We-Theme/Symbol

One constant theme throughout Ayn Rand's novel, We, was D-503's obsession with his hands. He completely despised them, finding them disgusting and repulsing to have; and, each time having to look at his own hands, all he saw was hair and chaos. His hands were big, uncontrollable things that symbolized impulsiveness and unpredictability which he loathed with all the energy in his body.
D-503 was comforted by rules and regulations of the society of OneState. For the majority of the novel, D-503 was too timid and afraid to question the government, and favored the structure of a strict and limited setting. His hands, however, did not fit the mold that D-503 deemed acceptable. Although he does have control over his hands actions, they embody wildness for they are capable of doing great things. D-503's hands show life, opportunity and hope. From the beginning of time, man has used their hands to create, make change, and challenge; however, in the society that D-503 resides in, these aspects are viewed as disgraceful, even unspeakable. D-503 is content leading a life without thought or purpose for the the fear of experiencing a different thought or emotion from his peers. It has been instilled within him that being different is bad, and when the factor of hands comes into the picture, all there is is differences. For instance, everyone has diverse fingerprints, the lines on their palms are not similar; each characteristic placed on their hands emphasizes the individuality of that person. All of which OneState strongly opposes.
D-503's hands express his freedom-the freedom that he is too afraid to possess internally. By Rand making D-503 cautious of his own hands, shows his own inability to challenge the normalities of his society.