Anthem Chapters 1-3 Theme Outline Topic Choice: Equality Theme Statement: Ann Rand used equality in her book, Anthem, to show that being the same may seem nice, but it’ll cost us our identity. III. Character- Equality 7-2521 Quotes- “...we repeat to ourselves whenever we are tempted: ‘We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever.’ We repeat this to ourselves, it helps us not.” pg.19 Explanation- This quote gives a background of Equality thinking of being himself and breaking away from The Council. On the other hand, Equality knows that acting different will attract the government, costing him his death. In the real world, equality won’t give us the issue of rights and fairness, but in the future, the human race will certainly regret it. Ann Rand put this in her book to show that even though the world pursues equality, we would have to give up on individuality. …show more content…
Symbolism- The number on the bracelet and bracelet itself Quote- “Our name is Equality 7-2521, as it is written on the iron bracelet which all men wear on their left wrist with their names upon it.” pg.18 Explanation- Bracelet The bracelet is being compared to the star badge that the Jews were during the Holocaust. While the badges were to diversify them, the bracelets in Anthem were to mark that everyone the same. Number The number is used only to mark the person. In our society, we use numbers to keep track of things. Which leads to a hypothesis that The Council gives everyone numbers in their names so they can keep track of the ones that could be smart or brave enough to demand independence. V. Irony- Equality’s
During his childhood, he was blessed with an individual spirit and the intelligence to understand the knowledge of the world. In spite of this, he reckoned his abilities as transgressions. He acknowledged that the way of life was that “Everything which comes from the many is good. Everything which comes from the one is evil” (Rand 85). Equality strives to accept the totalitarian society and consequently, he desperately struggles to disregard his abilities and subdue his desires. The grisly effects of society are portrayed immensely through the profound sense of guilt he suffers while committing the Sin of Preference. He continually recites that, “We are nothing. Mankind is all. By the grace of our brothers are we allowed our lives. We exist through, by, and for our brothers who are the State. Amen” (Rand 21). Gradually, his aspirations contradict with the dogma of society. He discovers that he finds more joy committing the Sin of Preference rather than restraining himself from happiness, which ultimately, allows him to elude his conscious premises. Equality’s belief that “[he] [has] torn [himself] from the truth which is [his] brother men… [he] knows [this], but [he] [does] not care” (Rand 76) marks his complete triumph over collectivism. Prior to his transformation, he belonged to a society in which the Sin of Preference revoked all rights for any desire, which ultimately disallowed citizens to think for freely. If permitted to do so, no
Anthem is about a man named Equality 7-2521 who finds a subway underneath his corrupt city to learn. While he is down there he discovers the power of electricity and figures out how to use it. When he tries to show his city they punished him and he ran away with The “Golden One” and found a home which they wished to start a new life, but Equality found out to understand the word ” I” and finds out the truth behind the “Utopia” he lived in for all his life. Anyone who is different gets punished. The City has so many rules and controls because they are there to keep the people unaware of the truth, to keep people down a certain path and to keep their “Utopia” a great place and Equality would have many rules and controls.
The novel of Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, contributes to controversial subjects in society that are still relevant today. Some issues addressed by Rand in her novel include: equality, social hierarchy, individuality, and government. Throughout the duration of reading Anthem the issues in which Rand makes relevant are not obvious, but more so discussed through conflicts and situations that the main character, Equality 7-2521, encounters. Although many of the altercations that present social issues are provided by either other characters singlehandedly or by a group of the characters in alliance, some of the main issues that arise in this novel are presented within the main character himself.
It is the future, and society has been ruined. The word “I” has been erased from society; the only replacement being the word “we”. Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem explores the effects of a horrific, totalitarian society. Children are separated from their parents at birth, careers are assigned, not chosen, and free will is the ultimate crime. Living within this structure, Equality 7-2521 finds himself lost in contradiction; collectivity should lead to happiness, but for him, individuality seems to be the key. Through vivid setting, a provoking major character, and symbolic details, Ayn Rand’s writing is focused on one thing: to show “the meaning of man’s ego.”
Equality stands out from everyone around him, making him an individual. This also makes him the archetype of the loner or outcast. In the beginning of the novel Equality states that, “We were born with a curse. It has always driven us to thoughts which are forbidden.” (page 18.) He also says “We are six feet tall, and this is a burden, for there are not many men who are six feet tall.” (page 18.) These quotes show exactly how Equality is an individual compared to those around him who fit in the idea of collectivism, or sameness.
Sai Charan Todupunoori Mrs. Moore English, I Period Seven 02 October 2017 Freedom: The Important Aspect of Life Overall from the past couple of centuries, freedom has been granted to every human in the past and that should continue so the place god created grows. Ayn Rand’s dystopian novella “Anthem”, uses many ionic examples of diction and symbolism beneficial to seriously mention that every human on planet Earth, bears the opportunity to do anything or to feed themselves knowledge about something very particular. To start off, liberty is the most important aspect of life because without it the world’s existence is nearly impossible because people decide to perform tasks of their choice and if they couldn’t, this place we have today would
If danger threatens you we shall face it also. If it be death, we shall die with you... Do as you please with us, but do not send us away from you” (82-83). Liberty helplessly “follows” Equality into the forest and pledges her obedience through life and death to him. She begs to never be sent away, as if she cannot survive without him. In this passage, Rand emphasizes that the highest priority of a woman’s life is to support and follow a man.
Anthem by Ayn Rand is a dystopian fiction novel about a time in the future where mankind has regressed in it’s advancements. The main character of the novel is Equality 7-2521. Equality is a curious boy who questions the society around him. It is because of his inquiry that he becomes ostracized from society and runs away with his friend. Equality character traits and the advancement of the plot are revealed through symbols throughout the book.Throughout the story Ayn Rand drops symbols that relate to the reveal of his character traits, and advancement of the plot.
no will in us and no power to resist it” (Rand 18). Equality has no desire to stop his transgressions because
The first of these symbols are the laws that confine Equality. It is clear to tell that the laws in this society, are restrictive and symbolizes a loss of freedom.To begin
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.
He gives extensive reasoning to why he thinks this by saying things such as, “I am a man. This miracle of me is mine to own and keep, and mine to guard, and mine to use, and mine to kneel before” (Rand 95). Equality is placing value on the individual and what they want rather than having to conform to the group. While some might say that Equality is incorrect, and he should care about the needs of a group if he wants to change the world and make it greater, this is incorrect. To change the world and make it greater you must care for the needs of individuals as well as the group. Morals such as these are what the government of America was built
Corrupt governments, such a the one in Anthem, use laws and its citizens’ ignorance to dehumanize them thus detaching them from their senses of identity. One way in which the government influences identity is through education. As Equality quotes his teachers in his journal to describe men’s place in society
In Ayn Rand’s Anthem, Equality-72521 stands out from the rest. Smarter, taller, and an urge to discover and explore set him apart from his brothers and sisters. This individuality drives him forward and influences his growth throughout the book as he discovers secrets long lost and realizes the flaws in his society.
The novel Anthem represents a dystopian fiction written in 1937, but officially published in 1938 by a Russian-born American novelist Ayn Rand. Rand’s purpose represents her desire to express individuality. Anthem was based on the future in an unspecified location. Throughout the book the character Equality 7-2521 wanted to become an individual but was not sure how to express himself. Equality expressed himself as “we” but as the novel progressed he began to recognize himself as “I”.