One literary
device used in Chapter 2 is that of flashback. Equality 7-2521 actually speaks to Liberty
5-3000, but he also takes us back, in flashback, to the first time he noticed her: Equality
7-2521 was passing Liberty 5-3000. All the other women were faroff in a distant field, and the
Street Sweepers had fallen behind Equality7-2521. Liberty 5-3000 was kneeling at a moat,
looking at Equality7-2521. He recalls seeing water falling from her hands.
is particularly vivid in this chapter, too. Equality 7-2521 notices details about Liberty
5-3000, such as her hair. No one in this society is supposed to notice the specific unique
characteristics of anyone else so not only do we see characterization, this characterization
relates directly to the novel's theme of individuality versus collectivism.
Finally, tone is particularly effective in this chapter. Equality 7-2521 feels fear
and distaste when he thinks of the Palace of Mating (not wanting Liberty 5-3000 to be touched by
anyone else), but when he thinks of places that SHOULD arouse fear, according to the society, he
is not fearful. Rather, he feels joy and curiosity about the sky and the Uncharted Forest, a
place that is supposed to instill fear. He notices instead the fear in the eyes of all his
fellow Street Sweepers. This contrast contributes greatly to the tone of the narrative, which
is one of fear and distrust within the closed society versus joy and exhilaration within
individuality.
In this chapter, as in the entire novella,is a particularly
significant literary device. The speaker uses "We" to mean "I" throughout
the book, but, while speaking about falling in love, this seems particularly wrong to him. We
can understand why!
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