We the Living is the first fiction novel by the novelist or - as is more popularly known - the philosopher, Ayn Rand. Published in 1936, it gained popularity much after her renowned work in Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged came into recognition. In the foreword of the book, Rand has clearly stated how We The Living is the closest she could come to writing an autobiography.
The story of this book takes place in a post-revolutionary Russia and entails the impact of the revolution on the three major characters- Kira Argounova, Leo Kovalensky and Andrei Taganov. Kira is the chief protagonist of this novel who is initially shown to be very ambitious and extremely focussed. Against her family's disapproval, she enrols herself into a Technological Institute to fulfil her dreams of becoming an engineer. At the institute she befriends her co-student, Andrei who is a communist officer. Their bond gets deeper as the story progresses with Andrei eventually falling for her. Kira reciprocates his love only so that she could put up the money for Leo's failing health. Thus Rand builds a complex love triangle amongst these three against the backdrop of post revolutionary Russian Era.
We The Living is by far the most tragic of all the Rand's novels. This is Rand's first proclamation against the idea of communism and the whole "individual vs state" theory. She depicts a dystopian post revolutionary Russia with private businesses being strictly controlled, food being rationed and the ration cards being alloted to only the students and the workers working in the nationalized businesses. People having to stand in long queues to get their share of the food and using a kerosene 'Primus' stove to cook their food.
"Surviving somehow" is the only thought that revolves around the people's minds given the harrowing difficulties in their lives.
My only complain with Ayn Rand is that she contradicts her own philosophy, popularly known as Objectivism, when she shows Kira relinquishing her 'individual aspirations' of being an engineer, giving up her life, her principles even to an extent of being a mistress to someone else only so that she could save the love of her life and ultimately starts living for him. This goes against the basic foundation of Objectivism. In Atlas Shrugged, Rand has characters actually vowing to "never live for the sake of another man nor ask another man to live for you". Kira therefore came across having a very antithetical perspective compared to other Ayn Rand characters such as Howard Roark, Dagny Taggart, John Galt, Hank Reardon, etc. This is the question I could not find a convincing answer to.
But nevertheless, We The Living is an easy read. It is shorter than Rand's other popular books. This book has no "seventy-pages long speech" about virtue, moral code, good vs evil, etc etc. I hope this was encouraging enough for you to get your rudimentary dosage of Rand's medicine called Objectivism.
Contributed by- Rutul Kshirsagar, PICT, Pune
very nicely reviewed by someone of his age as Rutul. Keep it up!!
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