In Anthem by Ayn Rand, there are many uses of symbolism throughout the entire novel. Specifically, the quote (found on page 52) “The secrets of this earth are not for all men to see, but for those who will seek them.” is a great example of this. Equality 7-2521, a street curious street sweeper discovers a new way to create light and control electricity while working underground late at night. Equality then returns several times, experimenting and improving this newfound power. This quote, is in direct correlation with this part of the story, as Equality 7-2521 goes “under the earth” in order to run tests on his creation. The part “are not for all men to see, but for those who (seek) them,” is describing how this knowledge is right below the entire Society’s feet, however they; Equality 7-2521’s “brothers,” do not wish to meddle with things that could potentially change their way of life. For example In the Visual Quote, the fact that everyone else in the Equality 7-2521’s society does not wish to change or be enlightened has been glorified and obviously shown in several different …show more content…
If an effort to learn from their surroundings rather than just exist in them is made, this person could learn an exponential amount just from their own backyard. However this can only be achieved if there is a noticeable attempt to explore the areas in which they live. (Page 52) “The secrets of this earth are not for all men to see, but only for those who will seek them.” There are hidden meanings and discoveries that can be made if the effort to find them is made. Only those who stick with a project as well as Equality 7-2521 have a chance of enlightening themselves; or becoming more knowledgeable than when they started. Because Equality7-2521 took his time to strengthen his own mind, he rose above Society, high and bright, as bright as the early morning
Escaping Communism Ayn Rand depicts a communist world in her book Anthem, where the citizens live day to day identical to the one before. Equality 7-2521, a struggling man in the society, is set apart for his strive of wanting more than what the society gives him. Rand shows that in a world carried on in such a communistic matter, it leaves some struggling and at a loss to make do with what they have and to fit in. The book, Anthem gives a grand example of how others react to one’s differences, shunning them or giving a punishment. Equality 7-2521 has a compelling ambition to learn things which then helps him escape the society.
He now begins to work on his creation more. When Equality 7-2521 is finally confident with his creation, he decides to bring it to the scholars to show them what he has done. At this point he gets in much more trouble and they immediately shut down his idea. He decides to run away to the Uncharted Forest where he finds his own happiness with his loved one, the Golden One. Equality 7-2521 is seen as an egoist in the story because his only goal is to pursue his own happiness, and not to serve others and make them happy as well.
Equality 7-2521 declares, “We, Equality 7-2521, were not happy in those years in the Home of the Students. It wasn’t that the learning was too hard for us. It was that the learning was too easy… We wished to know. We wished to know about all the things which makes the world around us.
Throughout the book Equality 7-2521 challenges the idea that everyone is and must be the same. Instead he acts on his own. In the book everyone is supposed to be equal alongside their brothers. That means that no one is more important, intelligent, and so on than their brothers and by being so it is an evil in the world.
“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.
To use the term ‘freedom’ of what Equality 7-2521 is trying to get out of the society that he lives in is an understatement because of the things that happens inside of it. Equality is correct to become critical to the society’s leaders, denouncing them in moral terms because the leaders of the society are bad, ignorant, and have no sense of individuality. One way that the society shows that Equality is correct is because they show no sense of individuality. “We are one in all and all in one.
From the very beginning, Equality had known that he was different, he had an inimitable mentality from his brothers. As long as he could have remembered, Equality was shunned for being unequal from his brothers, when asking questions or wanting to discover new things. “Your eyes are as a flame, but our brothers neither hope not fire. Your mouth is cut out of granite, but out brothers are soft and humble. Your head is high, but our brothers cringe.
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.
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.
Anthem was written in 1937 by Ayn Rand. The story is about a young man, Equality 7-2521 who is appointed to sweep the streets and he finds a tunnel that sets off his curiosity about the unmentionable times where he invents a light bulb. Ayn Rand expresses many themes in this novella such as: freedom, identity and happiness. The government controlled the population by brain washing the people and enslaving their mind and making them think rebellion is wrong.
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
Intelligence. Something that Equality 7-2521 has a great deal of. Ayn Rand, the author of Anthem, suggests that Equality 7-2521 knows that he is too intelligent to be a street sweeper, and he tries to prove his intelligence through his experiments so he can be “willed” into the Home of the Scholars. She shows this through his time in the Home of the Students when Equality is punished for his quick head, his love for learning, and the idea of learning, and when he escapes to the tunnel to work on his invention. Equality knows he is intelligent when he is punished in the Home of the Students because of his quick head.
So long a road lies before us, and what care if we must travel it alone!” (54) In this statement all Equality cares about is his invention and he is still trying to expand his
In the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, she characterizes Equality 7-2521 as a brother living in a Dystopian society. Equality shares his traits and his belief on the transgression that he holds. Collectivism makes him portray a different way towards the rest of the society. He exhibits curiosity, intelligence and loneliness so the reader can identify Equality as a symbolic figure in the novel. This is what outcasts him from the rest of his brothers mentally and physically.
“When men saw the Great Truth which is this: that all men are one and that there is no will save the will of all men together.” Equality 7-2521 lives in a world where the government bans all forms of individuality. For instance it is a sin to “think words no others think and to put them down upon paper no others are to see.” Equality was born with a curse “It has always given us wishes which men may not wish. We know that we are evil, but there is no will in us and no power to resist it.