What is a Human?

What is a Human? After reading We and Forests: The Shadow of Civilization it is clear that the answer lies in between both of them. We argues that animals are more human than machines whereas Forests: The Shadow of Civilization says that animals are not humans. Then what are we? Is there an answer? The best we can do is analyze the information that we are given and based on that come up with our own answer. Machines and animals don’t have curiosity, individuality, or greed; these are the key components to show that a human is in between a machine and an animal.

All people living in this era are curious about something. Why is it then that the People in We and in the forest aren’t? ‘Humans’ are obsessed with the unknown whether it’s overhearing a conversation, talking about space, or gossip in general. We detest being kept in the dark; it is an incurable need for us to want to know everything. The people in We however, don’t feel the same way. The majority of the people just live their life with a colossal bag of unanswered questions. Every year they vote for the benefactor not knowing why. They just do so because that is what society told them. They don’t question why they need to respect the table of hours, why they need pink coupons, or why they need to do what they are told. They just simply let it slide and tell themselves that’s what everyone does. This fact alone already rules them out as human’s; they don’t have the need to know all. Furthermore, animals are not better. They just live in the forest and don’t ask questions. It isn’t until the thunder struck that they realized that there was a sky. If a   human were stuck in the jungle he/she would have analyzed everything until it made sense. Even if it hadn’t made sense by analyzing everything they would have noticed an odd emptiness above them. The animals run around the jungle all day, never once questioning whether there is somewhere else they could be; they just simply accept it. ‘Humans’ wouldn’t! They would do whatever they deem necessary in order to get the answers they seek.

            Secondly, individuality is a key component in being human. We don’t like to be the same as somebody else we search within ourselves to find the things that make us unique. We like to do our own things because if don’t we would be boring and identical. Machines aren’t familiar with the word: unique. They do as they are told regardless of what they want. They all live the same way with the same rules. As a human that would bother you, we want to do things our own way. Our ego’s tell us we are better than everyone else. Machines don’t care about what others think, they just do as they are told. Animals are the same. They all run all day trying to do the same thing: find food. They don’t care whether somebody is faster than them or better looking. They simply do exactly what every other animal does. As humans we endeavor to find other ways, in the search of being unique and different.

            Lastly, all humans are covetous. We always want something new, we are never fully satisfied with what we are given. All people have this dire need to want more. Whether we can afford what we desire does not matter, what matters is to recognize that we have this greediness within us. Every time something new comes out we want it simply because it’s new, not getting it would mean we are using something old and unwanted. Machines on the other hand, don’t have that emotion; they don’t feel the need to have more. They accept what they are given and don’t ask for more. They live in a society in which you do not ask for anything, you only have what you are given. If you’re brought up like this then you never feel the emotion to constantly want something that is beyond your grasp. Once again, animals are alike. They never feel the need to have something more. Animals could have broken trees and ran until their very last breath trying to uncover something unknown. Yet, they decide to stay put and accept what they are given. Animals and machines lack an emotion that people have, is that not enough to rule them out as Humans?

            These are essential things that each person has, yet for some reason they are absent in animals and machines. Neither of them is human because they are extremes, one is at the end of mankind and the other is at the beginning of it. If the world really does re-create itself and this idea of a cycle exists then we are taking the two most extreme beings. Animal is how we started and Machines may be how we end. The part where we were humans was when we evolved from animals and hadn’t reached a point where we would be rid of our emotions. The answer lies somewhere in between. When exactly is impossible to tell, but we can see that animals and machines are very similar, is it possible that how we started and ended is almost the same? In the beginning we lacked knowledge and technology, but as time progressed did we end up having too much of it?

Society And Its People

These two articles bring a great deal of realization to people. It shows that we are not unique, we do only what society tells us. No matter who you are, you become a victim of society whether it is by loosing your identity in a democracy or giving up your life in theocratic society.

            In the Questions of Conquest article, the Incas surrendered themselves to death due to the inability to live without a leader. According to the author, these people lacked the ability to make their own decisions. These people are a creation of their society; they do not have the means to think for themselves. They had the opportunity to make a decision but they can’t exercise that privilege due to lack of individuality.  Furthermore, in a theocratic society the people are collective; they agree with each other and more or less do the same things. By living this way they loose what makes them unique, and it restricts their ability to be individual thinkers.

            Are we products of our society? Freedom and democracy endeavors to answer this question. From the moment we are born we are thought how to behave. As a baby we are told to smile and as we get older we are thought numerous other “necessary” manners such as ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’ However, the most interesting aspect of this article is the fact that kids are not the only ones that are manipulated by our society; adults are too. The author of this essay believes that we take ready-made goals and adopt them as our own. He’s absolutely right whilst making this statement. As a high school student, I seek the best possible education for the sole purpose that I am told it will get me the most prestigious job offers and a secure future. If I were to think of education in a different manner, my thoughts would be regarded as unusual. Why? Because we as students have grown accustomed to the fact that education only promises us a brighter future! We end up doing whatever we deem necessary in order to accomplish these goals and forget that they are not truly our own. 

            These articles expose the connection between the modern, western, and the historical Inca society.  From these articles we learn that each society has its flaws in guiding its people. The characteristics are displayed in great detail and therefore, allow us to see observe our society from a different angle.

Zamyatin is a remarkably talented writer with a very simple yet amazing approach.  The sentences flow well together, the scenes are incredibly descriptive, and at no point in the story do you feel lost or confused. He has perfected in making the audience understand his style and methods. At all times you are glued to the book and left to utter amazement.

When one reads On language they can instantly see the correlation between that and We. Furthermore, Zamyatin says that in order for an actor to be great he or she must stick to what they do best. By reading the book you can see that the author constantly describes everything in great detail. Zamyatin’s ability to give us a vivid image of what he’s talking about is exceptional. By exercising that talent he adds on to the quality of his book.

In order to be a great author one must believe in what he or she is writing. Zamyatin says, “If you are writing about provincial life, you must yourself at that moment live the life of the province.” This reflects greatly onto his book. Even though the people in We are from the future the author describes everything so well that you feel as though he has experienced it. Moreover, He has dedicated himself to the fact that while writing the book he lives in the same time period as the people in it. In fact, he is so dedicated that he goes on to say, “True writers reincarnate themselves into their heroes.”

Lastly, the reason We is such an amazing book is because Zamyatin knows how to make the reader understand his words. Zamyatin believes that, “The prime source and creator of language is the people.” Because his way of writing is so natural he is able to use neologisms and still have the reader know exactly what he means. The reason he is able to perfect this is because he believes that a good neologism can only be created if, “It always seems to you that you have heard of seen the word before, it sounds so natural.” I’m sure I must’ve come across a neologism while reading We but because it was so natural I kept on reading feeling as though I understood the word perfectly.

All in all, his dedication to the reader is what makes him such a magnificent writer.  His ability to experiment with a language, create new words, and describe specific scenes is just remarkable. The methods he talks about in On language are the reason for which We is such an exceptional read.