Revolutionary and intellectual Ayn Rand told stories that illustrated her views or points about how things worked in her world. Ayn Rand’s use of symbols helped to reinforce her beliefs including the use of light to illustrate individual creativity, the forest to represent freedom and finally the Golden One that represents a new way of life and meaning. these symbols are essential to the book and they provide hidden meanings to it. In the book the main character Equality is one of the the very few or appears to be the only one that thinks differently than others. As a boy he wanted to learn faster and faster. When he was grown to the age to be assigned work he was chosen street sweeper. When he stumbled upon a hole he discovers electricity or light. Equality thinks to himself, “...in that moment nothing existed save our two hands over a wire glowing in a black abyss.” That quote is very important because it shows how quite yet excited he was for doing such a remarkable thing. He then tries showing this discovery to the house of scholars that have a lot of power and could help with this invention. Equality says, “many men in …show more content…
The forest is where Equality escapes to, to get away from his old life or society. He wants to be free which the forest provides that quality. Equality says, “The forest...to welcome as we went on, without thought, without care, with nothing to feel.” The quote means that the forest is the only safe place to be from the old society. He knows that this is the right thing to do so he goes in “without thought, without care” and “with nothing to feel.” He is prepared for his new future. He also says, “we have broken the law, but we have never doubted it. Yet now, as we walk through the forest, we are learning to doubt.” This quote explains that he is regretting his decision but he knows that if he goes back he will have consequences. The forest is a symbol of future and how much of a benefit of living on his own
As he moves forward in his measures in the underground tunnel, Equality 7-2521 uncovers light in the glass box. For the first time, he is not afraid of his misbehavior against society, the box of light mattered, his findings is critical; he is important, and for the first time, Equality 7-2521 feels happiness. Nevertheless, the World Council of Scholars does not feel the same, “How dared you, Gutter Cleaner to hold yourself as one alone and with thoughts of the one and not of the many?” (Rand 72). As Equality 7-2521 perceives these words, he makes his most valuable discovery, successful community is not one of collectivism, but individuality. As he makes this analysis, Equality 7-2521 discontinues from the allegiance and is frightened as he runs to the Uncharted Forest, but as the days go on he turns into being unfearful, for he can do as he chooses when he wants. Soon Liberty 5-3000 meets him and the two go on to getting a house together. When Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000 find their house, and the books, he starts to interpret about Prometheus, who brings light when there is
Imagine a society where a name is provided by the government, creativity is prohibited, and people are not raised by parents. The city is ruled by dictators who control all means of life. Individuality and freedom needs to be earned through a series of painful quarrels. This is exactly what happens in a novella, Anthem, written by Ayn Rand. The protagonist, Equality, struggles to express himself amongst the rest of the corrupt city. In Anthem, Ayn Rand uses symbolism and fearful diction to convey the value of fighting for freedom in one’s society.
The novel of Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, contributes to controversial subjects in society that are still relevant today. Some issues addressed by Rand in her novel include: equality, social hierarchy, individuality, and government. Throughout the duration of reading Anthem the issues in which Rand makes relevant are not obvious, but more so discussed through conflicts and situations that the main character, Equality 7-2521, encounters. Although many of the altercations that present social issues are provided by either other characters singlehandedly or by a group of the characters in alliance, some of the main issues that arise in this novel are presented within the main character himself.
This character helped understand the theme in the story, that individuality must be treasured in our society, since the character is , while struggling to maintain his own individuality.“...and we would work for our brothers, gladly and willingly, ...What is my life, if I am but to bow, to agree and to obey?...” (Rand). This quote helps support the theme in the novel by showing Equality's individuality in different parts of the book. At the beginning, he denied his individuality and tried to blend in with the conformist society, while at the end, he accepts and treasures his individuality. This relates to the theme by showing that his individuality is treasured and valued by him.
Although Equality and his leaders have developed different experiences and knowledge, he can’t judge his society for having a different perspective than him. Instead he should respect their point of view and move on in life. Even though the Scholars didn’t respect his new discovery of the light bulb, it doesn’t mean that
His life becomes drastically and instantly different, and he loves every second of it. For the first time in his life, he wakes up when he wants to wake up. He runs around and he jumps up and down, and he lies in the cool grass. His experiences in the Uncharted Forest are new and incredible to him. Equality also discovers more about himself, how he looks and how strong he really is, and he feels immense pride at what he finds. He is proud of all he has and all he has done, and he is proud of his light box. His only regret is leaving behind the Golden One, who he reunites with later. When he does end up meeting up with the Golden One in the forest, he is awed by how amazing it is to have her by his side and love her. Everything he encounters leads to him enjoying life outside of the Anthem society more than he did when he lived within it. Everything he discovers in the Uncharted Forest is better than everything in society, leading him to laugh at the idea of being
In the book Anthem by Ayn Rand, nature is portrayed as a safe haven, and it is something that Equality can experience without thinking twice. Nature is an escape, a place to be you, a place to be unique. Everything in the society is sheltered and unknown, Equality describes nature in a different way than he described anything else in the book. There is a sense of relief, and it is like Equality lets his guard down and is free to be himself for a short amount of time as he describes nature. Equality describes the sky with great detail. He explains the three different colors of the sky at three different times of the day. “The sky is green and cold in our windows to the east” (Rand 27). He pays great attention to detail and the vivid colors and the way the sky looks at various times. Equality feels a sense of relief throughout the book through nature. Individuality is
When Equality 7-2521 begins the novel by saying, “It is a sin to write this.” he has a different moral assessment of writing than at the end of the novel. Throughout Anthem, Equality’s actions affect how he views his society and the people around him. By the end of the story, Equality begins to realize that the government and society that he lives in might not be so perfect, and it might not be a sin to write. Equality’s eventual moral assessments of his sins are correct and are supported by; his growth throughout the story, the themes of independence developed in the novel and Ayn Rand’s concepts concerning communism. These are the three ideas that will be developed and explained in this paper.
He was thought that it was bad to be different but he did not care, he just wanted to show other citizens that there was more than what meets the eyes. Not only is equality an individualized thinker but he is also smart and brave. Equality makes a statement in his society by creating light and sharing the new invention with others. “We MADE IT. WE CREATED IT. We brought it forth from the night of the ages. We alone. Our hands. Our minds. Ours alone and only. We knew not what we are saying. Our head is reeling. We look upon the light which we have made” ( Rand 59). This shows that Equality made a new invention and is eventually going to show it to the council of scholars. This affects society because the council of scholars thinks that Equality is being superior to his brother. “We have much to say to a wretch who have broken all the laws and who boast of their infamy! How dared you think that your mind held greater wisdom than the minds of your brothers? And if the council had decreed that you should be a street sweeper, how dared you think that you could be of greater use to men than in sweeping the streets?” (Rand 71). This proves that no one, besides Equality wants to change society. This ties to the theme by trying to break out of the controlling society and leading into Equality standing up for individualism and for himself. In addition this concludes how the two short stories “Anthem” and “Harrison Bergeron” have different themes.
Equality, a very curious main character, wants the experience of feeling valued not only within himself but also from others. The feeling of accomplishment and knowledge is what he is deprived of in his collectivist world and what many seek to feel. Individuality distinguishes one from others which is why each and every one is unique and why Equality feels he is different. This difference is due
Equality acknowledges that his great re-discovery of electricity will benefit humankind; however, that isn’t his primary motivation for experimenting. In Chapter V, he says, “We can give our brothers a new light, cleaner and brighter, than any they have ever known.” (60). He recognizes that this discovery will completely alter the way his society is set up, presumably for the better. Nevertheless, as he later states in Chapter VII: “We have lied to ourselves. We have not built this box for the good of our brothers. We built it for its own sake.” (76). Thus, Equality’s primary motivation for conducting his
The one in which appears similar to today's society. Everyone thought Equality was cursed, but many people think and sometimes act the exact same way that Equality acted throughout the novel. When faced with being outcasted, people tend to be depressed. But, Equality persevered and was able to do great things for the better of his fellow man, even when they treated him like he was nothing but a peasant; a street sweeper. Just because society treats others who do not follow their trends like people who are weird and outdated does not mean that they can make a difference. It is because of innovators like Equality that the world even has a society to begin
At the end of the story, Equality 7-2521 wants to live in a world without the rules and controls the council has set forth. Equality 7-2521 re-invents electricity, surpassing the best Scholars in his society. As well, Equality 7-2521's brilliance continues, as shown as at the end of the novel, when he’s writing philosophies on the meaning of life. The story proves that even though society is equal, human creativity creates a more diverse way of life.
Lionel Messi once said “you have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it. Equality discovered electricity in Ayn Rand’s book “Anthem”,Just like Prometheus, The god who stole fire, sacrificed a lot to show the world there discoveries. They did not fail at what they created and what they did.Although they had different outcomes equality felt a bond with prometheus, Because of how alike they were and how different they were.
Equality’s inspiration, will, and determination lead him to spark a new revolution. After Equality found the black hole, he kept habitually going back to it, to discover new things and gain intelligence. He was finding more about