The novel We written by Yevgeny Zamyatin written in 1921 presents a dystopian world upon which mathematical principals are associated as equations with puzzling thoughts or actions, used to deal casually with during the routines of a systematic, generally exposed lifestyle. No longer are people sensitive to the greater workings of the human spirit; they are but trapped in their own ideals and false belief that the society One State with which they themselves dwell, idolize, and praise constantly is perfect in its entirety. To further enhance a person’s sense of reasoning in regards to the proportional logic pertaining to a person’s role in society, emotions have been thoroughly discarded, numerous operations and scientific advancements underway in a gathered effort to remove one completely of his imagination-or, of what is all the more precious- a soul. A person is only worth what their bodies and intelligence can provide. Personalities are one thing, but opinions that do not match those of the state are both unlawful and obsolete, considered completely incorrect and treason against the great Benefactor. Dimensional figures, mathematical equations, and visually sequenced sentence structure (often times that in the form of a mathematical equation) contributes to the text and theme by which adhering to D-503 (the leading protagonist’s) views of what life is, as well as how to define tender moments in it using only variables and numbers. “First, I did in fact get an order to be in that very auditorium 112, just as she had told me. Although the probability was something like: 1500/10,000,000= 3/20,000” (Zamyatin 16). Furthermore, the mathematical attachment D-503 has to use in dealing with thoughts and concerns is found even within the names of the society. Males have consonants preceding odd numbers, while females’ vowels come prior to even numbers. People are referred to as “numbers.” Throughout the course of the book, irony is also evident while noting D-503’s initial reaction to irrational thought followed by bias ideals contradicted with every weak move and vague dream around or about I-330, a rebellious, flirtatious woman with a careful understanding of human psychology and sociology. Her interactional skills and mindful intuition allow her to possess power over people (particularly men), including D-503, the Integral’s (One State Spaceship) leading mathematician and mechanic. At one point in the novel, there is an attempt by the character S-4711 to try and explain the human soul to ‘D’ in the only language or English text he can refer to:
Take a flat plane, a surface, take this mirror for instance . . . everything penetrates into it, inside, into that mirror world that we peer into with such curiosity, like children. The plane has taken on mass, body, the world, and it’s all inside the mirror, inside you: the sun, the wash from the aero’s propeller, and your stand, the cold mirror reflects, throws back, while this absorbs, and the trace left by everything lasts forever. (87)
Of course, because a soul is virtually indefinable, it is considered a malfunction by the state. Moreover, ‘D’ hears about a recent medical treatment discovered for irrational thought. Because D-503 considers himself ill on account of having dreams/nightmares/feelings, he too considers the operation. “‘Have you heard about this new operation they’re supposed to have developed—the one where they cut out the imagination?’” (79). Finally, after having an imaginative-removal procedure performed on his brain, D-503 looses himself during the procedure—his emotions, sympathy, and essential spirit.
