention so much.

For me, as well as others, the book was confusing at first but definitely cleared up after the first few chapters. However the blunt ending, i actually enjoyed a lot. I thought that it allowed the reader to absorb everything in the novel and realize how we spent hours reading a novel about D-503's life and in just a split second, it's all taken away, disappeared, as if we haven't read about it at all.