In the book Anthem by Ayn Rand takes place in the future at an unspecified date and place. The humans in Anthem live in a dystopian society where the word I is erased entirely. The current government they live under has a number of rules and regulations that if broken can get you killed in many ways. However why do these rules exist, What is their purpose and does the society that Equality envisions created at the end of the story would include any of these rules and controls?
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a collectivist society.
Unlike during the Unmentionable Times, when men created “towers [that] rose to the sky,” it is an
Is it possible that Equality didn’t make a wise decision during his time in Anthem? Should he have given away his light bulb so the scholars would destroy it?
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.
Anthem Essay The city that is portrayed in the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand relies heavily on its strict rules and regulations. Some of these rules are put in place to protect the wellbeing of the citizens, where others are to prevent the citizens from living happy lives. In a way, every rule in Anthem is needed or has a specific reason however some of the rules are simply in place to keep away individuality. To begin, the city of Anthem has several rules and guidelines. Some of them can seem harsh and a little bit unnecessary.
The Road to Individualism Every great heroin will face a plethora of conflict in their journey. For Equality, it is not any less. Equality faces internal and external conflict in his path to heroism, faces conflict with others, but also himself. As his desire for a new life grows, more problems arise.
Anthem Rules and Controls Are you currently bombarded with rules set by your parents or boss’? Imagine all the rules you currently have and then times them by ten! It might seem like it’s hard to imagine, but the book Anthem by Ayn Rand takes place in a very controlling city. In the city of Anthem, they have a numerous amount of rules and controls placed on the city and the people. Anthem has put multiple rules into action so that everyone is “equal” and there are “less” problems.
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.
The events of Anthem show the nature of science and technology and how they try to restrict people or themselves from advancing science and technology. Equality’s society resembles totalitarian which the author Ayn Rand how to go through in the Soviet Union. Other totalitarian portrayals are not technologically primitive like Anthem because the other portrayals don’t try to resist technological and science progression, they just don’t like outside influences on their science and technology. They like to have their own research and inventions so their people are not influenced by the
Rules and Subjectivity Society is fundamentally built upon rigid structure and control using rules to attempt to maintain order amongst a society comprised of many individuals. Inherently rules put at expense the freedom of individuals to achieve personal happiness in order to build a society comprised of more equally achieving individuals. Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem builds a society in which rules restrict all individual freedoms and force a more collective ideal. The rules put in place by the society are meant to make everybody collectively more happy and prevent inherent human subjectivity; however, inherent to human nature, rules can be subjectively interpreted. In contrast to the pre-existing society presented by Rand, Equality 7-2521 seeks
“We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever” (Rand 19). How can an individual be a hero in a collectivist society? In The Anthem, a novella by Ayn Rand, the protagonist, Equality 7-2521 is portrayed as an archetypal epic hero. Equality 7-2521 exhibits the characteristics of an epic hero because he is capable of great deeds, he has a nemesis, and he experiences an event that leads to a quest. During the novella, Equality 7-2521 undergoes a journey to express individuality.
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 Anthem “equality” is not purely shown, but is attempted. Equality is held by shaming individuality and sometimes physical punishments. “There is evil in your bones, Equality 7-2521.” (Rand 18). Equality is being shamed for having grown taller than the other boys, something he cannot control, like intelligence.
Equality believes wholeheartedly in individualism and the concept of preference which relates strongly to judging others’ true intents and motives. Rand’s short essay explains that, while it is not something many would like to believe of their loved ones, many times people are not simply mistaken or misinformed, but rather know the evil in their actions and proceed to carry them out regardless (Rand, Paragraph 14). While it is true that some members of the Council have been brainwashed and truly believe what they say, the original intent of the many strict laws in place were malicious. Looking in at the society from the outside provides an objective point of view that makes clear that the statutes in action are there to control the citizens and not to help or protect