Robert W. Krepps’ short story “Pride of Seven” demonstrates that in a case of social conformity versus individuality, individuality will eventually triumph in the end, as it takes great courage and patience to strive toward being truly non-conformant. The “Pride of Seven” begins with the introduction of En-gerr, a Masai man who has previously refused to go through the rite of passage into adulthood, which requires him to kill a lion. Around the time the narrator meets En-gerr, he also meets El Asfar, the leader of a nearby pride of lions who is dealing with a divergent youngster of his own (Black Mane). Once En-gerr discovers El Asfar, he decides En-gerr decides he must kill El Asfar because he has never seen a finer lion. This decision leaves the narrator confused on whether to support his friend …show more content…
When going to view the pride of lions that the narrator admires, the narrator describes how the Masai mocked En-gerr, saying “Observe, En-gerr goes to stare from a distance upon ol-ngatuny (the lion), whom he dares not face in battle!’ and much more of the same savage small-boy humor. My friend ignored them with equanimity” (2) and “for his race is hard on nonconformists” (5). En-gerr has clearly been teased about how he has refused to kill a lion for a long time, but he decides to remain a unique individual rather than give into the peer pressure he is under. It would take a great deal of courage to deal with this amount of peer pressure and not give in to what society expects. In addition to En-gerr’s display of courage when he refuses to give in to peer pressure, El Asfar shows courage and individuality when he doesn’t kill En-gerr. When the narrator is explaining how El Asfar didn’t attack En-gerr, he says, “if El Asfar did not decide to
Introduction Throughout our lives society shapes whom we are and how we act, through this we are forced to assume roles based on how others view and perceive us. Both through our close friends and family and the broader media and society, these stereotypes and attitudes from which we develop into can both be good and bad. It is through these expectations and social pressures that greatness can be developed in people, but is also though these expectations great evil and cruelty can be developed within people. Throughout Richard Flanagan’s The Narrow Road to the Deep North the reader is presented with two distinct and contrasting characters of ‘Dorrigo’ Evans and [First Name] Nakamura.
... A man remembers his first lion all his life” (5). This was a moment where En-gerr had to put someone back in their place because the narrator didn’t believe he had it in him to kill the lion chief, but his words proved he could. El Asfar also had to put someone in their place, a lion named Black Mane; thus, he had to fight Black Mane to display the fact that he was the top lion. The narrator said, “He stood up slowly.
The Deeper Meaning Of Anthem In some countries the citizens have no say in what they do, how they do it, or when they do it. This can be collectivism, and the opposite of it is individualism. In Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem, her character Equality 7-2521 is battling between his “utopian” societies ways of collectivism and his desire of individualism. His crave for individualism leads him to care only about one person, create a light source without his “brothers” and runs into the Uncharted Forest.
A New World Order, In An Old World You are not important, you are alive only to serve your fellow brothers, you must not be different. In Anthem, Equality 7-2521 lives in a collectivist society with these rules, these boundaries and others like them. ”We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, Once, indivisible, and forever,”(19). Individualism is a forgotten concept, hidden from the people.
Collectivism, or group prioritized decision making, is widely regarded as a negative attribute when isolated. The world of Anthem is an example of a world based off of collectivism, where the most recent technology developed is a candle, which recently replaced torches. The world is undeniably primitive in some areas, but is clearly not in others. Almost all economic and social aspects of the society seemed to have been developed years ago, yet almost no progress has been made in scientific areas. Science isn’t likely to be a large or common factor in collectivist societies, and scientific research has a positive correlation to technological advances resulting in the lack of development in technology.
When one is confined to society and held captive against their ego, it is imperative that they learn to eulogize their own individuality, and learn to improve themselves. In Ayn Rand’s novella, Anthem, Rand uses Equality 7-2521 to communicate the importance of the individual. Equality has always had his own sense of individuality that causes him to stand out and defy the social norms. His individuality allows him to persevere and diverge from collectivist society.
In the Catholic Church, one of the Seven Deadly Sins is excessive pride in oneself. Most people have pride and demonstrate it in their daily lives. Some people have pride in their religion, while others take pride in their accomplishments. The Catholic Church sees pride being a sin because people only think of themselves when they show their pride. Instead of focusing on themselves, the Church wants their followers to help other people.
Individuality allows every person to be themselves and be different from each other. However, In Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem, Rand describes a society where the people were not allowed to openly be themselves, or else they would be punished for being different. The main character, Equality, notices he is different slowly throughout the novella, but kept continuing to be like everyone else for awhile. These rules exist in this society to strip human individuality in order to achieve total equality.
I did not know then that pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death” (p.558). With these words, the Narrator reflects on the events and the insights that he gained
Rules, some people follow them, others do not. Many people ask why these rules exist, or what they even mean. In Anthem, the rules of their society were created to assure that society would not have another catastrophe, like the one before the Unmentionable Times, when the Evil Ones wreaked havoc on the World, destroying everything in their path. Many of these rules limit one 's capabilities to think independently. Failure to follow these rules result in harsh punishment.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a collectivist society. Ayn Rand lived through communism and she saw nazisim,in her book she gives an example of a collectivist society, she uses this novel to warn people about what could happen if we lived in a society like that. Ayn Rand uses her novela ANTHEM to explore the theme of individualism by having Equality discover light, by defing society, and discovering that ones self respect is the most important thing in the universe.
Collectivism and Selfishness in Anthem Imagine living in a world where everybody's lives are completely mapped out by the government. Where every decision is made without the input of the citizens it affects. In the novella Anthem, Ayn Rand depicts a completely collectivist society, where every idea, action, and invention is purely for the benefit of society as a whole. Everything is done with the entire population in mind, and individuality is extremely frowned upon.
Victory Over Collectivism “I”, one of the only one-letter words in the English language. Yet its power and meaning do not match its quantitative value. In the collectivist dictatorship found the in the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, this word has disappeared and consequently, society has fallen into a dark age, all because of the loss of a single-lettered word. However, the hero of this time, Equality 7-2521, breaks down the barrier of the collectivist society and allows him to make advances that show him the power of the word “I” and the idea of individualism in government and in society. Although the word “I” has vanished from society, Equality is able to free himself from the collectivist government through the use of science and free thought,
In today's society, the balance between individualism and conformity to society's expectations is a prominent and deceptive conflict. Oftentimes, the individual must put his uniqueness aside and settle for a view of an occupation, hobby, or idea that society agrees with. Instead of expressing original and creative ideas, they are held hostage by comparing themselves with the lives and accomplishments of others and the standards their our society. One of the biggest tools of society, social media, allows people to share ideas and interests with everyone. However, naturally, one will only post what he knows others will accept and enjoy just as he does.
Pride Pride is a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired. The word pride both positive and negative meanings that can be seen throughout history. The usage of the word pride gives it a negative cynical connotation, describing people as vain, arrogant or belittling other people. An example of this could be when someone famous thanks “all the little people” as seen as in movies and TV as a joke.