Response To Ayn Rand's Anthem

Prompt: Explain the following quote: “To be free, a man must be free of his brothers.” How does this quote exemplify a theme of Anthem? In the novel “Anthem” by Ayn Rand, the main character Equality 7-2521 expresses his own individuality. Through the challenges that he was faced with, he learned many way to express himself differently.

Ayn Rand’s Anthem starts by Equality 7-2521 saying “It is a sin to write this.” Throughout the story, Equality’s views and mindset changes, he realizes that he is different from his brothers and its ok to be different. He discovers that if something is legal it is not certainly right. His eager for knowledge taught him the word “I” abandoning the word “We”.

Ayn Rand’s Anthem takes place in a strict, collectivist society. The protagonist in the novel is named Equality 7-2521. He has always felt as though he is somewhat of an outcast in his society. Freedom and individual rights, including individual thought, have been outlawed. Equality 7-2521 is a Street Sweeper of the city.

Discovery of such history had a profound impact on Equality such as when he read the word “I”. It is through man’s writing in which Equality came to understand “the blessed thing which (he) had called (his) curse” (98). This writing had such a positive impact on Equality that he decided to “write the first chapter of new history of man” so that it would be eternal (101). It is through his writing, that Prometheus will be remembered not as a number, but as a hero who vanquishes collectivism. His eternal message cautions the reader of the dangers of an irrational society so that someday man will think twice before chaining himself to the word

The book Anthem by Ayn Rand is a very interesting book. At first it is confusing to the reader because of the use of the words we and us instead of I. The main character, Equality 7-2521 introduces himself in the plural form. The reader takes a while to figure this out. The era that Equality is in, is after the Great Rebirth.

The Sins of Society The seven deadly sins are lust, greed, gluttony, laziness, wrath, envy, and pride. All in which people indulge in to some extent. Some work to be more wealthy and others take pride in things they excel in, these sins both seem harmless when in small doses. However, few individuals let greed and wrath drive them to much greater sins such as burglary, theft, and murder.

Since Prometheus and Gaea chose their own names, they started to create a new sense of individualism for the future generations to come. Here, it is proven that Prometheus will not have the rule of being assigned ordinary names, because he changed his name and Liberty’s to represent their

Equality is something people want till people actually have it. Equality often limits a person’s abilities and disables to do something for themselves or inspire themselves. Equality's, the main character in the book Anthem, the primary motivation is proving that he is smart enough to become a scholar. Equality has a right to be motivated in this way since he believes that he can help the society so he is giving into the collectivism. I think that if everyone was motivated in this way, there would be a more progressive society where people sought to improve themselves and society at the same time.

When the Golden One gives Equality 7-2521 the name Prometheus after the Greek deity it symbolizes his heroism and gift

Anthem Essay “The secrets of this earth is not for all men to see, but only for those who will seek them,”(52). Equality 7-2521 leaves for his own sake. He was told many things about the unmentionable times, not to go into the uncharted forest, and not to speak the unspeakable word,”I”. He grew up with his brothers as one and referred each other as “we”.

His grit in challenging societal norms and the struggle of being an outsider connects to him being the only bright light in a society full of darkness and fear. He tests a society that prefers ignorance and refuses to accept the moral teaching of his society. This is shown from multiple counts of conflicts and struggles, from his passion for learning, to him being rejected by the House of Scholars, to them rejecting his invention of the light bulb, to the struggles of uncovering the unspeakable word. Throughout the story, it is evident and beyond obvious of the struggle to free himself from the collectivist society. Prometheus embraced and embodied the philosophy that “To make that the highest test virtue is to make suffering the most important part of

He took the name Prometheus because he felt linked with him. Equality brought light to his fellow man, and suffered substantially for it. “I have read of a man who live many thousands of years ago, and all the names in these books, his is the one I wish to bear. He took the light of the gods and he brought it to men, and he taught men to be gods. And he suffered for his deed as all bearers of light must suffer.

Hesiod’s Theogony was no longer able to satisfy the higher minds among the nation. Thus, inspiring Aeschylus to write tragic poets such as Prometheus’ Bound in order to express his own ideology and pointing the moral of tragedy. It is no surprise that Hesiod viewed Zeus as a glorified olympian hero and Prometheus as a traitor who stole fire and gave it to mankind. Aeschylus’s idea of Prometheus was conflicting to Hesiod, whereby he viewed Prometheus as a god supporting the civilization of mankind.

Equality is such an important thing in our everyday lives. Every person is born to be different. No one is exactly like another human on this planet. Our society thrives off of each person being unique from everyone else, but still being treated equally. In Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem, we are introduced to this society that has fallen back into the times of the Great Rebirth.

Equality has changed from a collective to an individual having the knowledge of realizing what he can do to change himself in the environment. Anthem has shown how the society works. The main character Equality has proven the allegory when he realizes there's more than just a collectivism society. From start of the novel Equality has been able to grow from a part of a collectivism to learning about individualism to becoming an individual. Equality conquers the battle of collectivism and individualism for