In the story “Anthem” by Ayn Rand their society is much different than ours is today. They had many strict rules in which Equality broke. He was punished for his actions but escaped into the uncharted forest, one of the many transgressions you could commit. He then was planning to create his own society with Liberty and save many of his friends. I believe Equality’s society will be much different. I don't think he will adopt many, if any of the rules of his old land. Throughout the story, from the time he was a small child, he struggled to conform to the rules of his society. He never managed to be like the other children, despite his multiple efforts. He was taller than others so he tried to slump down and he had a quick mind so he attempted to …show more content…
He was going to get the people who were not completely defeated by the rules. He wanted to show them the words “I” and “ego”. This was the biggest transgression you could commit, although he didn't care. Equality came to the realization that this society that they had been living in didn't benefit the people. He knew that they never really were equal despite all the rules. He tried to conform to the society as a child but never could. He came to find that people should have their own individuality and learn to think for themselves. He knew the rules that they had previously had were wrong. There are many reasons why I think Equality will not adopt the rules of his old society. Throughout the story he is struggling against the rules. Furthermore, he tries to conform but simply cannot. He then realizes that it's okay and even good to be your own person. He wants to show people how to think for themselves and fight for what they believe in. In his society they will be able to do the job they want and create things. These are a few of the big rules in his old society, all of which he is
Daisy Pham Language Arts Honor February 2nd, 2017 1st hour Anthem The book Anthem was written by Ayn Rand is a Science Fiction Book. This Science Fiction book would be unknown since the Author didn’t exactly give the time in the book. In the book Anthem there wasn’t any clues or hints that it took place in 1900’s or the 2000’s. Ayn Rand is a Russian-American novelist and she is known for writing books.
One of the biggest rules is you cannot try to learn to anything new or invent something. Equality decides that he wants to learn more and invent new things. In this society the council decides what you will do like a road worker or a teacher. Equality gets assigned to be a street sweeper. He doesn’t like this assignment
He does this despite many obstacles and disillusionment. “We have broken so many laws, and today we have broken one more” (Rand42). Equality was slightly disappointed in himself, yet overcame that, and escaped the cruel society, that he once lived captive in. He also said “I am a man. This miracle of me is mine to own and keep, and mine to guard, and mine to use, and mine to kneel before” (Rand95).
School work was effortless for him, while it was strenuous or just the right pace for everyone else. Citizens of this society are all taught that ¨It is not good to be different from our brothers, but it is evil to be superior to them.¨ Frowned upon for simply being smarter, Equality tried to forget his lessons to seem average. Brainwashed, Equality believed his gift of intelligence to be a curse of selfishness, and additionally tried to give up what makes him special to fit into what society believes is correct. Ayn Rand 's novel, The Fountainhead, states, ¨Man’s first duty is to himself.
Equality’s greatest strengths and personal qualities were intended to be restricted and abhorred. Indeed, Equality and his gifts were abhorred, but he found a way to circumvent each restriction, consciously or not. And, though he maintained use of his strengths and kept a strong spirit, Equality was never able to permanently influence the society because, as a Street Sweeper, he was no longer part of the great WE. The Council of Vocations mandated Equality to life as a Street Sweeper in order to limit his intellectual opportunities.
Later in the novella, Equality does not care what laws he breaks because he knows that he is different and he is starting to realize that being different is not something to shelter and be ashamed of. “We have stolen candles from the Home of the Street Sweepers, we have stolen flints and knives and paper, and we have brought them to this place” (Rand 35). This shows that for Equality to fulfill his curiosity, he will go against his society and do what he feels is right. “We lunged against the door and it gave way. We stole through the dark passages, and through dark streets, and down our tunnel” (67).
Equality was first physically punished than he was rather than being assigned to the house of scholars he was put into the house of street sweepers. This set set him on his track to find out who he really is and what the society he was born into is really about. Equality is not old to today
Equality broke all of these rules and more, like building electricity. After making electricity he was locked away until he would be punished for being different. He wanted to prove what he built could be a key to the future, therefore he escaped and ran to tell someone his ideas. Once no one accepted what he built he ran into the forest. From then on Equality's lover Liberty ran away to find him.
In the beginning, Equality was devoted to the Council and their reasons behind the social structure. Equality begins to experience emotions that separates himself from his brothers and he
At the beginning of Anthem Equality has changed his mind about a lot of things in the beginning of the story. Equality got picked to be a street sweeper by the government, but he really wanted to be a scholar but couldn’t because of the government. Equality had a rough life. Well he was a street sweeper but he was smart enough to be a scholar the government did not think he was. In the book anthem by ayn rand Equality was not good for any body or anything at the beginning he had a rough start to his life.
To start, Equality feels it is important to be true to himself. He grew up in a strict community
He knew he was different, so he attempted to change that, “We looked upon Union 5-3992, who were a pale boy with only half a brain, and we tried to say and do as they did, that we might be like them, like Union 5-3992, but somehow the Teachers knew that we were not. And we were lashed more often than all the other children.” (Rand 21-22) Equality was so intelligent that he was looked at as evil compared to his brothers,“It was not that the learning was too hard for us. It was that the learning was too easy.
Equality is right to be motivated by curiosity. Yearning for the answers to his constant questions are what motivates his creativity and discovery. The constant curiosity is what leads him to dissect animals, melt metals, mix acids, and rediscover electricity. His individuality motivates him to do what he wants even though it is not allowed by society. He knows that he is quicker minded than the rest of his brothers, “It was not that the learning was too hard….
Equality does this by when he first falls in love with Liberty, he is obsessed. However, when his invention is rejected by the council, he starts to realize he doesn’t need to be in a group and in result, starts to love Liberty less. When he understand individuality fully, he becomes very selfish and doesn’t care for Liberty at all and thinks of her as an object. Equality felt he needed to be with a group and with Liberty. Through his journey he discovered that he doesn’t need to be with a group and can be independent.
Equality discovers what individualism is and what it means, but when Equality finds out what it means it changes his view throughout the