Theme Of Equality In Ayn Rand's Anthem

The council would kill the men who knew the unspeakable word.As humans, it is just our nature to want to be curious. This yearning for the knowledge may have fed Equality’s motivation. When Equality first came to present the gift of light that he discovered the council had said “ We have much to say to

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

“We cannot resist it. It whispers to us that there are great things on this earth of ours, and that we must know them. We ask, why we must know, but it has no answer to give us.” (Rand 24) he then goes on talking about how he loves “the Science of Things” (Rand 23) and how he could ask questions in the House of Scholars, “for they do not forbid questions.” (Rand 23) However, at the near end of Anthem, Equality states that the Scholars are “blind” and are being “cowardice” (Rand 19) even though he had once looked up to these same Scholars when growing up, “We strive to be like all our brother men, for all men must be alike.” (Rand

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.

“ … He will be taught reverence for his own spirit.” (Rand 100). Equality felt like he was sinning in his old society, and then the Council gave him a way to pay for it. “We knew we had been guilty, but now we had a way to atone for it.” (Rand 26). Equality wanted those who were suffering in the old society to join him, so they would not feel as he had felt under the oppression of the Council. “I shall call to me all the men and women whose spirit has not been willed within them and who suffer under the yoke of their brothers.” (Rand 101).

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.

In today’s society, we tend to imagine what the future will be like. Our imagination leans towards flying cars and being able to read one’s mind. This is not the case in Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem. In Anthem, the society is deprived of technology and the people are ruled by a totalitarian government that controls everyone. The people of the city are told what and how to learn, how to speak and act, and how to live their lives. Equality 7-2521, the main character of the novella, sits in candlelight and tries to gain insight on new things such as electricity and inventions to make life easier. The lives of the citizens aren’t filled with expensive gadgets and trees that plant themselves; it is filled with darkness and oppression. Just beneath the surface of the city’s oppression is the lack of technology. In Ayn Rand’s Anthem, society doesn’t have the chance to expand its knowledge, embrace new ideas, and

There are many societal ideals that influence individual behaviour. In our society, these may include peace, freedom and equity. In Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem, the ideals that influence the protagonist are collectivism, equality, unity, liberty and harmony, as seen in the naming of the characters. These ideals are the reason Equality 7-2521 describes himself as a sinner and a criminal; they affect how he views himself. A societal ideal, in this instance collectivism, deeply affects every individual’s identity and purpose in life. Additionally, collectivism impedes the imagination and creativity of each individual. When Equality 7-2521 discovers electricity and learns how to

He later tries to bring his "invention" to the House of students, making an attempt to indicate them what smart it will do for everybody, however is rejected and run out of city as a result of it had been created by one person, himself, and no others knew regarding it, as he worked alone. He was so opposing all as a result of he created one thing while not permission. Equality runs into the unknown Forest, removed from the collectivist ideals of society and discards everything he was schooled. Liberty joins him, conjointly deciding to run away in order that she may well be with

In fact, Equality was a different individual because of his intelligence and self awareness. All throughout school he asked several questions during lessons, which was wrong to do in their society. He would be beaten and punished because of how wise he was, so Equality tried his best to not know of things, but it wasn’t possible. In the text he says, “It was not that the learning was too hard for us. It was that the learning was too easy.” He wanted to be challenged and taught a variety of subjects. He says that he loved the science of things, which is why Equality wanted to go to the Home of the Scholars to follow the occupation he was interested in. He was very much aware of his surroundings and knew that there was more to the world than what the teacher’s tell the students. Equality knew there were all kinds of mysteries a part of the world and commented about it, saying, “We think there are mysteries to the sky and under the water and in the plants which grow.” He recognizes that the information they are taught is not all accurate and there is much more out there that they are not aware

Many people blame their hardships, poverty, or unhappiness on external conditions. These conditions can be comprised of one’s family, class, race, society, or culture in which one is born. However, Equality 7-2521 from the book titled, “Anthem” by Ayn Rand is a prime example of one who is against this settled view of man. Unlike the others of that totalitarian society, Equality 7-2521 is very contrasting. This extraordinary man makes wishes - which is a sin in their society - and also keeps secrets. No man and no woman should take notice of each other, but this rule doesn’t conflict with Equality 7-2521’s beliefs along with another character called Liberty 5-3000. In Anthem, Equality 7-2521 gets into trouble, and is taken to

Don't smile! Don't grow taller than your brothers! Don't look at the female gender! All of these rules were forced upon Equality 7-2521. This society that Ayn Rand created in the book “Anthem”, focuses on equality for everyone. The society goes to extreme measures to obtain and equal society. In the book Equality, the main character, was born with a curse of being different than his brothers, he was fascinated with knowledge, and enjoyed to discover new elements and inventions. All of these things are unacceptable in his society. Throughout, the book equality learns what individuality means, with the discovery of the word I. With this knowledge he destroys the word we, this allows him to become free from his old society. Therefore, because of Equality's new belief of individuality he will create his own society that will revolve around the idea of everyone being individual.

No matter your social status or how powerful you feel you are, we are all equal. We came here by birth and leave by death”. The stories “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr and Anthem by Ayn Rand are both dystopian-esque works that are about two characters living in a world of equality but struggle due to them seeing the world in their own image. The true reason the story is made is to prove a point that being too equal can be dreadful. Although “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. and Anthem by Ayn Rand are both examples of dystopian literature, their portrayal of (technology) differs greatly from the protagonists which have severely similar traits.

A stunted society results from undeveloped individuals. The primitive conditions throughout Anthem are displayed through incorrect teachings (23), and due to the fact that the development of the most recent discoveries take place a century prior (24); the stagnation is caused by ignorance of the environment. This is demonstrated when The Council of Scholars dismisses Equality’s thoughts as he ponders the “mysteries in the sky” (23) by simply denying the possibility. Equality did not question the Council’s response

The famous adage, “ignorance is bliss” may be true for some, however Equality is not one of them. Equality is happier knowing the truth than being kept in the shadows. In Ayn Rand’s oppressive, totalitarian society where individualism is the highest crime, Equality struggles to free himself from collectivism. Thus, enforcing the idea that his curiosity and intellectual strength is the reason he overcomes his internal conflict.