Journal #2

The motif of glass and clearness that I previously wrote about is not as apparent in the second third of the book. In fact, there seems to be a shift in clearness to confusion. Glass is not talked about as much as it was in the first third of the book. Everything is not as clear as it used to be now that D-503 has developed a "soul" and a love for I-330. For example, before D-503 enters the corridors for the second time, he was unsure if he actually did enter them or if he was imagining them. During that experience, he was "scratched by a rough wall [...] There was blood on my finger and it was clear that all this was not a game of my sick imagination" (86). He seems to be sure that it actually happened, but later he writes "the Second Builder assured me that he himself had seen me accidentally touch the polishing wheel with these fingers-and that was the whole reason for it" (88). There are two conflicting ideas as to how his fingers were scratched, adding on to the confusion of the experience. Along with that idea, he thought he was dead for a short time before waking up in the darkness. There is little certainty in what is going on. This all adds to the motif of confusion that is presented, replacing the clearness that was previously keeping D-503 together and properly functioning.

A key setting in the second third of the book is the Ancient House. In the first third, all we knew about this "museum" was that it displayed the savage, primitive life of the Ancients. Through the Ancient House, we learn more about the society and the other societies outside the Green Wall. This Ancient House shows some fallacies and holes in the One State. Some of the civilians are secretly working to bring down the Green Wall. The Guardians that are said to be closely watching the people have not caught these people, showing the imperfect system. Also, during the scene when D-503 is with I-330 in the meeting place, we see an outside society. At first, D-503 is confused as to who they are but comes to the conclusion that "by the looks of them, they were people" (136). These people do not have clothes but are covered with fur. D-503 is in a completely new world and even has trouble walking on the ground that is "not level under my feet" (136). This shows how closed of a society the One State is. The civilians like D-503 are completely unaware of the outside world besides the idea that they are superior to the outside driven into them through propaganda.

The use of mathematical expressions in the language that I previously wrote about seems to have changed as well. I still see it here and there, but it is not as common and apparent. I first noticed this when D-503 describes the two doctors in the Bureau of Medicine. He describes the first as "shortish, with cinder-block legs, and his eyes, like horns, tossed up the patients" (79) and the second as "skinny and sparkling with scissor-lips and a blade for a nose" (79). I asked myself why D-503 did not use some mathematical descriptions to describe the doctors like he normally would. In the first third of the book, mathematical expressions were constantly used to describe things. Now, it is becoming less apparent. I think this could show a change in D-503 or maybe the society itself. Things are not as clear and definite as I previously associated with the math language. D-503 is confused with his "soul" and imagination. Confusion is further added through D-503 constantly cutting off what he was talking about. Frequently he never finishes his thought. For example, he says "But why do I, why do I-" (94). This language manipulation also adds to the confusion seen in D-503 and society.