The Negative Effects Of Collectivism In Anthem By Ayn Rand

A captivating novelette in which a man’s priority is to serve only for his brothers, Ayn Rand’s Anthem illustrates a society that has suffered the ghastly consequences of collectivism. She depicts an oppressive culture in which the word “I” is unheard of and men belong to the collective “We.” Men’s lives are determined through the Council of Vocations, a group that maintains a powerful dictatorship by subjugating the public from the beginning of their lives. The idea that “If you are not needed by your brother men, there is no reason for you to burden the earth with your bodies” (Chapter 1) has been forced into average mindset of the vehemently maintained society. In contrast, Rand mocks the totalitarian civilization through the main

Novelists create science fiction novels that represents what today’s society could possibly look like if the government has too much power. Today’s society would fall into a state of corruption, where nothing belongs to a single person and everything is owned by the government. It would be a place where people cannot openly voice their thoughts or opinions without getting in trouble with the powerful government. Ayn Rand’s science fiction novel, Anthem, depicts a dark vision of the future world where individuality is not permitted to exist. The main character, Equality, sets himself aside from the other people living in society. He knows that he is different, but with a sense of naivety, he finds his independence wrong, but he cannot help it. Liberty, the female character in which Equality has feelings for, also finds herself to be different from others and follows Equality’s path. In conveying the insidious corruption of the collectivist society of Anthem, Ayn Rand uses dramatic and situational irony.

Ceaseless collectivism is not something that can be forced upon a community. Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem conveys this through the writings of Equality 7-2125, a man willing to stand up to the collectivism of the society he is confined to. Anthem not only shows how dull and lifeless a society can be with a lack of individuality in its people, but also reveals how one person can significantly impact a community. This novel displays the importance of individualism through Equality’s thoughts and actions. This includes when he reinvents electricity in the tunnel, falls in love with Liberty, and when he completely separates himself from society.

The society depicted in Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, has the people working for other people, and that their own lives are useless, a system known as collectivism. The rules are quite restrictive in Anthem’s society for the purpose of keeping people in line so they would not rebel against the government. Rules also serve to keep people equal to one another; however, at the end of the novel, Equality 7-2521 creates his own society with hopes to give people full freedom and individualism. The government’s society in Anthem created laws to keep the collectivist ideals alive.

Collectivism is a very common theme in Ayn Rand’s writing. From Anthem to The Fountainhead, her opinion is very clear: individualism is the source of freedom and joy, while collectivism is the root of sorrow and slavery. In Anthem, the main character, Equality 7-252, has grown up in a collectivist society that has remained strong for centuries. In that society, no one has had the choice to do what they want to do, love what (or who) they love, and simply be who they are. That society praises the idea that men live only for each other. Living for oneself is evil, a Transgression. The idea of “I”, “Me”, and “Mine” has disappeared, dragging the precious words along with it. Throughout the plot, Equality 7-2521 is seen both unintentionally and intentionally defying his society. At first, he condemns himself, describing his evil acts and mind and labeling his different mindset as a curse. “We were born with a curse. It has always driven us to thoughts which are forbidden.” (Rand 18) He is also condemned by others, for things he cannot control. He is taller than most other people, he has preferences for what he wishes to become, and he has ideas and opinions. Yet when his life assignment is Street Sweeper, he rejoices. He sees that as a way to pay penance for his sins. Later on, however, he embraces his individuality. “I am. I think. I will.” (Rand 94) He is the first to accept the idea of individuality for centuries, and helps others accept it, too.

A crucial question people often find themselves asking is whether to live for themselves or to live for others and to what extent. Ayn Rand's novella, Anthem, explores a dystopian society that takes the theme of living for others to a whole new level. The sternness of this culture creates an emotionless and a bland society set on fulfilling collectivist principles. Anthem's society manipulates language to enforce collectivist doctrine by excluding words which cultivate a personal identity and merging religious and government views.

Individualism has been a common theme in novellas of the past and of today’s morals. Individuality can be expressed by showcasing one’s talents or setting one’s self apart from a group. In Anthem by Ayn Rand, Equality's experiments represent his desire for individualism within the collectivist society.

Ayn Rand’s novel puts Equality in a great position to start his new life with his new family. Ayn Rand’s story gives hope to all who want not to be conquered by their government and to have a say in what they believe in. If your government or society doesn’t like what you have to say, then it shows you can also walk right out the door if you don’t like what is happening. When you become a collectivist, you lose your individuality and almost become a slave and or a robot to the government and society. You lose your creativity and

“Anthem and “The Soul of a Collectivist” both depict a collectivist society. In “The Soul of a Collectivist” the narrator let’s the readers in a how to shape a united society. He basically states that he ruins a man from the inside out taking away his happiness, crushing his values, and breaking his integrity leaving

Ayn Rand uses the theme of collectivism and why it is evil throughout Anthem. Collectivism refers to the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it. The main character in her novel is Equality 7-2521, and she talks about how he despises the society’s way of collectivism. I will be talking about the ways in which Ayn Rand uses Equality 7-2521 to show why collectivism is an evil thing, and what he tries to do when he wants to change the rule of his society.

“ In order for a man to have meaning in his life, he must face and overcome many conflicts. Those who do not face these struggles are unable to realize what they are capable of doing.” In Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem, the main character, Equality 7-2521 is going through internal conflicts in order to discover his individuality. The fundamental and often universal idea that Ayn Rand is trying to get to us throughout her book is the danger of collectivism and the struggle to find your own identity. Rand does a splendid and intricate job by using Equality as a model representing many people that are afraid to stand out.

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

Ayn Rand's classic story of one man's desire to become an individual in a nameless society presents a compelling refutation of collectivism in all forms. The hero, labeled "Equality 7-2521" by the State, chooses to challenge conventional authority as he learns the joys of experimentation and discovery, the ecstasy of human love, the challenge and fairness of liberty, and the happiness of self-interest. Equality 7-2521 writes three unique phrases in his journal:  1. "My happiness needs no higher aim to vindicate it. My happiness is not the means to an end. It is the end.", 2. "We know that we are evil, but there is no will in us and no power to resist it.", 3. "The word 'We' . . .

The novella “Anthem” written by Ayn Rand was a very fascinating book about a collectivist society. Ayn Rand was a teenager in Soviet Russia, where they practiced communism but she did not agree with the practice so she moved to the United States. The main character Equality 7-2521 was different than the other people of his society and he thought for himself. Due to them being a collectivist society, where they all think and do things as a group, Equality always broke the rules because he developed a sense of individuality. Equality invented a light bulb which he presented to the Council of scholars with the mindset that they would forgive him for his sins and appreciate his invention. However, they did not appreciate the invention and Equality had to run away into the woods to get away from his punishment, where the Golden One who is a girl who he had a connection with, followed him. Equality and the Golden One then found an old abandoned house where they began to live and make a new life for themselves where they expressed individuality. The language, setting of the collectivist society and characterization are very important aspects of the novella, Anthem.

The Dystopian novel “Anthem” is a very interesting novella that explores how a collectivist society attempted to take individuality from its citizens. In the novel, society is in charge of everyone's behaviors, thoughts and even their future. Everyone was to be the same even if some were brighter than others. They feared consequences from the juvenile detention center for behaviors as simple as being smarter, faster or taller than one’s classmate. It was as if society brainwashed people into believing it was okay not to have control over themselves. If an individual were to ever think outside the box or discovered something new, they were to be punished if they weren’t with the scholars. It didn’t seem to be very productive for society because everyone wasn’t actually happy.