Om Desai
Mrs. Thixton
English1 PAP
10/1/2017
Can Love Affect a Person’s Convictions? The story of Anthem describes true meaning of love and the affect it has on Equality 7-2521, the protagonist of the story. After finding the love, he is forbidden to have, in this dystopian society he finally finds how capable he is. This makes him realize that the society he lives in is very unforgiving and evolves himself to superiority over his brothers. In the novella , Anthem, Ayn Rand utilizes vivid imagery and a profusion of diction to frenetically emphasize the idea of love. To begin with, Ayn Rand utilizes imagery to attract the reader to show what love really means.Equality 7-2521 is genuinely awed by Liberty 5-3000's physiognomy because he remarks “[her] body was straight and thin as a blade of iron. [her] eyes were dark … with no fear in them, no kindness and no guilt. [her] hair was golden as the sun; [her] hair flew in the wind, shining and wild, as if it defied men to restrain it”(Rand). The Golden One is defined with very precise word choice, because she’s unlike anyone else he had ever seen.The mode is settled because he seems to really be attracted to the absence of fear and guilt he sees in her eyes.Equality 7-2521's introductory incident of love is exquisite as ”[he] stood still; for the first time did [he] know fear, and then pain…[he] stood still as [he] might...spill this pain more precious than pleasure “ although he is experiencing immense levels of pain, the love he feels is far greater than he had ever felt(Rand). It's also astounding that this is the first time Equality confesses he is afraid of something.This sets the tone of the book because he doesn’t mind the pain because the thrill of being there is all he can ponder about.Soon they get closer to each other and, ”When [he] touched [her], it was as if madness had stricken [them]...as…[they] pressed [their] lips [together]... and then [her] arms closed around [his]”(Rand). Equality eventually runs away from the city to the Uncharted Forest because the society doesn’t accept his ideas and The Golden One follows him. Both of them end up in the Uncharted Forest and then engaged in a passionate show of love described by intricate
“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”
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
Anthem, by Ayn Rand, is a very unique novel. It encircles individualism and makes the reader think of how people can conform to society and do as they are told without knowing the consequences and results of their decisions. Also, it teaches the importance of self expression and the freedom that comes along with being your own person and having the power to choose what path to take in life. Figurative language is used often in this book and in a variety of quotes that have great importance to the theme, plot, and conflict of the novel.
This novel displays exactly what Ayn Rand’s theory of Objectivism does not support in order to expose the weaknesses of her opponents ways and express the importance of self improvement. She puts forth for the reader the faults of a collective minded society as the leaders and society within Anthem attempt to control mans body and mind. Towards the close of the novel, as Equality 7-2521 discovers the sacred word he also comes to understand the perks of self improvement and striving to advance as an individual. The leaders and society attempt to accomplish the tyrannical end to their dictatorship through their control of mans body and mind by hiding the past and maintaining a collective
To begin with, Ayn Rand utilizes imagery to attract the reader to show what love really means.Equality 7-2521 is genuinely awed by Liberty 5-3000's physiognomy because he remarks “[her] body was straight and thin as a blade of iron. [her] eyes were dark … with no fear in them, no kindness and no guilt. [her] hair was golden as the sun; [her] hair flew in the wind, shining and wild, as if it defied men to restrain it”(Rand,23-24). The Golden One is defined with very precise word choice, because she’s unlike anyone else he had ever seen.The mode is settled because he seems to really be attracted to the absence of fear and guilt he sees in her eyes.Equality 7-2521's introductory incident of love is exquisite as ”[he] stood still; for the first time did [he] know fear, and then pain…[he] stood still as [he] might...spill this pain more precious than pleasure “(Rand,24) although he is experiencing immense levels of pain, the love he feels is far greater than he had ever felt. It's also astounding that this is the first time Equality confesses he is afraid of something.This sets the tone of the book because he doesn’t mind the pain because the thrill of being there is all he can ponder about.Soon they get closer to each other and, ”When [he] touched [her], it was as if madness had stricken [them]...as…[they] pressed [their] lips [together]... and then [her] arms closed around [his]”(Rand). Equality eventually runs away from the city to the Uncharted Forest because the society doesn’t accept his ideas and The Golden One follows him. Both of them end up in the Uncharted Forest and then engaged in a passionate show of love described by
In Anthem the protagonist, equality, falls in love with liberty. He saw her when he was cleaning the road. He didn't know what he felt and the next day he saw her working in the fields. They gave each other looks. Then later she gave him water. He started to fall in love with her. He later found out that she was about to turn 18 and ready to get pregnant, which he didn't want to happen. He did something that was forbidden. he fell in love in a society that doesn't embrace
But I still wonder how it was possible, in those graceless years of transition, long ago, that men did not see whither they were going, and went on, in blindness and cowardice, to their fate.” Dystopian societies often deal with the lack of importance of Free Will/ Individuality. Individuality is an important concept which was ignored completely in Anthem. Anthem was a novel wrote by Ayn Rand in 1937 to elaborate on the time period which she grew up in. Dystopia is a society characterized by human misery, as squalor, oppression, disease and overcrowding. Dystopian novels usually start out with a perfect society or utopia. However, as the novel progresses, the reader and characters realize that this perfect society is the total opposite. Dystopian
How could Ayn Rand’s Anthem have been altered if Equality and his society had been founded on Christianity? Throughout the story, beliefs and convictions were a significant factor in plot progressions. In addition, different doctrine also provided a huge contribution to character development. However, these various viewpoints established throughout the story, directly contrast with Biblical values. Looking closely at the development of society’s and Equality’s beliefs, a reader can easily distinguish his ideas from Christianity.
Imagine a world where everyone is equal; living a life that feels almost programmed. Humans may not realize the impact freedom, technology, and independence has on our daily lives; however, Anthem by Ayn Rand demonstrates the importance of these rights. The story portrays the life of a young man, Equality 7-2521, living in a society that is built on severe rules and laws. These laws are designed to eliminate individuality, resulting in an extremely controlled environment. Due to the laws, Equality 7-2521 rebels against the society. For example, Equality 7-2521 was given the job as a Street Sweeper but realized life was unchallenging for him, and was punished for going beyond his limitations. Equality 7-2521 understands that solitude is
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”,
Anthem is a story about how mankind enters a dark age where individuality is now eliminated by ‘The Council’ in an unspecified future date and unspecified location. The narrator of the novel, Equality 7-2521 is a rebellious young protagonist that conducts illegal secretive scientific research alone and writes in a journal in an underground abandoned railroad tunnel. This dystopian novella deals with authoritarianism as the government has taken control and assigns jobs and duties for every being based on the Council's decision. In the novels Anthem by Ayn Rand and V for Vendetta by Alan Moore, the totalitarian government takes advantage of their higher power to enforce strict obedience on citizens, without concerning for their opinions or wishes and removing their personal freedom, which causes a rebellious protagonist to take charge and struggle to find their freedom.
Individuality, a thing we all take for granted, but in a collectivist society, individuality is banned in all forms and is enforced with torture and execution in the name of “brotherly love”. In the novella Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, all men are bound to the society and held captive by the government’s beliefs. The Home of Scholars is responsible for all scientific discoveries. A new act is preventing them from releasing their findings into the society. Equality also dabbles in science, and he knows that this is a transgression. Equality wishes only to study the clockwork of the world, and to be accepted into The Home of Scholars. He brings his invention of a light to the council, but is turned down because his technological advancement
Anthem is similar to “Survival Ship” because both stories control the human race by mating their people. Rand uses certain situations to let the readers become aware of the society she created. She writes how her character, Equality 7-2521 remembers, “This is the time each spring when all the men older than twenty and all the women older than eighteen are sent for one night to the City Palace of
“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
To begin, Equality 7-2521’s actions develop the theme that individualism is not a sin. He does this in multiple ways. However, most of the characters in Anthem believe that individualism is a sin. That is why Equality 7-2521’s actions are significant to the development of the theme. In the beginning