Semiotic Explication of Models of Ideologically Alternative Societies in E.I. Zamyatin’s Dystopia «We»

Abstract

Based on the material of value judgments contained in the narrator D-503’s diary entries, the publication carries out the semiotic reconstruction of models of ideologically incompatible societies, traces the possibilities of transition from one model to another model as a way of developing humanity in the author’s imaginary reality. As the research methodology, A.J. Greimas’s concepts of the actanial scheme and the semiotic square are used, which recognize the importance of the dichotomy of polar linguistic signs in the process of interpreting their semantics. The author analyzes the relations of contrarity established between the models of impeccable and imperfect (ancient and oppositional) societies based on the extraction of deep meanings from the surface narrative structure. It is established that each of these models, functioning as the semiotic construct, is filled with specific semantics against the background of the opposition of another model. The concept of an actanial scheme turns out to be relevant when identifying the specifics of the narrator’s assessment of social structure models. The antonymic content of these schemes is analyzed based on the Benefactor and ancient ancestors’ position. The holders of these positions change the actanial roles of the subject and the antisubject. A multiple interpretation of the semiotic square of the Benefactor’s impeccable society is given as a formed community of people against the background of the opposition of the model of a formless society, assuming both a positive and negative perspective of development. Accordingly, these models are investigated in terms of positive and negative deixis, as well as implicative and suppositional relations. Relevant / irrelevant strategies of transition from one model to another model are traced, which can be either straight-line or assume an intermediate stage. The concept of the semiotic square underlies the analysis of the development of models of societies on the dystopian narrative historical axis. The ideas of models reflecting the immediate period of the narrative and potential future events, as well as the imagined past, are systematized. It is concluded that the models of society related to the current moment of the narrative are in a state of formation, however, they have formed ideological attitudes, which increases the antagonism between them.

Keywords

• dystopia
• linguistic sign
• value judgments
• ; model of society
• semiotic square
• actanial scheme
• deep meanings
• surface narrative structure
• implication relations
• suppositive relations