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Ayn Rand's Dystopian Literature

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An army of soldiers march past a bread shop, monitoring the faithful citizens of Great Mother Russia. The citizens pay no attention to the troops, for this is the norm life for them and they aren't allowed to think about it. Dystopia is all around and everyone's oblivious. Dystopian literature is a genre of literature that often finds itself in the future, with a totalitarian government that controls and manipulates its unaware citizens. In the dystopian stores, "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut, and, "Anthem" by Ayn Rand, the main characters each make the choice of risking their life for their beliefs, one giving it up. The story, "Harrison Bergeron" is a dystopian literature by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. As is, "Anthem" by Ayn Rand. From each …show more content…

Like Harrison, Equality 7-2521's genius mind forces him to the state of being jailed, Rand says, "This is a great sin, to be born with a head that is too quick." And "So we were taken to the stone room under the palace of corrective detention." This shows that both his individuality, caused by his exceptional mind makes him a threat to the council and the society their running. In comparison to Harrison Bergeron, Equality 7-2521's individuality drives him to risk his life for his beliefs by running away. Rand says, " 'How dared you, gutter cleaner,' spoke fraternity 9-3452, 'to hold yourself as one alone and with the thoughts of the one and not of the many?' " Showing that Equality 7-2421's individuality is shown as sin. Equality's Traits, "Individualism" and "Genius mind" lead him to his fate with "the golden one", thus making his fate not one of …show more content…

The two stories conflicts are the dystopia going on around the two characters that have come to the realization of what's going on. However, the conflicts also have their good differences. Harrison Bergeron has one dictator, Diana Moon Glampers, and it is her word that is law. While "Anthem" has many members of the council, manipulating by merely saying their brothers "will" is law. With the conflicts said, the resolutions are similar as well. The two stories solutions are both similar and different due to their specific societies. They are alike by both the main characters risking their lives. However different because one died living what half his goal was, while the other succeeds and starts a new free society with the golden one. In the dystopian stories, "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut. Jr. And, "Anthem" by Ayn Rand, the main characters each make choices that ultimately lead them risking their lives

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