Summary Of Ayn Rand's Anthem

Equality 7-2521 can free himself from collectivism because he was independent. In the novel Anthem Ayn Rand makes us comprehend that Equality had and inner struggle and

In the book Anthem by Ayn Rand, there is a dystopian society where Equality 7-2521 and everyone else were taught to live and think for one another. Everyone has an equal identity and no one is allowed to be independent. In this world the word “I” is nonexistent, they are forced to act as one and refer to themselves as “we.” Teachers and Council scold and punish the ones who are “different” and “better” than another. This society is ensures that no one can stand as an individual, this represents enslavement.

Throughout the story, Equality’s views and mindset changes, he realizes that he is different from his brothers and its ok to be different. He discovers that if something is legal it is not certainly right. His eager for knowledge taught him the word “I” abandoning the word “We”. This made Equality find out who he is and gave him the chance to be an individual.

"We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever’”(Rand 19). In Ayn Rand’s dystopian novel, Anthem, the citizens are trained from birth to think only in the plural, to the point where they cannot even conceive of individuals, but only see each other as part of the whole group. Rand’s protagonist, Equality 72521, begins the novel as a street-sweeper who is devoted to the group, but begins to move towards individuality as he progresses towards pure selfishness, as Rand believes we all should. Rand uses the words “we” and “I” to represent Equality’s journey from being dependent on the group, to being utterly independent of everyone.

Ayn Rand’s Anthem takes place in a strict, collectivist society. The protagonist in the novel is named Equality 7-2521. He has always felt as though he is somewhat of an outcast in his society. Freedom and individual rights, including individual thought, have been outlawed. Equality 7-2521 is a Street Sweeper of the city. This occupation was chosen for him by the Council of Vocations. On his own time, Equality experiments with electricity to create light. His invention is a box of glass that glows when its wires are connected. In a way, the light serves as Equality’s sole source of hope and understanding of the outside world. In Anthem by Ayn Rand, the light Equality demonstrates knowledge and personal experience, which ultimately lead to the truth.

In Ayn Rand's story Anthem, the protagonist Equality 7-2521 has a power unlike no other within their collectivist society. One day when Equality was working as a street sweeper, he finds an old abandoned underground railroad tunnel from the Unmentionable Times long ago. This is where he conducts his experiments that fill him with pride and joy. Equality dreams how his new invention that he brought into existence can change the world, but helping mankind is not his true motivation behind his passion to create. Throughout the story, Equality's true motivation is him trying to find his inner self and his identity as an individual.

While working for the Home of the Street Sweepers, Equality stumbles upon an underground tunnel. While in the tunnel, he makes many “new” discoveries, and builds his light. Equality’s discovery in the tunnel demonstrates his individuality, and his ability to break free from the societal norm in order to thrive in his individualistic society. When he begins his adventure to find his own individuality in the tunnel Equality explains that, “We have learned things which are not in the scripts” (Anthem 36). Thus showing that he has broken away from society, and is surpassing the others in the communal society by “learn[ing] things which are not in the scripts,” which were written by others in the communal society. Without his own individuality, Equality probably wouldn’t have had the courage to go into the tunnel in the first place, he wouldn’t have created his light, and the rest of the story would be irrelevant. If he hadn’t truly taken his self-pride and individuality to the next level, he would have been a lousy

In conclusion, Equality's true motives behind his work are much more selfish than they first appear to be. Equality strives to fulfil his own personal desire rather than contribute everything to society, and this isn't necessarily a negative thing. Selfishness and selflessness can be balanced, and this balance is crucial to a functioning

Equality’s individuality is the second step to rediscovering the lightbulb. He has his own individuality, and his individuality is what makes him

In Ayn Rand’s novel, Anthem, Equality lives in a communist society that believes everyone must work for and be exactly like one another. For much of the novel, he believes what the Council of Vocations tells him, despite his intelligence and independence. By the end of the book, he realizes that the idea that everyone is the same and must work for each other is flawed. He deserves to live his own life and enjoy himself. Equality’s beliefs on happiness - “It is the end. It is its own goal. It is its own purpose” (95) - is correct. This is because the Council tries to eradicate human nature and replace it with a basic persona for everyone, which results in a limited mindset that does not allow them to see a logical point of view nor achieve happiness.

“It is a sin to write this,” begins Anthem, and the digression of the society around him slowly falls. The argument asks if I reason about the Equality’s sins being evil or marvelous. The outtake of his decision decides his fate on the community around him, lifeless slaves being controlled by the government. So, I believe his sins are for the greater good. It shows that he is not a enslaved monkey in a science lab, but the arrogant monkey who refuses to do the tests. He shows the people around him what it feels like to be independent, and the feeling of color. Here is a quote to represent the curiosity about him, “What -- even if we have to burn for it like the Saint of the pyre -- what is the Unspeakable Word?” (Rand 57)

As I mentioned Equality was in the forest he finds a stream and bends down to get a drink of water, while kneeling there he sees a reflection, his reflection. At first I believe he was startled because he has never seen his face before, but after looking at it for a moment longer, Equality was very pleased by his looks. He described his body and face to be beautiful. He also mentions he doesn’t look like anyone he has come face to face with throughout his life. He now has proof before his eyes that he really is an individual and that he does not need anyone. Equality is starting to understand the word I.

The Word ‘We’ is as lime poured over men, which sets and hardens stone, and crushes all beneath it, and that which is white and that which is black are lost equally in the grey of it” (Rand, 1946, p. 97). Equality 7-2521 words generate the notion that a collective society destroys humankind 's potential, while avoiding others gifted personalities. Equality is a 21 year old who defies societal norms and grabs tightly on to his curse of individualism, while living in a collectivist society that demands obedience from the group. Throughout the story, Equality progresses, as he reaches for his independence and rebel against the dictatorship of the government. As a result, Equality is faced with conflicts, internally and externally. By doing so, he captures his freedom from the detrimental and contagious dictatorship.

In the book, “Anthem” we explore inside the mind of Equality 7-2521 and how his mindset changes from “We” to “Me”, making him a very dynamic character. Equality 7-2521 is in a sense a more “Superior” being to his peers and those around him. He possesses a bright and adventurous mind; it’s almost like he doesn’t have any weaknesses at all. The only visible trace of weakness is the guilt inherited from his society about pursuing his own happiness. As the story progresses Equality starts to evolve beyond the guilt which he has endured for so long. Through old books and past inventions he understands that being unequal to those around him is not a terrible thing.

In the novel “Anthem”, written by Ayn Rand, everyone lives in a totalitarian world. Everyone is to think of everyone as a whole, never to think of just oneself. You are to love everyone the same; there are no friends, no lovers, not even acquaintances. You are to never think of the faults of others, everyone is the considered the same. Yet by the end of the novel the main character, Equality 7-2521, has discovered that the Council of Vocations is wrong and has broken off from the society. The idea of totalitarianism was discussed in Ayn Rand’s short essay “How Does One Lead a Rational Life in an Irrational Society?”. During the essay, Rand explains how she feels towards this topic. She speaks of how in a world such as Equality’s there is no distinguishing the right from wrong. Rand tells of how nothing can corrupt a culture or a man’s character such as moral agnosticism.