Journal 3: We

   I've decided that my motif of the descriptions of people is better suited for the language section, so I'm going to address that later. As for windows, the last third of the novel didn't much expand upon that motif. The most prominent appearances of windows or glass in the end was when I-330 was placed under the Gas Bell Jar, behind a window through which the Benefactor and D-503 watched. This provides a parallel between that and the citizens of the One-State watching the "barbarians" through the glass of the Green Wall.

   I'd like to turn my focus to the motif of colors, more than just pink or yellow or blue this time. Throughout the novel Zamyatin used bright colors to describe everything; Pink, Yellow, Blue, Blood Red, Green, and more. But he never (as far as I can remember) uses black and white to describe anything. Even when he is describing race and skin color, he says "african lips" or "bronze skin" to describe people, instead of saying "black" or "white". Now, there is a quote that absolutely explained why Zamyatin did this, and it comes when O-90 is desperate to find a way out of the operation, and D-503 is in conflict about whether or not to help her. He says, "Preposterous, because white cannot at the same time be black, duty and crime cannot coincide. Or is there no black or white in life, and the color depends only on the initial logical premise? And if the premise was that I unlawfully gave her a child..." And this, THIS caused such an epiphany moment for me. Zamyatin is proposing that there is no black and white, that there is no right or wrong, that there is no one way or the other. And the color, the color is based on the original premise. So all the colors, and their connotations to D-503, is based on his original premise– his original feelings and subconscious thoughts about those colors. So of course he associates everything intimate with pink- it's based on something from his past, the original premise. Etc. Jeezum Crow I wish I had done my IOP on this.   Setting! After doing research on Zamyatin's life and the cultural setting, I know more about the parallels. For instance, Zamyatin lived through the February and October Revolutions in Russia. At first Zamyatin supported the Bolsheviks, but after they gained power, he feared their communist and totalitarian ideals. After the October Revolution, there were many years of civil war within Russia, which likely influenced Zamyatin's ideas about how there is never a "final revolution," which he states in his novel. The establishment of the Soviet Union, rising from the civil wars and revolutions, parallels the One-State, which rose after the Two-Hundred-Year-War.After the Soviet Union was established, and began to spread communist ideals, Zamyatin feared the eventual forced spread of communism to the entire world. This can be seen in his novel, with the symbol of the Integral, which will send the ideas of the One-State to other planets in the universe. And if the populations of other planets don't agree, the principles of the One-State will be forced upon them. This is much like the imperialism that was popular through out the world (including Russia) during Zamyatin's lifetime. All of this seemed very pertinent to my understanding of the setting of the novel. 

   Now, language. The end became more clear to me, whereas the middle was more confusing. There was less flip-flopping, because D-503 was more accustomed to the idea of revolt, revolution, or change in the One-State. I think this was caused by the Day of the One Vote, when people actually raised their hands to vote "No." This caused a turning point in D-503, as he realized that perhaps he was not the only one who had a "disease", or a soul, though he never mentions it in his diary. But the change can be seen in his writing, which becomes clearer and more purposeful as he describes the events that took place. Of course, the epitome of the clear and purposeful narration comes at the end, when his imagination has been eliminated. His language and style is monotone and blank, and illustrates his lack of imagination wonderfully. Even in the end, though, he still noticed that I-330 was beautiful. Perhaps this presents the idea that beauty is always knowable, and is not connected to the soul... Perhaps.