Anthem
why would it be a transgression for men to talk to women?
''it is a transgression to speak to men of other trades...'
''it is a transgression to speak to men of other trades...'
Men and women are not to take notice of each other period. There are no relationships, and it is the government that pairs men and women for the express act of procreation (Time of Mating), which only takes place once a year. In "Anthem" society dictates that everyone is the same, and that it is a sin to think of anyone beyond the group as a whole. There is no individuality, therefore there can be no love or relationships.
"We do not wonder at this new sin of ours. It is our second Transgression of
Preference, for we do not think of all our brothers, as we must, but only of
one, and their name is Liberty 5-3000. We do not know why we think of
them. We do not know why, when we think of them, we feel of a sudden that
the earth is good and that it is not a burden to live."
Anthem