The Disparity Idiosyncratic happiness is eradicated and individualism has been eliminated. The society exhibited in Ayn Rand’s Anthem is of a dystopian essence, a domain where one must be interchangeable to his brothers. There is a substantial pressure on the locals in which they are expected to conform to the standards of that sector. The objective is complete egalitarianism, this is the “rightful” sense of morality. The protagonist of the novella, Equality 7-2521, is of this collective. He’s adventurous, inquisitive, practically insubordinate, but he respects his brothers and he also respects himself. The novella is full of predicaments in which he does not heed to the standards of his society. His inquisitive sense sways his capability to compose. His impression on the law shifts in the climax as compared to his views in the genesis of Anthem. This shift in thought creates a prodigious contrast when in reference to Equality’s morality and the morality that his brothers share. The disparity is evident. Equality 7-2521 is an individual who clings onto his own understanding and intellect. He may live in a society of collectivism and a demand for obedience, but he favors his values. Furthermore, he is a man of independence and of a preference for scientific research. The “science of things” is a fascination of his. To Equality, he shall command his own mind and …show more content…
Equality believes in the freedom of exploration, creation, and the act of doing by oneself as despised by his brothers who believe all acts should be done together as group. Not doing so shall be evil to them and considered threatening as Equality believes it is acceptable whether you do it or not. This is the disparity of Equality and his peer’s
Equality finds a tunnel that he thinks is from the “unmentionable times” is his society while he was street sweeping. He goes down in it and finds smooth hard surfaces which I inferred to be glass, in Anthem all objects are raw materials so it is not possible for there to be glass unless the council was hiding the tunnel so no one could find it. He returns to the house of street sweepers late and the council asks where he has been. He refuses to tell them so he gets taken somewhere by the council and they try to whip the information out of him. “ A grill, a grill, a grill” Equality says.
When the time does arise when Equality 7-2521 must display their discovery to the World Council of Scholars instead of being rewarded for their creation, the Council of Scholars see what Equality 7-2521 made to be a device of the
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.
In the beginning of chapter thirteen in Anthem By Ayn Rand, Equality 7-2521 is brought to the realization that, “the best in me [Equality] had been my sins and my transgressions,” (98); this is a large difference from his previous writing, “It is a sin to write this,” (17). As he progresses through the story, Equality’s morals begin to change and eventually are not the same as those of the city. Although most readers believe that Equality’s final assessment of his sins are correct, this is a false assumption because sin is an opinion. Equality ended thinking that his actions were not sins, but because he stole, was selfish, and put others in danger, he sinned based off of modern society’s morals. Similarly, he committed actions such as being
The book states, “’for men have no cause to exist save in toiling for other men’” (Rand, Anthem 74). This quote shows how the society thinks men should only be doing things that will help the society and nothing for yourself. When Equality tried to do something he thought would be the right thing, but was against society’s rules he had to go to the Palace of Corrective Detention to make him do only what society wanted (Rand, Anthem 63-64). This shows how the society will not let anyone do anything that is not what they think of as correct.
From the past to the present, society has struggled with the concepts of conformity and individuality. Often times, people find comfort and safety in being like everyone else because they don’t feel alone. On the other hand, individuality seems to be encouraged by society by telling everyone to be themselves, yet people are ridiculed for standing out. In the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, the conflict between conformity and individuality is present in Equality’s quest for freedom when he convinces International 4-8818 not to report their discovery of the tunnel, when Equality meets the Golden One, and when he presents his invention to the house of scholars.
Every man is named, schooled, and given a specific occupation by the government. During his schooling Equality 7-2521 was taught this all important saying, “We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE. One indivisible and forever”(Rand, 6). He repeats this saying over and over again when his mind begins to wander and show preferences of how he wants to live, but it does not help him.
Since 1848 when The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx was published growing questions about whether a communist or globalist society could work were asked. With many theories and attempts to make a perfect society, it has never been done ,but in fiction it has worked out such as in the television series Star Trek. Likewise communism does not always work well in fiction leaving the people poor or mistreated. Such as in the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand which tells the tale of an oppressive communist society that uses its government to keep everyone equal. The society in Anthem has all its rules and controls for the purpose of keeping an artificial sense of true equality ,and by the end of the story Equality would go the opposite route in not having
Experiencing society being completely obliterated and reborn is immensly traumatic, and Russian-born author Ayn Rand experienced this when her world turned upside down at the start of the Bolshevik Revolution. This Civil War killed as many as ten million people and Russia transitioned into a communist country. Her dystopian fiction novella Anthem portrays a future where communism never ceased and mankind was reborn into a collectivist society. The main character, Equality 7-2521, curiously questions his society and its structure and redefines it through invention and exploration. Although seemingly heroic, Equality 7-2521, in actuality, represents many flaws.
In society today, the meaning of equality is much different than it is depicted in Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem. Today, the word ‘equality’ means to treat everyone the exact same way to keep the fairness between all individuals. In Anthem, equality means everyone is one, no one is placed above the other. Everyone’s needs are cared for as a group, not individually. With that vision of equality in a collectivist society, words that demonstrate ‘selfishness’ have vanished, like ‘I’.
In Ayn Rand’s novella, Anthem, mankind is a philanthropic machine. To achieve a common goal, the brotherhood disregards their own personal ends and nobly collaborates. For every decision comes from collective thought and every advancement, from joint action. However, one man in this machine malfunctions: Equality-72521. With an inquisitive nature, an innovative mind, and latent desire, Equality possesses the traits of a visionary.
Equality is willing to oppose his leaders to enunciate everything that he believes in; being oneself and staying true to all one’s rights and morals. He is unequivocally denouncing his leaders by going against everything that his society believes in, like creating inventions as a whole and not by oneself. Rand’s statement, “But in no case and in no situation may one permit one’s own values to be attacked or denounced, and keep silent,” substantiates Equality’s actions in trying to defend all of his rights (Rand, “How” 84). Both Rand and Equality are elucidating that people have to fortify everything that they believe in or it can all be appropriated. Equality and Ayn adage that if people don’t protect their rights then someone will come along that will confiscate people of all virtues and standards.
this show Equality’s rebellious acts, and it is also shows his motivation of individuality. The society of Anthem has shaped and “tried” to conform the human mind, to think that everything that is taught is right. The brain is so powerful that Equality 7-2521 cannot help let his thoughts although simple considered generous, get a hold of him. “Two common types of rebellion are against socially fitting in (rebellion of non-conformity)…” (Phycology Today).
In Anthem Equality’s view of morality strongly coincides with Ayn Rand’s views in the excerpts from her other writings, but is very different from the institutions, practices and officials from the society in which he lives. Throughout the novel, Equality comes into contact with many of the
24) Equality is okay with being a street sweeper, even though he knows that he could be much more than just a street sweeper. Equality is driven to be like his fellow brothers. According to Rand "We strive to be like all our brother men, for all men must be alike. Over the portals of the Palace of the World Council, there are words cut in the marble...