We

In the novel, We, readers are shown a way of life in which people fear to be who they want to be, and live in fear of OneState and the Benefactor, that they live a life of conformity. It tries to show, like Anthem does, that world happiness and peacefulness can only occur when their is a lack of differences and everyone is equal in every single way. This quote from We shows how that, as long as humans walk the Earth, that is near impossible:

"One of the ancient wise men... managed to say something very smart: "Love and hunger rule the world." Ergo: To rule the world, man has got to rule the rulers of the world... isn't it clear that bliss and envy are the numerator and denominator of that fraction known as happiness?... some cause for envy... did remain, because noses remained... and because there are some whose love many people want, and others whose love nobody wants." (22)

This quote is interesting in that it shows that humans are still humans and as long as emotions remain and a human mind, then conformity can not happen so easily. Love and hunger are complex things in this world; thier not just some problem waiting to be resolved. People want to love, want to be loved, want to hunger for happiness, and need motivation to hunger for life. Yet in We, they try and make it so that people will not have to love or hunger at all because, as long as they are a faithful member of OneState, everything will be provided for them.

This plot-line mixes up peacefulness and conformity. It tries to convince the reader we all must be equal, individuality should cease existence and we need to be one. Peace is acceptance, though, not conforming so that others will like you and that you will be equal. Peace is capable when people recognize and accept their differences. I-330 yearns to explore the world outside the cage they are living in and her personality represents the strive individuals have to make their life worthwhile for themselves, not for the state or peoples around them.

This science fiction novel was hard for me to follow and get into. It was far-fetched and the main character, D-503, was difficult for me to follow. He did not know basic emotions most of the time which made it hard to grasp what he was experiencing most of the time. For the most part, though, I thought the theme was well thought out. I believe it did a good job at showing society that peace does not have to come from making people all the same, it has to come from accepting one another.