Ayn Rand's Anthem

A noticable interesting topic about the story is the way Liberty acts. It seems Ayn Rand, the author, has something against women even though she is a woman herself. The meaning of this is, the women out there that act like girls and only care about fashion and themselves is what is being spoken of. The literary element that is being focased on deals with this issue. This essay will focas on the story "Anthem" written by Ayn Rand containing the literary element of character.

The movie The Truman Show and the book Anthem, both address collectivism as well as individualism. However both are trying to say something to the viewers in there own way. In this essay I will be comparing the ideals of individualism and collectivism so that each perspective is shown. To begin this you must first know what the two ideals are and how they contrast with each other. Individualism Is when everyone has a responsibility only to the individual, the work they do and the outcome of the work directly benefits their own self.

“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 […] there is no transgression blacker than to do or think alone” (17). In the story Anthem it is a high offense to think for oneself and write without permission from the Council of Vocations. Equality 7-2521 has broken both these crimes simultaneously by writing in a journal over a span of months. By the end of the novel, Equality wrongly believes his actions are not truly sins. His action of writing is a sin because he has to hide the fact he is writing the journal and he been raised to believe that “it is not good to be different from our brothers, but it is evil to be superior to them” (21).

Ayn Rand's Anthem shows us her view of our world united under what seems to be communist rule. For example their view of right and wrong; which Anthem portrays is a system of very strict rules which mainly make sure that everyone is involved in a collective role within the society in this system no one is considered an individual or that they can even think as an individual.

brought them for a civilization where the word ?I? did not exist to a world

Ayn Rand’s Anthem challenges the prevailing wisdom that selflessness and sacrifice are morally superior to selfishness and self-interest. In the 1937 novel, Rand depicts a future in which individual identity is erased and all action is collective in nature. The word ‘I’ has been eradicated and all people use the plural ‘We’ to refer to themselves, as it is the concept of self that a society based on selflessness must destroy. In Anthem, the banishment of individualism leads to severe dystopian consequences that are explored through their impact on the protagonist, Equality 7-2521, on the end of innovation in society, and as the basis for the collapse of society itself into a totalitarian dictatorship.

We, the Society will form an order of how the society will stay and think as one. As we choose the steps of the future, we ask that we all accomplish what we are assigned to do. The future, we plan for. The present, we live for, and the past we will never speak of. We all have a job to do, and as we achieve them, we need to learn our ways there and back. Forget the past, and look forward to the future. We of all people need to respect and obey what we choose for society, to make it a place where we feel comfortable and safe. We all will establish to be in The Council of Scholars, the Home of the Peasants,The Palace of Mating, The Council of Vocations and more jobs. Though, we the people may be forgiven for

Anthem starts the book by stating that Equality has done a sin. The complete novel is based on this first line, because it shows Equality’s character and his rebellious actions. Throughout the book, Equality bases his actions off of the sin and develops a new character for himself. The sin not only describes Equality throughout the book, but also at the climax of the book and at the ending. The sin’s significance in the beginning of the book helps portray Equality's character and actions and the events of the book, but also Equality’s knowledge of his sins never prevents him from sinning.

Anthem by Ayn Rand was written in a futuristic period where no one had their own say. They were all equal to one another, they were all brothers and nobody was above anyone else. Whatever you think you know, you’re wrong, all you know is what they know.

There could be a relation, connecting this story to the world today. In this book, it talks about how these men never had the chance to experience freedom or do whatever they wish to do. In some parts of the world today, there are communities and societies that have rules and regulations that need to be followed. It may not be exactly the same laws as the ones in Anthem, but they have purpose in those laws also. In Anthem, you can tell that these men are being driven to these laws that may keep them safe, but also keeps them from being who they really are. It could just be a way to teach them that being independent is bad or telling them that there is only one way through this life and it is to stand together. There could be so many possible reasons as to why they would keep these rules, but Equality and his fellow brothers are also being controlled. Their feelings, thoughts, and even their actions are being controlled. They may even be scared to take a step forward and become free, but not for Equality. He seeks freedom in a different way than his brothers. His brothers think that it is good to become one and fight for one another, but Equality has a new perspective.

It has become blatantly obvious that history repeats itself similar events reoccur and have nearly identical outcomes. The rise and fall of civilization comes as the ocean, rising to its highest point and then falling down to its knees but only to find itself climbing back up again. The book Anthem shows the extent a government and its citizens are willing to go to preserve the idea of a perfect society. But with this great society come sacrifices and challenges the people must find ways to accept, examples are, having complete trust in authority figures, the idea that the group as a whole is more important, and they must accept that there is only one way to achieve this “perfect” society. Through fear and propaganda, the citizens begin to have a closed mind and only see what they are told to see and question nothing.

When babies cry, they cry for various reasons, when they are hungry or tired or need their diaper to be changed, but there is another reason on top of all this too. Babies can “fake cry” to gain the attention of their parents. It does not matter if that same parent is exhausted or busy; that baby will wail in order to be noticed. Even when we do not know the meaning of the word selfish, we exhibit signs of it so early into life. Our being selfish is innate, apart of our nature , just like every other animal that fights and hunts to sustain itself.

“What is not thought by all men cannot be true” is the common belief in the totalitarian world of Anthem (73). In this post-apocalyptic and altruistic society people can only exists through the service to their brothers, and individual thoughts and actions are shunned upon. Equality 2-72521 is brilliant, using technologies he found from before the “great rebirth” to formulate new conclusions about the virtually unexplored world of his time. With individualism shunned, personal thought is prohibited as well. Idiosyncrasy of anyone is looked upon as evil because it is different from other brother men, so people are bred to be and think the same. Science and technology are advanced upon with the thought of individuals coming up with new hypothesis

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 Anthem by Russian philosopher Ayn Rand, she endeavors to explain the good nature of man and demonstrate the heroic being of mankind. Happiness is expressed as being the ability to think. Through the satirical story the author proves the importance and happiness that comes from being unique and individual.