In the novel Anthem, by Ayn Rand, a collectivist society is suppressing a man named Equality 7-2521. He is different from the all the others. One day however, he creates something truly special. His society has backtracked away from electricity. They never knew electricity, or used it.. Equality created electricity, in the form of a “light box”, or a light bulb. He is very excited to present the wonder to the council. His primary motivation was not to benefit the society. Equality’s primary motivation of creating his invention was to prove himself, relieve his creative side, and to become famous. From a young age, his teacher belittled him, telling him and others to “Dare not choose in your minds the work you would like to do…” (Rand …show more content…
He sees things differently than everyone else in the society. He wrote that “We love the Science of Things” (23), which showed how different he was, as no one else thought that way. He has always been taller, stronger and more handsome, but he was also smarter. Creativity comes along with intelligence, so he has never been able to express himself. The council and his teachers forced him to be as dumb as the rest. They even made him ashamed of his height. He was tired of not doing what he wanted to do. So, he took it upon himself to create the box. He knew there would be punishment when the council found out, but he obviously didn’t care. After escaping the Palace of Corrective Detention, he was very excited to present his invention. It was something that he had never experienced before. Equality had experienced pride in it’s best essence: he had made …show more content…
In an equal society, it is very hard to stand out, even for someone as tall as him. He wanted to be known by other people as someone who had done well. It wasn’t about helping the society, it was about getting his name out there. Teachers only put him down about everything. He never received compliments, just disgusted looks. People, like his teachers, didn’t like him because he was better than every other student. For “This is a great sin, to be born with a head that is too quick (21). In his society, it is frowned upon to be better. He just wanted one pat on the back, or one “good job”. However, he didn’t get either of
As he moves forward in his measures in the underground tunnel, Equality 7-2521 uncovers light in the glass box. For the first time, he is not afraid of his misbehavior against society, the box of light mattered, his findings is critical; he is important, and for the first time, Equality 7-2521 feels happiness. Nevertheless, the World Council of Scholars does not feel the same, “How dared you, Gutter Cleaner to hold yourself as one alone and with thoughts of the one and not of the many?” (Rand 72). As Equality 7-2521 perceives these words, he makes his most valuable discovery, successful community is not one of collectivism, but individuality. As he makes this analysis, Equality 7-2521 discontinues from the allegiance and is frightened as he runs to the Uncharted Forest, but as the days go on he turns into being unfearful, for he can do as he chooses when he wants. Soon Liberty 5-3000 meets him and the two go on to getting a house together. When Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000 find their house, and the books, he starts to interpret about Prometheus, who brings light when there is
“Anthem” – one of writing authors Ayn Rand, shows her at her most vicious, hungry, and ambitious reading personality not only as a writer, but as a storyteller as well. The classic hit novel “Anthem” is the predecessor to Ayn Rands later books and storytelling works such as “The Fountainhead” and “Atlas Shrugged”, often tackles controversial themes that are still prevalent within modern America today, such as Family & Love. The grandeur novel “Anthem” is a reflection of such topics, all whilst being told with almost an aura of mystery within the novels plotline / storyline. “Anthem’s” take on things such as individuality and self discovery along with universal, self serving terms such as “I” & the word “We” are the key factors in helping differinciate this author Ayn Rand from other authors that write and compse the same genre of literature as Ayn Rand. Anyways, please allow for me to introduce you to the under the surface, deeper themes expressed in the classic debut novel, Ayn Rands “Anthem”
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.
When Equality 7-2521 begins the novel by saying, “It is a sin to write this.” he has a different moral assessment of writing than at the end of the novel. Throughout Anthem, Equality’s actions affect how he views his society and the people around him. By the end of the story, Equality begins to realize that the government and society that he lives in might not be so perfect, and it might not be a sin to write. Equality’s eventual moral assessments of his sins are correct and are supported by; his growth throughout the story, the themes of independence developed in the novel and Ayn Rand’s concepts concerning communism. These are the three ideas that will be developed and explained in this paper.
Imagine living in a society where everything someone does is conforming to someone else. In the novella Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, the author talks about conformity by referring to how all men need to be alike and fit in with each other. Equality 7-2521 the street sweeper, believes in the feeling of individualism and rejects the collectivist society around him. Social conformity becomes dangerous in Anthem because while Equality 7-2521 follows all the rules at the beginning of the novella, throughout the book he begins to break them.
In the book Anthem, Equality 7-2521 (Equality) lived in a society where everyone was equal and treated with disrespect. The society had no tolerance for being different and having their own opinion and ideas. People couldn’t even pursue the career they dreamed of having. They were punished for disobeying any of these “rules”. Despite Equality’s strict society, his motivations in conducting his experiments are finding individuality, starting a new revolution, finding freedom, and trying to become a scholar.
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.
Anthem is a short dystopian fiction novel written by Ayn Rand. It was published 79 years in 1938 in England. The setting of the novel starts off in a dark tunnel. As we get further in the book we learn that the story takes place in an undetermined point in the future in a City that’s not specified. The main character, Equality 7-2521, narrates his thoughts to the reader throughout the whole book. He feels guilty because he’s breaking the laws by writing down his thoughts but feels it is necessary. It is forbidden for the people to have their own thoughts or do anything by themselves. A long time ago, there was something called the Great Rebirth. After that happened, society started to refer to themselves as “we” and lost the word “I”,
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.
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
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.
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.
On page.60, Equality states,“We can light our tunnel, and the city, and all the Cities in the world with nothing save metal and wires. We can give our brothers a new light, cleaner and brighter, than any they have ever known. The power of the sky can be made to do men’s bidding.” After independently discovering the power of electricity, Equality realizes that it's not something he should hide underground forever. Although, Equality doesn’t equate himself with the society, he emphasizes the need to present his invention out to the other people, seeing the excessive potential of the innovation. He doesn’t consider the kind of consequences he might have to suffer, after he reveals his invention because the only things that genuinely matters to him is his new invention. In addition, the theme of individualism over collectivism is elucidated on page 94, where Equality 7-2521 says, “I stand here on the summit of the mountain. I lift my head, and I spread my arms. This, my body and spirit, this is the end of the quest. I wished to be know the meaning of things. I am the meaning. I wished to find a warrant for being. I need no warrant for being, and no word of sanction upon my being. I am the warrant and that sanction.” The setting proclaims that he is no longer writing his journal in a dark tunnel, it is demonstrating how Equality is free to write now. He doesn’t have to fear the council’s anymore, he has already broken the chain to persist his passion for science. All the thoughts which are bursting into his mind represents the idea of individual; he is only thinking about his life. Equality 7-2521 goes out on himself and leaves his friends behind to pursue his passion and escape from all the negative