Summary Of Ayn Rand's Anthem

“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”

The practices of a collective society such as the one in this book disregard all belief in the individual. By doing this, the society and its leaders brainwash the people into having no personal priority or authority. Everything is done with the betterment of the entire group in mind, no sense of self involvement. Their life is fated in almost every

He took the name Prometheus because he connected with him. Equality brought light to his fellow man, and suffered greatly for it. “I have read of a man who live many thousands of years ago, and all the names in these books, his is the one I wish to bear. He took the light of the gods and he brought it to men, and he taught men to be gods. And he suffered for his deed as all bearers of light must suffer. His name was Prometheus.” (Rand 99). Equality wanted his son to grow proud of his spirit. “Our son will be raised as a man. He will be taught to say ‘I’ and to bear the pride of it…

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.

Mary Bysshe Shelley, the writer of Frankenstein, used lots of different Allusions to common text from the time to help readers understand relationships between Victor and his creature as well as Victor’s motivation for creating the creature. Shelley uses allusions to Paradise Lost to help the reader understand the relationship between Victor Frankenstein and his creature. Paradise Lost discusses the relationship between God and Adam as well as Satan and God and how he treats them as their creator. The relationship between the creature and Frankenstein can be described as a mix between the 2 relationships discussed in Paradise Lost. The creature sees himself as Adam because he was created in his creator’s own image and made to be a creation of man.

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.

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?

He is also called The Unconquered One by The Golden One, Liberty 5-3000, and eventually renames himself Prometheus after the gods. Equality 7-2521 is intellectually gifted although he is assigned to a lifetime of labor as a street sweeper. The Council tells him what is right and wrong but Equality 7-2521 knows there is something more and he wants to find that out. Equality 7-2521 finds a secret tunnel with metal tracks, most likely an old mine shaft. He sneaks away every night to the tunnel where he researches and conducts scientific experiments, reading manuscripts, and writing in his dairy which is all forbidden. What he discovers is unknown to the Council.

     “I think. I am. I will.” A quote by Ayn Rand that is similar to Rene Descartes quote, “I think therefore I am.” This quote tells society that Prometheus can do anything by himself. He does not need the “we” of society to complete a task. Prometheus can think independently and wants to express himself as one individual. “I will,” illustrates that he will and can do anything. Prometheus believes, just as Rene Descartes does, that if he can think by himself, he is able to live by himself. As he is alone he is thinking by himself, therefore he is alive and able to express himself as he truly is.

In the book Anthem by Ayn Rand, Prometheus is a man who must overcome his collective society to find himself. Prometheus is born into a society where everything is equal. Without concern for consequences, he loves a woman and looks and discovers knowledge of the past. After his discovery is rejected he flees to the forest, and his lover follows. In the forest is where he finds the meaning of the word I. There is where he says "... we crushes all beneath it, and that which is white and that which is black are lost in the gray of it," he talks about what his society did to the differences of man, after he had run away. After Prometheus finds the house he says, "My happiness needs no higher aim to vindicate it. My happiness is not the means

The extensive amount of rules and controls of the society Prometheus lives in has lead him to insanity. Prometheus of Ayn Rand’s Anthem society’s amount of control over the community and has restricted the human capacity to a slave like being due to having no choice over what you do with your life. Contrary to the superior’s belief, Prometheus’s vision of his society would make humans able to reach their highest ability and prosperity.

“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” (1.16).

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

“I am done with the monster of “We,” the word of serfdom, of plunder, of misery, falsehood, and shame.” (Page 97). In relation to the novel Prometheus is reaching an enlightenment of his own beliefs. He realizes very early in the novella that he is very different from his brothers surrounding him. Prometheus states that he is no longer using the word “We” because it is a word of Collectivism rather than a word of Objectivism. The quote closely relates to the overall theme of Individualism by him saying that he no longer wishes to use the word we. Prometheus closely supports and strengthens the Individuality he has within