Anthem : A Dystopian Society

“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”

“It is a sin to write this. It is a sin to think words no others think and to put them down upon a paper no others are to see. It is base and evil… We have broken the laws” (17). Thus begins Anthem by Ayn Rand, a novella about a future collectivist society and a man named Equality 7-2521. Though the story takes place in the future, all technology that came after candles and glass has been taken away. The word “I” has ceased to exist in anyone’s vocabulary. Every person must agree on everything and feel like everyone else. To accomplish ‘cleansing’ the evils of mankind, society lead its people to believe that nothing can be done independently. The story is told through the eyes of Equality as he purposely defies the laws

In this paper, I will be talking about the book called Anthem by Ayn Rand. I will be talking about characters such as protagonists and antagonists and how some characters impacted the story. I will talk about the setting, conflicts, and the plot of the story. I will also talk about literary devices such as point of view, symbolism, mood, tone, and theme.

The book, Anthem by Ayn Rand, is a story that is written about a man named Prometheus, or otherwise known as Equality 7-2521, who chooses to be different in a society where everyone was meant to be the same. Throughout most of the book, he has trouble finding the meaning of his life. As he realizes that he can be different, he discovers the power of his own mind so towards the end of the book he turns into a more proud and independent individual. He learns the wrongs of his society, so as a result he rebels against them. Ayn Rand represents the cruelty of collectivism in Anthem by portraying a society that is oppressed by men.

Imagine living behind a steel wall with nowhere to go, you live in the shadows of the golden turrets one of the best places that you can ever go, and finally, imagine that your whole life is a lie and a horrible game come true and a war that will be fought for that kids as the soldiers. This book is based on a dystopian society and in this place there are many things happening that nobody wants to end up in the middle of. Cruelness and selfishness is the main part of this dystopian society and no one wants to live, in any dystopian society. Roar, by Emma Clayton, Aligns with a dystopian society in many ways, such as, their social structure, the wealthy versus the poor, and the fact that they live behind a giant wall. Roar is based

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

“We strive to be like all our brother men, for all men must be alike” (Rand 21). Although being divergent is a sin, transgression in Anthem society, Prometheus, the protagonist, defies against collectivism by standing out and becoming an outcast of himself in his society with self-assurance and eagerness. No one in Anthem society has individual identity by inspecting the inexistence of the word “I,” while Prometheus detects the Unspeakable Word, ego, exposing the readers to envisage the propitious prospect of the establishment of individualism.

In Anthem the Council wants everyone to be exactly the same with no individuality. The Council enslaves everyone physically and mentally. This makes everyone feel like everyone is the same and no one has a different life than anyone else around them. On page 19, it says “ We are one in all and all in one. There are no men, but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever.” The Council’s plan for that is to brainwash the society to think they live in a perfect world where whatever choice the Council makes is fair.

In the novels Anthem and Fahrenheit 451, society believed they were God in peoples’ eyes. Whether having control over their jobs, education, or love lives, society had a way of breaking all contact that lied in peoples’ personal thoughts and actions. If people were to act upon a thought they knew was forbidden, their actions could potentially ruin the heavenly system created by their society. However, there is no such thing as the perfect society. No matter how much society may want humanity to be fair and equal, it will never happen. And to try and take away the moments that prove how time makes people wiser and mature through their mistakes, only deprives people of the sense of being wrong and feeling remorse for their actions. In order for people to ever learn about the real challenges of life, change has to happen. But the people already in the headspace that society has created for them have to realize that change is imperative. Through both novels, two protagonists help join the cause of fighting their society so that change is inevitable for generations to come.

In Anthem, there is not much freedom, the government controls most of what happens, and there was not much knowledge. “The laws say that none among men may be alone, ever at any time, for this is the great transgression and the root of all evil.” (Rand,17) “But we may never speak of the times before the Great Rebirth, else we are sentenced to three years in the Palace of Corrective Detention.” (Rand,19). These quotes show how the laws are against freedom, they show that no one is allowed act how they want or say what they want to say. The government also has all the control in what people can say and do. “There is some word, one single word which is not in the language of men, but which had been. And this is the Unspeakable Word, which no men may speak or hear.” (Rand, 49) This quote shows how the government restricts what they are

The 22nd century was known for the dystopian societies. One dystopian society story that caught my interest was anthem. Anthem is a story by Ayn Rand , This story is about a guy named Equality-2521 . Equality lives in a dystopian society where he is controlled and he can only live until he’s 45 years old and he can only live for his brothers. In the society there is no such thing as being yourself there is no such thing as using the word “I”. This society is run by a council this council is made up of three men and two women . This dystopian Society goes to school until 15 and then they get assigned jobs and names ,Equality is different from all his other brothers equality is taller and smarter. Equality is

The society would be unsuccessful considering at any sign of similarity to his current society, he would attempt to change it. Individualism is the main priority of his society. Prometheus would attempt to be such an individual that he would overlook his brothers’ well being. Prometheus would also aim to assure it is known that he broke the society’s chain of collectivism by making himself and his loved ones superior to others. “We shall never leave this house," we said, "nor let it be taken from us. [...] This is your house, Golden One, and ours, and it belongs to no other men whatever as far as the earth may stretch. We shall not share it with others, as we share not our joy with them, nor our love, nor our hunger. So be it to the end of our days.” (Page 101) According to that quote, He would not care for anyone else's well being except for himself and

In this quote not a single person means anything but that they are part of mankind. The only people with any rights of their own is the government. Just like in our society the government controls what happening but at least in our society we have a say in what the government should and should not do. The characters in Anthem are nothing but mindless bodies that are controlled by the society. Also the people in Anthem are disposable so what 's the point in making them unique if they don 't matter at all.

He despises that society, as it has caused him to suffer for things he cannot control like his intelligence. Prometheus has been damaged by this society so much to the point where he feels “The word ‘We’ is as lime poured over men, which sets and hardens to stone, and crushes all beneath it” (Rand 97). He believes that individual thought is everything, and collectivist thought is nothing- the exact opposite of the society he has come from. Not only would his society never have collectivist ideals, Prometheus says that he will call out to “all the men and women whose spirit has not been killed within them and who suffer under the yolk of their brothers” (Rand 101). Not only has Prometheus rejected collectivism, but he will save those who have not been fully brainwashed and are still able to be saved.

In Anthem, there are a couple of characters and some are only mentioned and some only have a few lines of dialogue. The protagonist of Anthem is Prometheus or Equality 7-2521 and the antagonists are the Council of Scholars. The council of scholars would be the antagonists because they told the society how to think and that made Prometheus think that he had a curse and was committing a lot of sins and to atone for his sins he accepted the job as a street sweeper with any complaint. Two characters that influenced the plot are Gaea and International 4-8818. Gaea or Liberty 5-3000 influences the plot by Prometheus noticing her and speaking to her when they aren’t supposed thus breaking a rule and later going to the Uncharted forest to find Prometheus and live with him. International 4-8818 influenced the story by making Prometheus think of him as his friend thus favoring him over other men which are against the rule and keeping quiet about the tunnel that Prometheus and he found. These two characters made Prometheus break the rules and was pushing him to have more a free will than the other men. Characters in this book