ipl-logo

The Representation Of Individuality In Anthem, By Ayn Rand

561 Words3 Pages

The word “I” has a significant impact on our society. Its absence gradually lowers our society to have unjust expectations of people, and allow those expectations to influence our government. The book Anthem, by Ayn Rand, is an example of this occurrence. There is no use of the word “I”, “my”, or any word that implies individuality, as it has been prohibited by the government. The citizens in Anthem belittle and threaten the main character, Equality, because he “[held him]self as one alone and with the thoughts of one and not of many,” and say he should “be burned at the stake" for it. The word “I” is a representation of Individuality. It allows people to communicate their individual thoughts and feelings. In Anthem, since they are not allowed …show more content…

After Equality leaves his old society, he finds a new purpose, to “break the chains of the Earth, and raze the cities of the enslaved, and [his] home will become the capital of a world where each man will be free to exist for his own sake.” In the excerpt, the Earth is a representation of the Cities, and how they have chained down the citizens, restricting them of their full potential as individuals. Equality, now that he knows he is an individual, knows how much better it is than being “chained to the Earth”. He is more passionate than ever, and has decided to devote himself to liberating the people of the unjust society that they had no choice in being part of. Equality’s independence has sparked a desire to help others and given him a sense of empathy and freedom. Essentially, he has been given the opportunity to fully experience being a person. At the end of the book, Equality says he has “eyes which see, and the sight of [his] eyes grants beauty to the earth. “ When Equality says he has “eyes which see”, he means that, as a result of his newfound independence, he can now see as an individual. He calls that individuality beautiful, and a gift to the Earth, which we know is a representation of the Council/Cities. Furthermore, when Equality calls the “sight of his eyes” beautiful, he means that he thinks his literal eyes are beautiful. He only notices how

Show More
Related

Summary Of Ayn Rand's Anthem '

414 Words | 2 Pages

If Equality didn’t commit those sins, he wouldn’t be so happy at the end of this novel. For example, if he didn’t find that underground tunnel, he wouldn’t be in the Uncharted Forest with Liberty 5-3000. Or when he got chosen by the Council of Vocations. He would’ve never had met Liberty 5-3000. They would’ve even been able to meet if Equality had a different job.

Read More

What Is Lack Of Choices In Ayn Rand's Anthem

847 Words | 4 Pages

The book “Anthem” written by Ayn Rand is a book that deals with many topics within the main idea of the perfect world. The only problem is the word “I” is forbidden. “We” is the only acceptable word, there is no distinguishing yourself. The book takes place in the future, when all human rights are taken away and you live to your government's standards. No one has any individual rights anymore.

Read More

What Does The Uncharted Forest Symbolize In Anthem

1190 Words | 5 Pages

Equality has always been one step ahead of his superiors, and understands that the others in his previous society are the real Damned ones. Equality is able to continue growing from the harsh experiences he suffers through in his previous society. Equality continues to chuckle at being Damned, since he ran away with his invention into the Uncharted Forest, all the while free from living in a society burdened by altruism and conformity. Not only can he quench his lifelong thirst for knowledge, Equality can continue to bring back the advancements of the Unmentionable Times. Equality learns to think for himself, and to not let others creep into his mind and prevent him from achieving what is deemed as impossible.

Read More

Collectivism In The Book Anthem

892 Words | 4 Pages

Anthem Anthem is a fascinating insight on individualism and collectivism. Ayn Rand’s book is a hyperbolic example of today’s society. The novella demonstrates how “we” and “us” are shoved among humanity just as a wild animal is forced into a cage; also known as collectivism. The concept of collectivism is reciprocated into individualism throughout the narrative. Rand made Anthem extraordinary by exaggerating the extremes, writing in Science Fiction format, and gradually familiarizing individualism among the characters as the pages became fewer.

Read More

Summary Of Anthem By Ayn Rand

1560 Words | 7 Pages

Anthem tells the story of Equality 7-2521, a Street Sweeper, who defies and triumphs over the repressive nature of his collective society. The book’s author, Ayn Rand, utilizes many strategies to show the evolution of the theme of individual freedom as the plot progresses. The most effective of these are philosophy and style. She explains some of her basic principles

Read More

Summary Of Individuality In Ayn Rand's Anthem

1128 Words | 5 Pages

Someone needs to arouse Equality’s primal instinct that has been buried by his camaraderie, and her name is Liberty. “Their body was straight and thin as a blade of iron. Their eyes were dark and hard and glowing, with no fear in them, no kindness and no guilt. […] They threw seeds from their hand as if they deigned to fling a scornful gift, and the earth was as a beggar under their feet” (49). For the first time Equality feels desire and knows pain.

Read More

Equality's Quest For Freedom In Anthem, By Ayn Rand

970 Words | 4 Pages

From the beginning to the end of the story Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, Equality is limited to any type of freedom in his strict society. He was limited to writing, interacting with others, and even self expression, for they are looked upon as sins. Although Equality believed he sinned at the beginning of the story, he realized his society was limiting him to any type of discovery, this including the Unmentionable Times and the Unspeakable Word. This gave him the push to be his own person and take a stand against the people whom he calls “his brothers.” Equality’s final actions are correct, for his actions speak more as an act of curiosity, rather than a sin.

Read More

Examples Of Individualism In Anthem

927 Words | 4 Pages

Ayn Rand explores the flaws of collectivism in Anthem. Anthem is a social commentary denouncing the social basis of communism and group theory. Rand speculates that the individual should be kept in the highest regard, and

Read More

Dystopian Society Exposed In Ayn Rand's Anthem

753 Words | 4 Pages

It is looked at as another Dark Age. Because of this new civilization Equality sees himself creating a new society for himself and his newfound love, he has to overcome the transgressions the City has, to live through with his image of individuality and love. The first sin the City has

Read More

Comparing The Mind, Body, And Self In Ayn Rand's Anthem

175 Words | 1 Pages

Throughout the novel Anthem, Ayn Rand connects mind, body, and self as being one for the society. The society in this novella is for the whole of the society, and not for the self. There is only all. “We are in all and all in one.

Read More

Analysis Of Anthem By Ayn Rand

1192 Words | 5 Pages

Anthem Essay Equality 4-2521 in the book Anthem by Ayn Rand ensured his freedom and victory by concealing his find of the tunnel from the unmentionable times. There were many factors that fed into this victory such as stealing the manuscripts for the House of the Scholars, introducing his discoveries to the House of the Scholars, and choosing his own name later in the book. These ideas introduce a rebellion by Equality 4-2521 or later known as Prometheus that helps him break free from the communist society and shows him the great things that can be done as an individual and not as part of a whole. Also, Equality 4-2521 had conflicting emotions because he wanted to help his brothers but when he refused to tell the council about where he was when he arrived late to the House of the Street Sweepers and running into the forest for his own safety not for those of his ‘brothers’ he realized that the council was wrong.

Read More

Anthem Essay On Equality

559 Words | 3 Pages

With all of his experience that nobody has known in at least a century he is extremely capable of deciding whether of his choices are right. His personality keeps him from giving up hope and giving up on his society and his companion but keeps him curious enough to keep searching for something better in life. Equality has aged to the point where he thinks he needs to change the world and will try to do so. Most would believe that Equality’s actions were righteous and could not contemplate that his actions were

Read More

Summary Of Anthem By Ayn Rand

1067 Words | 5 Pages

"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.

Read More

Character Vs. Society In Ayn Rand's Anthem

419 Words | 2 Pages

Anthem is a story written by Ayn Rand as a propaganda piece portraying the evils of communism. The book takes place in the future in a undisclosed city surrounded by forest. In this city a collectivist society dwells. The conflict of Anthem is character vs. society where one man by the name of Equality decides to go against his broken government. Equality took a stand against his broken society, he has defied the council of scholars and his government, had a relation with a women, and escaped the city to The Uncharted Forest.

Read More

Losing Individuality In Ayn Rand's Anthem

530 Words | 3 Pages

How could losing individuality affect a society? The novel Anthem by Ayn Rand is about a guy named Equality 7-2521 who is trying to find himself in a society where everything is controlled and different. Later, he finds himself even though he will have to go through many obstacles to get there. The process behind losing individuality in an Anthem’s society are in forcing strict laws, brain washing of their citizens, and removing of family. The Anthem society in forcing of strict laws made it easy for everyone to lose their individuality.

Read More

More about The Representation Of Individuality In Anthem, By Ayn Rand

Related Topics

Open Document