Comparison Essay: Anthem, and “Invictus” The poem “Invictus” by William E. Henley, and the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, both have common themes that discuss the importance of individuality. Each of the themes that these works have to offer will be discussed throughout the paragraphs of this essay. One of the common themes between Rand’s novel, and Henley’s poem is that, both of the main characters of these pieces are determined to be nothing less than what they were made to be, which is unconquerable. A quote from Anthem that supports this theme is, “They (the Golden one) looked strait into our (Equality 7-2521’s) eyes and they held our head high and they answered: “the unconquered.”(p.56). From this quote, the Golden one proves to …show more content…
Within the poem of “Invictus”, the author seems to have gone through a similar experience that Equality 7-2521 had. A quote from “Invictus” extricates, “Under the bludgeoning of chance my head is bloody, but unbowed.”. From this quote, I suppose that the physical abuse is more of a metaphor, for the emotional damage that each one of these men went through. Since this poem mostly talks about the authors ordeals to gain independence, I think that they author is saying how rough, cruel, and discrimination the world can be, especially when it comes to things as precious as freedom. Our last theme that we will be discussing between Anthem and “Invictus”, is that both of the protagonists of these works believe, and know that they are the ones who control their lives and no one else. To support my theme with evidence, a quote from Anthem states, “I am. I think. I will. My hand…my spirit…my sky of their needs…my forest…the earth of mine.” (p.94). This excerpt from the novel is describing how Equality 7-2521 knows who he is, and what he controls. For so long he had to think of his brothers, not himself. This shows that he is the master of this own soul, and that nothing can stop him from being his own person. To further back up my theme, “Invicus” quotes, “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” From this quote alone, I can gather that the author of this story is the ruler of his own fate, and what happens to him. He knows no
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.
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.
In Anthem the protagonist, equality, falls in love with liberty. He saw her when he was cleaning the road. He didn't know what he felt and the next day he saw her working in the fields. They gave each other looks. Then later she gave him water. He started to fall in love with her. He later found out that she was about to turn 18 and ready to get pregnant, which he didn't want to happen. He did something that was forbidden. he fell in love in a society that doesn't embrace
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.
Overall, this novel proved itself to be a story of hope and liberation. The way in which Equality 7-2521 repeatedly showed actions and thoughts of opposing the society, and how he finally came to the conclusion that the modern society is deprived and wanted to change it, shows that this story is not about despair. Although readers don’t truly know if Equality’s goal to make a better future for the world was achieved, his display of independence, want for freedom, and plans to change the world, left a feeling of hope. Equality 7-2521 sought liberation and a future in which humans were free to be independent. Likewise, a famous phrase in the real world says, “De oppresso liber”-- meaning to “liberate the
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
The fiction novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, begins as equality takes a journey to individualism. He begins by writing how wrong he is to be writing what he is, how much of a sin it is. To be thinking as his own, and as an “I”. Ayn Rand is from Russia, which is a communist society. As Rand was growing up in this time frame, she had made the time to give herself an education which was frowned upon as she was a woman. She was not given a sense of “I” it was the normal thing for women to stand back and watch. To continue deeper into the book, Equality's eventual assessment of his writing on his own, changed from being a sin to being and individual activity, from the beginning to the end of the book.
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.
The story’s settings of the novel, Anthem, greatly influences the plot. The novel’s setting takes in a Dark Age where there is no creativity, technology, progress, or optimism. The “society” is completely controlled and manipulated by a central group of leaders. The story primarily centers around a young man named Equality 7-2521 who is a street sweeper. This occupation does not offer him opportunities to expand beyond his small controlled world. Equality 7-2521 take his readers on an adventurous life journey as written in his own journal. Readers feel his oppression and personal desperation as they travel through the dark tunnel and live each day in the shoes of Equality.
brought them for a civilization where the word ?I? did not exist to a world
“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
Many people believe different things about how the world will be in the future. There are both positive and negative predictions for the upcoming years. Ayn Rand's novella, Anthem, and Rush's "2112" share their views on the future. Ayn Rand wrote a novella and Rush wrote music about it. There are similarities and differences in their ideas. In Ayn Rand's novella, Anthem and "2112" by Rush, there are both similarities and differences about characters, setting, and plot.
After reading Ayn Rand’s Anthem, I was able to make multiple connections throughout the book. I noticed how much different themes in the book can relate to today’s society, or different government systems from all around the world. I initially started to compare and contrast the various humanities to the “Bill of Rights”, but I decided to look to see what other themes can be compared. I then decided to compare the two radically different worlds, The Great Rebirth and The Unmentionable Times: Drawing connections and finding things that set them apart from each other was definitely entertaining for me, but understanding which world is superior is a little harder.
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
Ayn Rand, the author of Anthem, states, “The mind is an attribute of an individual. There is no such thing as a collective brain.” This statement means Ayn believes highly in individualism. Individualism is a belief in the freedom of action of individuals. Ayn Rand’s theme of individualism is not a sin is developed and supported in many of her works such as Anthem through the characters, Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000, and their actions.