Egoism In Anthem By Ayn Rand

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.

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

In Ayn Rand’s book Anthem, The character Equality 7-2521 also known as Prometheus ran into the uncharted forest after being told that his box of light was a sin to create because he now knew more than his brother’s in the uncharted forest he found out that the golden one had followed him. Then the two uncovered homes from the unmentionable times. In the uncharted forest he discovered the unspeakable word “Ego”. Throughout the book he expressed traits of an Egoist. But in the book because prometheus had been in a dystopian society where they had to think of themselves and their brothers as a whole they were not allowed to think of themselves. So was Prometheus really a egoist? Or was it just his little bit of selfish coming out after not ever being allowed to think about himself?

There are many examples in the book anthem where individuality is lost. The Council controls everything from the day they are born. They are all given a name by the Council, which is like the rest of them, which cuts the creativeness of life around them. At school, they were all brainwashed to make everyone, including Equality to know “There are no men, but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever.”(Pg.19) The teachers were demanded by the Council to teach that philosophy. The teachers didn’t allow questions being asked because it’s expanding their minds and want an answer for it. “ “We asked so many questions that the teachers forbade it.” (pg.23). Equality always had questions because he wanted to expand his mind and knows he is smarter than

In Anthem, a novel by Ayn Rand, depicts a dystopian society where people are categorized into groups and everyone is opposed to individuality. The individuality of ,the main character, Equality 7-2521 and his intrusiveness made him seen as an outcast by society and the council, which is seen through the selection of themes, characterization, major conflicts, and point of view.

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.

In “Anthem” Ayn Rand writes in a dystopian world. A dystopian world is “a futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control” (ReadWriteThink). The opposite of Utopia which is “a place, state, or condition that is ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and conditions” (ReadWriteThink). In the world of “Anthem” the main character who had no name was called Equality 7-2521. Equality meets Liberty 5-3000 a girl from the Home of the Peasant. Equality 7-2521 came from the Home of The Street Sweepers in which each person was assigned a home such as the Home of the Scholars and so forth. However, he finds out that all his life in the city was not what life was about. Equality finds out that his life is meant to be free. Also that life, consequently was a place where you were meant to be

In the beginning of The Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, the main protagonist, Equality 7-2521 states, “It is a sin to write this.” What the word “this” was referring to was the story itself. However, the book ends with Equality 7-2521 completely flipping his opinion around and believing the total opposite of his actions in the beginning. His final conclusion is accurate because individuality is extremely essential to a healthy society, forcing humans to live a robotic lifestyle and compressing their feelings isn't acceptable, and writing is a profound way of expressing original thoughts. Throughout the novel, Equality 7-2521 solves the mysteries that lie in life and educates himself

The definition of individuality states a total character peculiar to and distinguishing an individual from others. In a society a person can chose to take the easy way out by following the crowd or, do the hard thing and be an individual and embrace the characteristics that make you different from others. Being an individual and standing out from the crowd might be hard at first but, it can lead to a better society for everyone. In Anthem, by Ayn Rand, the theme of the book is individuality outweighs the expectations of society. This theme is clearly shown throughout the book through the protagonist's internal conflict, the introduction to conflict and the climax. In the beginning of the story Equality 7-2521 introduces himself and he says, “Our name is Equality 7-2521, as it is written

The Book “Anthem” written Ayn Rand is the tale of a man with many names “Equality-7 2521” to “The Unconquered” to “Prometheus”. He is living in a dystopian world where individualism has been eradicated. Due to the dark times technological advancement and individualism brought, in what seems to be life after an apocalypse they have been limited those to a bare minimum. It took 50 years for the candle to be approved and the word “I” has been banned and punishable by death. In a society where they try to suppress the aware and the main protagonist being exceptionally smart which generates conflict. The book “Anthem” is based off of communism in Russia where people are prison for the very simple things. No one ever tries to escape the corrective faculty because of 3 reason the prisoner never purposely betrayed the council so why would they start now. and wait to receive punishment, they are scared and the society is brainwashed into not even learning escape or other things that could define the council.

Equality 7-2521 lives in a society with a government much like communism. The government, called the World Council; controls everything and anything. They limit thoughts of every person, everyone must be the same. No man or woman is allowed to think for themselves because there is no such thing as themselves. The word “I” does not exist in their civilization. Everyone is “brothers” and must all think the same. Equality is different though; he thinks as an individual person. In the beginning of the novel Anthem written by Ayn Rand; Equality believes all the laws he’s breaking are terrible sins against the Council and his fellow brothers. Equality’s eventual assessment for his sins are correct. He comes to the conclusion that he is allowed to think for his own and do what he wants in life. Equality is very intelligent; he cares for others, and strives to be a better person.

The word which can never die on this earth, for it is the heart of it and the meaning and its glory. The sacred word: EGO” (104) Equality 7-2125 has made but one similar rule to the communist style of society he had endured, the praise of a word, out of fear. For Equality 7-2125 it is the fear of loss, losing his individualism and self- righteousness he has discovered. For the government, it is the fear of chaos. WIthout control over people thoughts and feelings, there will be selfishness, upheaval, and

In Ayn Rand’s Novel Anthem she displays an orwellian type of dystopian society with the thoughts of the protagonist, Equality 7-2521, guiding the way of the anecdote. Throughout the book many discrepancies arise between modern day societies and the one depicted within Anthem. Such as how the word “ego” is recognized in these contrasting societies. To Prometheus the word “ego” is held to a holy standard, while on the other hand to be a self-centered person, in today’s modern societies, it is usually seen as erroneous and as an act of folly. When referencing Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem and the passage “The Soul of an Individualist” from her alternative novel The Fountainhead one can conspicuously certify that Equality 7-2521 is an unrepentant egoist. Being the egoist he is holds a

To begin, Equality 7-2521’s actions develop the theme that individualism is not a sin. He does this in multiple ways. However, most of the characters in Anthem believe that individualism is a sin. That is why Equality 7-2521’s actions are significant to the development of the theme. In the beginning

In life, you are born into societies where various ideas or things are thought to be normal and the customs are already established. The novel Anthem by Ayn Rand has many themes, but what I believe the theme of the novel is, to think for yourself. To think for yourself means to make your own decisions and opinions, without depending on other people. I also think that if you are going to think for yourself you can’t worry about what other people will think of what you believe in. Whether you believe that you should only have school a few days a week or you believe in a certain god, no person should feel ashamed for what they believe in. In today’s society and in the society of Anthem, people don’t think for themselves and they just follow people blindly. In the media, today we see what celebrities are saying, who they like, who they dislike, what they use, what they endorse, and we follow them because we want to be like them. Sometimes you don’t realize that you’re not thinking for yourself, but not being able to think for yourself can make you miserable and that is what Equality 7-2521 realized in Anthem.