Comparing Collectivism In The Truman Show And Anthem

Individualism is the idea that a person’s life belongs to them and that they have an absolute right to live it as they sees fit. The people of modern society have the right to pursue the values of their choosing. As an individual we have our own opinions, this gives us the freedom to expand our life in ways we couldn’t

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.

The situation in Anthem is closely related to how Ayn Rand lived through the early years of the Soviet Union’s rise to power. The people of Russia were expected to everything for the state, and were expected to put their needs and wants on the back burner with no if ands or buts about it, and this is very much what was going on in Anthem.

Individuality arises when an individual encounters and endures a life, taking their first step with their family which is the first society an individual faces. Through their lives, individuals promote their own exclusive originalities, while Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem characterizes a totalitarian society suppressing individualism. In the society depicted in Anthem, individualism is oppressed by the society imposing children live away from their families which is one form of totalitarian dictator’s authority. The intention of totalitarian dictators enforcing the arrangement of children living apart from their families is to impede individualistic society- avert dissimilarities transpiring in the process of family influences in education, forfend the enlightenment of emotions, and the establishment of collectivism.

This brings us to our third and final point of the thesis is that when you have a system of government that you like and other people don’t do anything about, why change it? In anthem everybody apart of the civilization thinks that their lives are normal because that is what they are used to. Since everybody is used to it they are all ok with it. And because they are all ok with it nobody wants to rebel and try to change it. Except for the people that are different. Then they end up realizing what is right and going into the forbidden forest to start a new.

Collectivism cannot exist because you can’t eat for someone else or walk for them. Your heart can’t pump blood for someone else while it is in your body because it isn’t collective. Since your heart can’t pump blood for someone else your mind can’t think for someone

Our own society has a social hierarchy that prevents us from being individuals. We are either a part of the upper, middle or lower class; and some of us continuously strive to be on top for material reasons that do not allow us to embrace individuality. Therefore, our hierarchy has driven us to strive for collectivism while the society of Brave New World makes sure that its citizens are content with their status and community, both eliminating individuality.

Yehuda Berg, a clergyman, stated this about shared humanity, “In truth, we are all part of the team of humanity. And as such we are all obligated to share ourselves and our talents for the sake of the team.” When Berg says talents, he is referring to the things that make us human. These characteristics are the shared humanity traits. Berg is making the case that, as humans, we should use the shared traits to help contribute to humanity. Shared humanity can be categorized into in six different areas; relationship, loss, morality, choice, emotion, and survival. These categories are shown in the books How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, I am Legend by Richard Matheson, and the film The Truman Show.

Individualism and Collectivism are much more different than they are alike. Collectivist “place a great deal of importance on extended families and group loyalty. In the United States, this is the case in the Amish communities and in some Latino/Native American communities” (pg.104) Being Latina, I am able to see the difference in those that are first generation Mexican-Americans versus those who migrated from Mexico to the United States. A perfect example of this is my aunt. Although she pursued a nursing degree she decided to quit school and get a full time job to stay home to contribute to her mother and father. She sacrificed any self-desire to build her own family because her families necessities were more important than her own. Her loyalty

The self is defined in reference to the larger group, and the outcomes for the group are seen as more important than individual achievements. Individuals in a collectivist culture generally make decisions with the larger community in mind, often putting their family or community’s interests and well-being over their own personal gain. Individuals in collectivist cultures generally tend to prefer conformity to originality, and seek to not stick out from the rest of the group. They generally greatly value humility and see themselves as less important as individuals, gaining their merit from belonging to the larger community. They have great respect for their superiors, regarding them as greater than themselves, and are very careful to preserve the harmony of the group. Values include humility, preserving the peace, and a desire to

However, people continue forwards showing others that they can get along without your help. People from collectivism cultures are more likely to have a connection among others people. Throughout people life they can define themselves having a relationship with others and sees their background changing. I came from a Latin American culture where this culture has a collectivism emphasize that in this group of family our mutual cooperation and solidarity can be observed. For example, that supports my answer is that in America the individualism of the people fighting for a better position works. Another example of collectivism culture are expected to work well in groups.

The Chinese collectivism creates a society that is supportive and protective of its community while it may also create frigidity or sacrifice personal independence. The American society overall focuses more on free will and personal choice, but is not able to offer the level of interdependent support. There is a significant difference between the two cases. In those cases, I seemed socially awkward by sitting on myself, and Joseph was snubbed by the cashier.

The author of Anthem addresses that “collectivism refers to the subjugation of the individual to the group”. And it is not necessary to understand what the group is. It could be a certain class, a race or country and so forth. In this context, each people are not considered as an autonomous individual with his or her own life. Instead, they are treated as a component of the group whose sole purpose is to obey and serve this group.

| The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with whether people´s self-image is defined in terms of “I” or “We”. In Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and their direct family only. In Collectivist societies people belong to ‘in

2. Individualism vs. collectivism (IDV): The extent to which a society is based on the needs of the individual as opposed to the needs of the group.