Collectivism In Anthem To The Fountainhead, By Ayn Rand

A captivating novelette in which a man’s priority is to serve only for his brothers, Ayn Rand’s Anthem illustrates a society that has suffered the ghastly consequences of collectivism. She depicts an oppressive culture in which the word “I” is unheard of and men belong to the collective “We.” Men’s lives are determined through the Council of Vocations, a group that maintains a powerful dictatorship by subjugating the public from the beginning of their lives. The idea that “If you are not needed by your brother men, there is no reason for you to burden the earth with your bodies” (Chapter 1) has been forced into average mindset of the vehemently maintained society. In contrast, Rand mocks the totalitarian civilization through the main

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.

Ceaseless collectivism is not something that can be forced upon a community. Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem conveys this through the writings of Equality 7-2125, a man willing to stand up to the collectivism of the society he is confined to. Anthem not only shows how dull and lifeless a society can be with a lack of individuality in its people, but also reveals how one person can significantly impact a community. This novel displays the importance of individualism through Equality’s thoughts and actions. This includes when he reinvents electricity in the tunnel, falls in love with Liberty, and when he completely separates himself from society.

“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

Set in a dystopian society in the future, the novella Anthem written by Ayn Rand is all about being a collective society which doesn’t believe in individualism. Ayn Rand constructs a society in which individualism is a transgression. The government enforces the idea of collectivism to the society. They believe that in the human race each person is not single. The protagonist, Equality 7-2521 wants to be an independent person. He wants to be free. As stated in the novel, “To be free, a man must be free of his brothers.” This statement means that in order to be successful, he has to be his own person. As the novel goes on Equality 7-2521 learns to be an independent man and frees himself from the society which forces collectivism.

Throughout the novel, Anthem, and a speech from Fountainhead, written by Ayn Rand, it expresses the argument between individualism vs collectivism. An individual is a person who has control of his or herself, while a collectivist is someone whose hard work benefits their society. Although, another ideology that Ayn Rand mentions in her literature is egoism, throughout her books the significant meaning of being an egoist is considered a good thing, but in our modern society today we consider it a trait reflected by a selfish person.

Ayn Rand’s novel puts Equality in a great position to start his new life with his new family. Ayn Rand’s story gives hope to all who want not to be conquered by their government and to have a say in what they believe in. If your government or society doesn’t like what you have to say, then it shows you can also walk right out the door if you don’t like what is happening. When you become a collectivist, you lose your individuality and almost become a slave and or a robot to the government and society. You lose your creativity and

To begin, Ayn Rand shows the negative side of collectivism with the creation of the main character Equality 7-2521. Rand’s strong beliefs had her create a whole character that is against the large idea of collectivism. In Anthem, it starts off by saying, “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” (Rand 17). Collectivism portrays the idea of being an individual as a sin. Because Rand is being derogatory, she makes collectivism seem wrong. The character is breaking the rules that he grew up learning and being forced to obey. Throughout the book, Equality 7-2521 continues to take his own path and become an individual against collectivism. Rand explains in the story Anthem, “This is a great sin, to be born with a head which is too quick. It is not good to be different from our brothers, but it is evil to be superior to them” (Rand 21). The word “evil” is often associated with demons and the devil, so Rand's use of that word sets the tone of negativity. Collectivism makes the people feel guilty for being born with the ability to learn and comprehend schooling at a faster rate than others. This dystopian world is warped; instead of being praised and acknowledged for being advanced, they have to keep it to themselves and pretend to be normal when they aren't.

In today’s world, there are many disagreements on whether a collectivist society or an individualist society would be better and more beneficial for each country. Depict a world with no choice, no freedom, and everyone is equal. There would be no new discoveries, no creative ideas, nothing new. This doesn’t seem like a beneficial and enjoyable society to live in, so therefore, an individualistic society would be preferable. In Rand’s book Anthem and Shakespeare’s infamous play Romeo and Juliet, both stories contradict individualism and collectivism.

The Fountainhead written by Ayn Rand primarily revolves around the protagonist Howard Roark and his struggle to maintain his individuality and morals in the face of opposing forces. Howard demonstrates this struggle in the act of dynamiting the Cortlandt Homes and fighting for his freedom in court. Throughout the novel, Howard’s ego stands firm against public opinion, he does not waver despite opposition in instances such as the construction of the Stoddard Temple, the building of the Aquitania Hotel, and the erection of the Enright House. Howard’s attitude correlates to a main theme in the novel, which was that individualism is the more rational lifestyle. However, Howard’s rationale behind his actions was that moral law super secedes secular

In the novel, The Fountainhead, the author Ayn Rand introduces her philosophy of Objectivism as Rational Individualism. Rational Individualism is the self-realization of one’s worth and how to go about life in the most logical and beneficial way for one’s own well-being. In The Fountainhead, the protagonist, Howard Roark, is depicted by Ayn Rand as the epitome of objectivism. A common theme that has been brought up multiple times throughout this novel and plays a major role in understanding rational individualism, would be integrity. Through Howard Roark, Ayn Rand demonstrates the difficulty that most find with relying on one’s own integrity and not relying on others to make choices for you; which ultimately shapes who you are as an individual.

“What is the basic, the essential, the crucial principle that differentiates freedom from slavery? It is the principle of voluntary action versus physical coercion or compulsion” (Ayn Rand). In this quote Rand demonstrates the fact that the only difference between a dictatorial society and a free society is their actions. This seems to be Rand’s premise, but the “actions” of a society are merely expressions of the basic philosophical foundations. A totalitarian society forces the citizens to do what the government wants them to do.

The most meaningful scene in the book is when the new college graduate goes for a bike ride and discovers the Monadnock Valley resort. This scene and the ensuing scandal around the resort beautifully exemplify Ayn Rand’s overall theme of The Fountainhead: “individualism versus collectivism, not in politics, but in man’s soul.” (The Fountainhead Course / lesson eight, Themes of the Fountainhead: Individualism Versus Collectivism) The college graduate sees this amazing town that is built into the hills and he thinks,“one could no longer imagine the hills as beautiful without them - as if the centuries and the series of chances that produced these ledges in the struggle of great blind forces had waited for their final expression.” (p. 504)

In the story of the Fountainhead, a brilliant young architect, named Howard Roark, is expelled form his prestigious architecture school. He does this by his refusal of following the school’s traditions that are considered outdated. His unordinary actions begin to convey some of the unique themes used in the novel. Henry Cameron is a discredited architect from New York whom Howard Roark goes to work for due to the admiration he has for Henry Cameron after he is expelled from his school.

Howard Roark is a Compelling character in the Fountainhead. He encompases all that is all that is an individual and overall represents the main point of the theme. Roark is Ryand’s absolute vision on what a perfect human should be and she uses her novel to represent through an array of characters how all different personalities and beliefs can be interpreted in a society; but her main point that only way to have a true sense of self is make your own decisions and be a complete adult. One of the most protruding themes throughout the novel is collectivism versus individualism.