“Anthem” – one of writing authors Ayn Rand, shows her at her most vicious, hungry, and ambitious reading personality not only as a writer, but as a storyteller as well. The classic hit novel “Anthem” is the predecessor to Ayn Rands later books and storytelling works such as “The Fountainhead” and “Atlas Shrugged”, often tackles controversial themes that are still prevalent within modern America today, such as Family & Love. The grandeur novel “Anthem” is a reflection of such topics, all whilst being told with almost an aura of mystery within the novels plotline / storyline. “Anthem’s” take on things such as individuality and self discovery along with universal, self serving terms such as “I” & the word “We” are the key factors in helping differinciate this author Ayn Rand from other authors that write and compse the same genre of literature as Ayn Rand. Anyways, please allow for me to introduce you to the under the surface, deeper themes expressed in the classic debut novel, Ayn Rands “Anthem”
Anthem, by Ayn Rand, is a very unique novel. It encircles individualism and makes the reader think of how people can conform to society and do as they are told without knowing the consequences and results of their decisions. Also, it teaches the importance of self expression and the freedom that comes along with being your own person and having the power to choose what path to take in life. Figurative language is used often in this book and in a variety of quotes that have great importance to the theme, plot, and conflict of the novel.
Everyone is the same, but everyone wants to be themselves. Throughout “Anthem” everyone in the city were taught to never put themselves before each other. The novel demonstrates this idea of individuality and collectivism through various archetypes. The three archetypes I found were Equality being a loner, Equality going on a journey, and everyone wearing white.
The story of Anthem takes place in dystopian future in which freedom and human rights have been obliterated. Equality 7-2521, the protagonist, is a street sweeper who finds a tunnel where he conducts his science experiments which are considered a sin. Throughout the book we see him change and discover how capable he is through a multitude of literary devices. In the novella , Anthem, Ayn Rand utilizes vivid imagery and a profusion of diction to frenetically emphasize the idea of love.
The internal conflict in Anthem plays a role within the novel by providing the complication that the protagonist, Equality, has to overcome in order to complete their quest. Equality is on a quest for freedom and for knowledge, even though it will separate them from their brothers. From the beginning of the novel until the third chapter, Equality notes how they commit transgressions against their society, such as preference, and how they are different from their brothers, an example being Equality’s height of 6 feet tall. In the third chapter, Equality more or less accepts their fate of being alone, even though the internal conflict still silently lurks in the
“Anthem” is about a boy named Equality 7-2521 who is Street Sweeper of the society and was given this job as punishment for having too bright a mind, too curious, and for fighting amongst his brothers. When he was given this job, he thought of it as an atonement to his sins for being these things. While sweeping the streets, he finds a grill buried in the ground, leading to a underground subway and sneaks down there every day to perform experiments to satisfy his curiosity and his willing to learn. Equality then finds a young woman named Liberty 5-3000 and has thoughts that no man or woman can have except at the Time of Mating. After completing many experiments, Equality discovers electricity and uses it to make a light. When he showed it to the Council of Scholars, he was considered an evil wretch, and they also tell him that while he believes he
Imagine a world where everyone is equal; living a life that feels almost programmed. Humans may not realize the impact freedom, technology, and independence has on our daily lives; however, Anthem by Ayn Rand demonstrates the importance of these rights. The story portrays the life of a young man, Equality 7-2521, living in a society that is built on severe rules and laws. These laws are designed to eliminate individuality, resulting in an extremely controlled environment. Due to the laws, Equality 7-2521 rebels against the society. For example, Equality 7-2521 was given the job as a Street Sweeper but realized life was unchallenging for him, and was punished for going beyond his limitations. Equality 7-2521 understands that solitude is
After a couple of weeks, he has successfully built a light bulb by using the materials he had found in the tunnel. He decides that he wants to share his invention with the World Council of Scholars when they meet in his city. During that time, Equality 7-2521 meets Liberty 5-3000 or as he likes to say the “Golden One.” He speaks with her even though its completely wrong and they end up falling in love. What he’s doing is so dangerous, but he can’t stop himself from falling in love with her. One night Equality 7-2521 comes home late to the Home of the Street Sweepers, where he lives. When he refuses to cooperate and tell his Home Council, where he has been, he is thrown into the Palace of Corrective Detention. Even though he gets tortured, he still refuses to cooperate, because he wants to keep the light bulb a secret until he gets to show it. He remains in detention until he decided to break out and go to the World Council of Scholars. Equality 7-2521 arrives and tells them about his invention, but they reject his invention out of fear. Their whole lives they’ve been using candle lights and now he comes to show them his idea and they're scared. They want to destroy the light bulb and Equality 7-2521. He escapes with his invention into the Uncharted Forest. The major conflict in the story is Equality 7-2521 against the rest of his society. He struggles to identify himself and be free in a society which rejects the complete thought of individualism. The
Anthem is a short dystopian fiction novel written by Ayn Rand. It was published 79 years in 1938 in England. The setting of the novel starts off in a dark tunnel. As we get further in the book we learn that the story takes place in an undetermined point in the future in a City that’s not specified. The main character, Equality 7-2521, narrates his thoughts to the reader throughout the whole book. He feels guilty because he’s breaking the laws by writing down his thoughts but feels it is necessary. It is forbidden for the people to have their own thoughts or do anything by themselves. A long time ago, there was something called the Great Rebirth. After that happened, society started to refer to themselves as “we” and lost the word “I”,
The world in Anthem is ideal and it’s a sin for anyone to think that they are more or less than “WE”(Rand, 20). However, in Anthem there is a character that knows there is more to be discovered that his brothers does not know about yet. When Equality goes to the scholars, to inform them on the spectacular stuff he has recently learned, he is chased out of his community and into a forest that no one dares to enter (Rand, 75).
Although the storyline of Anthem may be slightly different compared to V for Vendetta as Equality 7-2521 rebels by breaking laws the Council created such as dating and escaping the city and V rebels by conducting illegal terroristic harmful actions such as killing and blowing up government buildings. In both narratives, the protagonists rebel against a cruel government that takes advantage of having a higher strength than anyone else in the city.
Individuality, a thing we all take for granted, but in a collectivist society, individuality is banned in all forms and is enforced with torture and execution in the name of “brotherly love”. In the novella Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, all men are bound to the society and held captive by the government’s beliefs. The Home of Scholars is responsible for all scientific discoveries. A new act is preventing them from releasing their findings into the society. Equality also dabbles in science, and he knows that this is a transgression. Equality wishes only to study the clockwork of the world, and to be accepted into The Home of Scholars. He brings his invention of a light to the council, but is turned down because his technological advancement
“My happiness is not the means to any end. It is the end. It is its own goal. It is its own purpose” (Rand, 95). Anthem is written by American author Ayn Rand about Equality 7-2521 on his quest for happiness. The novel is set in an unspecified time and place in the future. Years after human civilization has gone through a deconstruction in which all knowledge was lost and a new society established with no concept of the individual. “The novel describes the efforts of the main character, Equality 7-2521, to reestablish a sense of personal identity and restore the knowledge of the past by objective scientific inquiry. In doing so, he must face many dangers and privations” (Anthem). Anthem is a dairy of the Equality
Vision a lifestyle where one perceives it as a sin to comprehend data more efficiently than of one’s peers; a felony to long for things that others do not wish upon. Where floods of white tunics and austere minds obliterate the Earth. A colony built upon leaders who asphyxiate anyone from infatuation of any object or significant being; moreover, a world suffocating in collectivism. Through exasperated transcription, Anthem brings about such a community; nevertheless, a world of black and white. Ayn Rand does not overemphasize the effects of totalitarianism, but amplifies it so that it is more effortless for one to enlighten he or she’s notion on the particular proposal. First, by analyzation of “Equality 7-2521”, and
In addition, Equality 7-2521 continues to develop the theme when he is curious about how to capture lightning. This is when Equality 7-2521 creates a box that contains the energy of the sky which is known to a reader as a light bulb. He does this by discovering how to capture lightning and creating light without it. Equality 7-2521 plans on showing it to the World Council of Scholars and becoming a hero to the society like the people that created the candle were. However, his actions are considered a