Creativity In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Do you know what literary devices are? Did you know all books have them? A literary device is the structure used by a writer to show his or her messages. The novel Anthem by Ayn Rand is a perfect example. Ayn Rand uses literary devices such as characterization, point of view, plot, setting, symbols and more to show her messages and story.

Success, defined as attaining personal goals and having in-depth relations with loved ones, is, in reality, a very complicated term. The idea of success holds different meanings for anyone who ponders it, involving money, power, glory, happiness, security, comfort, love, and many other elements. The attainment of goals seems to be at the heart of every definition. Even so, success cannot be tethered down to any one form. Success in its purest form cannot be forced to attain real prosperity, it holds deeper layers than are commonly visible from the surface, and even the best of successes have perils and negative effects.

The reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists is the dictionary definition of purpose.  Everyday of our lives people look to find the purpose of the activities that they complete.  Authors share their perspectives on life with their literature.  A reader’s interpretation of the purpose of a writing can vary to the prior knowledge of a topic.  The point that a writer tries to get across can say a lot about their political views.

Anthem Essay The novel Anthem written by Ayn Rand demonstrates how society can force people to obey. How no one will dare to be different, and the feeling of guilt and shame washes over when you are. The fact that massive groups of human beings can be mislead and conform to few leaders can be a terrifying mentality. Conformity is an important part of a successful culture or nation, but it can lead to disaster.

We live in a society in which conformity is not only encouraged but often rewarded. As my grandfather used to always say, “It’s the [penguin] who is different that gets left out in the cold.” Sure, many try to push the narrative that we ought to lead, and that being divergent is what makes one “special.” But while this may be true in a purely academic sense, socially, those who do not abide by unspoken norms are typically outcast as pariahs; they are considered the “undesirables.” As such, many teenagers change their personality by emulating others in attempt to gain acceptance into certain social cliques.

For my collage, I chose individualism as the big idea for “Anthem,”by Ayn Rand. The reason I chose individualism is because throughout the story Equality expresses individualism in everything he does. Some of the pictures I chose would single out one particular thing, making the one that was different an individual. I also chose a zebra to represent individualism, because not one zebra has the same pattern, though they may not be trying to be unique, they are. Individualism does not have to be represented with only pictures, but it can also be represented through many quotes.

To begin, Albert Einstein once said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” Curiosity, a desire to know or learn something, must exist in in this world in order for new things to be discovered. In the novel, Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, the male protagonist, Equality 7-2521, lives in a dystopian society in which everyone are forced to learn and think the way the World Council of Scholars want them to. The World Council of Scholars are the smartest people who dictate everything in this society.

In the book Anthem, Ayn Rand uses diction, imagery, and syntax to create a confident tone in Equality 7-2521 to show how he is changing for the better. Equality learns that individuality is ok and states “ I am done with this creed of corruption,” to emphasize that he’s “done” with how the governing body brainwashed him and that he now has his own views on society (55). Equality thought all the things the governing body wanted him to think, but as he broke off he realized that none of it was true. He did not want to live by the standards of the governing body so he broke through the standards and started to individually listen to himself. Equality grew up with the impression of everyone should have the same thought but, the individuality

Happiness is a rite of passage to everyone no matter what cost. It can be extremely difficult to take someone’s happiness away, but it can be done. For example, in the book “Anthem” by Ayn Rand, Prometheus’ happiness is stripped from him in a futuristic society focused around similarity and compliance. Similarly, this unfortunately can happen as we are currently witnessing in Communist countries. Rand describes taking away individuality by forcing everyone to use “we” instead of “I”.

In Anthem by Ayn Rand International 4-8818 agrees to keep Equality 7-2521’s secret of the tunnel under the ground because much like Equality 7-2521, International 4-8818 is different than the rest of the people in the place they live in. This is because while Equality 7-2521 explains how he found the hole that led to the tunnel he talks about International 4-8818 and explains that, “they are a tall, strong youth and their eyes are like fireflies, for there is laughter in their eyes. We cannot look upon International 4-8818 and not smile in answer. For this they were not liked in the Home of the Students, as it is not proper to smile without reason. And also they were not liked because they took pieces of coal and they drew pictures upon the

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.

“It was not that the learning was too hard for us. It was that the learning was too easy. This is a great sin, to be born with a head which is too quick” (21). Equality 7-2521 is an exceptionally intelligent individual born into a society where intellect is considered evil. Though he originally believes that he was “born with a curse,” (18) he eventually comes to realize that his “curse” is intellect and individuality which he learns to love.

The passage, Anthem, is a science fiction novel written by Ayn Rand. It is mainly about the protagonist, Equality 7-2521's, futuristic journey on rediscovering various aspects of human’s nature. Concepts such as individualism and freedom have been lost due to the oppressive rule of the government, serving as the main antagonist of the novel. Throughout the passage, Anthem, the author uses the literary element of theme. The theme is the main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work.