We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

Analysis of a Symbol
The one symbol in We that I find interesting is the importance of the pink tickets.  The pink tickets were used to assign sexual partners for the night.  Anyone could choose who they wanted to be “assigned” to in this society.  When D-503 first got assigned to I-330 they continued to get their pink tickets for each other. They followed the law and only slept together on their assigned nights.  The tickets represent following and conforming to the laws of One State.  When I-330 and D-503 went into the house from the “past”, they break the laws of the pink ticket, and the laws of One State.  They get carried away and have sex; but this time, it was sex with emotion and meaning for D-503.  “There was no pink ticket, no accounting, no One State, there was no me”( Zamy-atin 73).  This marks when D-0503 really starts to go against One State and himself in a way, he used to follow the society strictly.  This statement also shows the importance of the pink tickets, or the laws of One State.  Without them and their followers, there would be no One State.  

Favorite Quote

“The only means of ridding man of crime is ridding him of freedom.” 

I found this quote ironic. Living in the land of the free, I am able to fully appreciate my freedom in this world. Discontent breeds crime, and so in the world of We, there is crime and rebellion that is hidden from the general public, and many of the citizens are brainwashed, just as D-503 is. Later in the novel, D-503 does find out about the rebellion, he is half willing to join, realizing that his lack of freedom is constricting. 

Thoughts

I did not enjoy reading We. I found it boring to read, hard to follow at times, and I didn't like how D-503 would cut himself off, not ending his sentences. I found this structure frustrating. It is not my least favorite novel that I have ever read, but it definitely was not my favorite either.  I found the story line to be very confusing.  I felt that D-503 would be talking about being in one place and then within the very next sentence he was somewhere completely different.  The other reason I did not enjoy the story is because of the fact that they did not succeed in their revolution.  They did not achieve the freedom they so desire and D-503 is brainwashed and turned back into a conformist.  This was just a disappointing ending. 

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Analysis of a Symbol
The FAITH pillow at the beginning of the novel, found in Offred's room at the Commander's home, is a symbol of hope and faith that Offred has in people and her chances of survival. Offred put a lot of her time into reading and rereading the pillow, the only words left for her to read in the world. Towards the end of the novel, as Offred fears and accepts that there is little hope left, she throws the pillow away from herself, trying to forget her old life, ridding herself of any hope there may be left. 


Favorite Quote
"My room, then. There has to be some space, finally, that I claim as mine, even in this time."
This quote is a turning point in the story in which Offred slowly accepts her circumstances and the situation she is in. By deciding to claim this space as her own, she has accepted her belonging to the Commander, and to this new society. I find this quote really important because Offred is more able rebel in her own small ways when she doesn't have to consider her "home" a strange, foreign place. 


Thoughts
Overall, I did not enjoy the novel because I did not feel a connection to Offred and her struggles as a woman in a world dominated by men. However, I enjoyed the simple language it was written in, and the deeper meanings throughout the novel. I feel the novel makes a very effective statement about taking the Bible to extremes, about the value of freedoms, and about taking these freedoms for granted.  As I said though, the story was quite depressing because of the horrors demonstrated in Offred's twisted society.  The fact of all the women having no freedom and being forced to live like they are in prison is quite scary and horrible.