We

Historical Context and Significance

The novel «We» by Yevgeny Zamyatin, written in 1920-1921, became one of the first works in the dystopian genre. It had a significant impact on world literature, anticipating themes and ideas that would later be developed in famous dystopias like George Orwell's «1984» and Aldous Huxley's «Brave New World». The novel criticizes the idea of a utopian state where all aspects of human life are subject to control and regulation by the state. Zamyatin depicts a society where personal life, freedom of speech, and creative individuality are suppressed for the sake of collective order and stability. «We» became a symbol of the struggle against totalitarianism and the loss of individuality, resonating particularly in the context of the rise of totalitarian regimes in the 20th century.