Book: We
Topic: How the colors in the book affect the understanding of what is happening.
The most prominent color in the second chapter (entry) in We is the color blue. According to Color Basics for Print and Web by Jacci Howard Bear, blue holds multiple meanings. First, the color blue is suppose to create a cool, calming effect that creates a tranquil mood. It is associated with consciousness and intellect. Therefore, things that are blue are said to symbolize "trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, stability, conservatism, faith, truth, and heaven."
The chapter opens up with D-503 praising the sky, "Blue, unblemished by a single cloud" (pg 3). By describing the scene as blue, D-503 is emphasizing what he considers a flawless society. This symbolism of blue is referring to how the society is built on mathematics and intelligence. Therefore, for the sky to be unblemished means that there is nothing hindering from the stability of the society. This illustrates D-503 loyalty to his society because the color blue shows that he puts faith in what his society is built upon. He has no "clouds" or doubts in his mind. Yevgeny most likely used this color to emphasize how ordered and loyal the citizens are to their society. This same idea is again illustrated on the next page when D-503 describes the scene as, "flooded with pale blue sunlight" (pg 4). Pale blue is associated more with calmness and tranquility. Sunlight can refer to spotlighting and emphasizing the structured society. Towards the end of the chapter, D-503 describes O-99 similarly to how he described the sky, "I kissed her lovely blue eyes, unshadowed by a single cloud..." (pg 9). Again, this emphasizes the faithfulness of the citizens to their society. O-99 is considered, in D-503's opinion, as someone who does not have any doubts (or clouds) about the society.
When the color blue is applied to clothing the meaning is slightly changed. The clothing in We is described as "pale blue unifs" (pg 5). Blue clothing is associated with importance and confidence. Therefore, the clothing gives the sense that each character holds significance to the One State. Additionally, since blue is a cool color it creates a calming effect that recedes. Thus, even though this color represents confidence, it also shows that the people are not the center of attention but part of the background of the society.
In total, the idea that blue can represent stability and unity is important. The society of the One State is very organized so for each person to wear this color shows the importance of structure and wholeness (The idea of We rather than individuality). I am interested in seeing if the connotation of this color will change throughout the novel, because as calming as blue maybe, too much blue is said to "dampen spirits" and create the feeling of "depression".
