ipl-logo

Dystopian Characters In Anthem

658 Words3 Pages

A dystopian society is degrading to the human population. One figurehead is in control and persuades the citizens to follow their beliefs. As stated in Ayn Rand’s 1930s novella, “ We all are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE. One individual, and forever.” Anthem, a dystopian novella, by Ayn Rand, takes place in a futuristic society. The main characters are Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000. This novella has many conflicts, however the main conflict is, Equality is different and wants to be his own individual, but the society does not allow individuality. Nazi- Germany and the fictional society portrayed in Anthem and share similar dystopian characteristics including propaganda is used to control the citizens …show more content…

According to the BBC’s website Bitesize, “Josef Goebbels controlled the propaganda ministry, which aimed to brainwash people into obeying the Nazis and idolising Hitler” (BBC’s Bitesize).
Adolf Hitler used propaganda very often to persuade the citizens to follow him and his Nazi army. In addition, the Councils in Anthem, brainwashed the citizens to believe that the outside world is forbidden and dangerous. As Ayn Rand noted, “Beyond the ravine there is a plain, and beyond the plain there lies the Uncharted Forest, about which men must not think,” (Rand 30).
The government wants the people to be in one area, so they tell the people that the Uncharted Forest is from the unmentionable times. If anyone spoke of the unmentionable times, they would be executed. As a matter of fact, in Nazi- Germany, speaking ill of the government or having any independent thoughts are forbidden. The article stated, “Artists had to produce acceptable paintings that portrayed Nazi values, Jazz music was banned, books written by Jews were publicly burned. Homosexuals were persecuted because they did not fit the Nazi image of the ideal family,” (BBC Bitesize). In Hitler’s eyes, if you did not fit the Nazi image you should immediately be killed. Anything that Hitler did not agree with was either banned or

Show More
Related

  • What Is Lack Of Choices In Ayn Rand's Anthem

    847 Words  | 4 Pages

    The book “Anthem” written by Ayn Rand is a book that deals with many topics within the main idea of the perfect world. The only problem is the word “I” is forbidden. “We” is the only acceptable word, there is no distinguishing yourself. The book takes place in the future, when all human rights are taken away and you live to your government's standards. No one has any individual rights anymore.

    Read More

  • Enslavement In The Book Anthem

    354 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the book Anthem by Ayn Rand, there is a dystopian society where Equality 7-2521 and everyone else were taught to live and think for one another. Everyone has an equal identity and no one is allowed to be independent. In this world the word “I” is nonexistent, they are forced to act as one and refer to themselves as “we.” Teachers and Council scold and punish the ones who are “different” and “better” than another. This society is ensures that no one can stand as an individual, this represents enslavement.

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Freedom In Anthem, By Ayn Rand

    581 Words  | 3 Pages

    The story “Anthem” by Ayn Rand is a dystopian novel that shows how freedom is an important right. The story is based on a character named Equality 7-521 and the society is all about being equal. There is no freedom, every choice is decided for you. You cannot speak for yourself and are not allowed to use the word “i”. If you think highly of yourself it is a sin.

    Read More

  • Alon Confino's Why Did The Nazis Burn The Hebrew Bible

    1432 Words  | 6 Pages

    The Nazis wanted the people of Germany to see the dictatorship as a religion with cult-like regard for the Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler. The religions of Christianity and Judaism were extremely popular in Germany and challenged the authority the party wanted. Consequently, the totalitarian state tried its hardest to censor these beliefs. One of the methods of censorship was the burning of books that were crucial to the

    Read More

  • How Did Hitler Use Propaganda

    540 Words  | 3 Pages

    Propaganda used to control the German people. Propaganda was an essential part of Nazi development. It was one of the most successful ways to convince German people to join the Nazi movement. With the use of the radio, newspapers, posters etc.

    Read More

  • Essay On Nazi Book Burning

    1195 Words  | 5 Pages

    What the Nazis referred to as the ‘national socialist revolution’ was the elimination of political opposition and Hitler using what was good in the German past, while rejecting what he saw as bad. (Evans) During this era of Nazi dominance within Germany, Hitler tried to spark a cultural revolution by means of purging parts of its past to emphasize Nazi ideology and virtues through the destruction of literature deemed unsatisfactory or unacceptable. The goal of this revolution was to preserve German socialism within German culture by gaining support from the German people, which in turn created a total culture that strengthened the Nazi regime. In addition, an article from the Modern Humanities Research Association remarks, “... the German Enlightenment, is referred to more than once in condemnation of any attempt to destroy the spirit of opposition through the destruction of a book…”

    Read More

  • Anthem Essay On Equality

    559 Words  | 3 Pages

    Anthem is a book that makes oneself contemplate the future and what evils are bestowed upon it. In this novel, the reader is caught in the life of Equality. Equality’s life is placed in the future, where the feared reality of communism has conquered all but the souls of few weary men. Equality is one of those few men who have a light that is invulnerable to a ravaging wind. Equality’s time captive before his extraordinary escape has taken a toll on his body and mind and now at the end of his journey forces him to question whether the decisions he’s made are full of sin or teeming with righteousness.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Anthem By Ayn Rand

    1067 Words  | 5 Pages

    "We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever’”(Rand 19). In Ayn Rand’s dystopian novel, Anthem, the citizens are trained from birth to think only in the plural, to the point where they cannot even conceive of individuals, but only see each other as part of the whole group. Rand’s protagonist, Equality 72521, begins the novel as a street-sweeper who is devoted to the group, but begins to move towards individuality as he progresses towards pure selfishness, as Rand believes we all should. Rand uses the words “we” and “I” to represent Equality’s journey from being dependent on the group, to being utterly independent of everyone.

    Read More

  • Character Vs. Society In Ayn Rand's Anthem

    419 Words  | 2 Pages

    Anthem is a story written by Ayn Rand as a propaganda piece portraying the evils of communism. The book takes place in the future in a undisclosed city surrounded by forest. In this city a collectivist society dwells. The conflict of Anthem is character vs. society where one man by the name of Equality decides to go against his broken government. Equality took a stand against his broken society, he has defied the council of scholars and his government, had a relation with a women, and escaped the city to The Uncharted Forest.

    Read More

  • Nazi Book Burning

    714 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nazi’s also had a purpose for these actions besides being considered “non-German”, and it was mainly because the books that they burned were written by Freud, Einstein, Thomas Mann, Jack London, and H.G. Wells. What all of these authors had in common was that they were Jewish. Not only do religious and Nazi book burnings happen, but historical books have been found to have been burned. History is an important thing, as it can be used to learn about the past.

    Read More

  • Communism In Ayn Rand's Anthem

    332 Words  | 2 Pages

    The novel, Anthem by Ayn Rand, represented a collectivist society, which can be directly compared to

    Read More

  • Ayn Rand's Anthem

    891 Words  | 4 Pages

    Anthem was written by Ayn Rand and published in 1938. In the beginning of the book I didn’t think much of it. It consisted of a grey city where everyone is equal and works as one, and individualism is nonexistent. This city is controlled by totalitarian leaders. The main character or protagonist, Equality 7-2521 has always been different from the rest, in terms of knowledge, height, and physical strength.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Harrison Bergeron And Anthem

    609 Words  | 3 Pages

    The collectivist society is not a place to live but to die. While examining everyone Equality 7-2521 says, “The heads of our brothers are bowed. The eyes of our brothers are dull, and never do they look one another in the eyes. The shoulders of our brothers are hunched, and their muscles are drawn, as if their bodies were shrinking and wished to shrink out of sight” (Rand 46). This quote shows that the condition of the men make them look lifeless because they too are not allowed to do things on their own such as think for themselves.

    Read More

  • Dystopian World In Ayn Rand's Anthem

    734 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the novel Anthem the author, Ayn Rand discusses the ways Equality 7-2521’s world is a dystopia because independent thought, information and freedom are restricted, the natural world was banished and distressed, a concept is worshipped by the citizens and the society is an illusion of a perfect , utopian world. To begin with, Ayn Rand explains how the Equality 7-2521’s world is a dystopian society because the freedom of think and do anything for yourself is restricted. Equality states “It is a sin to write this. It is a sin to think words no others think and to put them down upon a paper no others are to see... It is as if we were speaking alone to no ears but our own.

    Read More

  • How Did Hitler Use Propaganda Terror And Repression

    1395 Words  | 6 Pages

    Nazism significantly impacted the propaganda, terror and repression in a time of the abolition of the Weimar and rising of Hitler. The German civilization was greatly affected German people from 1933-1939 making the ideology of Nazism change most facets of life. The underlying nature of the anti semitic and nationalist theme amongst the media was a supplement to a large portions of society 's initial views. By the 30th of January 1933, Hitler had been appointed Chancellor. The intentions to commit to the ‘Final Solution’ was obvious when he used propaganda, terror and repression in order to influence and persuade his actions, therefore justifying it to himself and others he took authority over.

    Read More

More about Dystopian Characters In Anthem

Open Document