Cato Institute

There is, in a distant future, a point where all things cease to change. The world is collective, and individuals no longer exist on their own, but as a whole; no longer for themselves, but for everyone. Though this selfless disposition sounds altruistic in nature, the reality of the situation is that individuals are forced to abnegate themselves from all thought, and all things, that are not concert. This reality exists in the dystopian society of the novel, Anthem, by Ayn Rand. The philosophy of

Ayn Rand represents the world of Anthem, as all together, no individual exists. In Equality 7-2521 society it is a sin to do things that do not involve others, and the words he thinks and writes are for no one eyes to see or hear, but his own, It is the sin to think of yourself as an individual, to have an identity. Which is the fact of being who or what a person or thing is. Equality 7-2521 feels something missing from his life, from his vocabulary, he knows it’s wrong to think this way but he can’t

The author Ayn Rand said “The question is not who is going to let me, but who is going to stop me.” In a way her main character, Equality 7-2521 goes along with this quote. He did not let anyone stop him from going in the hole in the woods, he did not let anyone stop him from making the light bulb, and he did not let anyone stop him from running away and finding his happiness. He knew writing the book was considered a sin, but writing made him happy so he continued writing. When Equality started

Azucena Trujillo Senior Teachers Senior Experience 28 Aug. 2014. The Emphasize of Individualism The novel, Anthem, by Ayn Rand portrays a dystopian society that is characterized by her concept of collectivism and the lack of individualism. Collectivism, in Rand’s view, is the belief that an individual will be subjugated to the group and sacrificed for the greater good (Novels&Works of Ayn Rand). Individualism is described as each individual has the right to do as they please to pursue their

Ayn Rand’s, Anthem, is a scientific novel written as a diary about a man named Equality 7-2521, who lives in the future also referred to as the unmentionable times where people forgot all knowledge of individualism. The main character, Equality 7-2521, believed he was cursed because of the constant struggle he was having to deal with from the society but he didn’t let that keep him from finding a way out to freedom, from finding his individuality The story, Anthem, takes place in a communist like

In Ayn Rand’s Anthem, a controlling government has taken power over it’s citizens. The protagonist Equality, is a very bright man whose knowledge is considered a threat to the government’s power. Equality hopes to live out his days in the Home of Scholars, where he can begin researching and pursuing science and math. When he is assigned the role of street sweeper by the government, Equality doesn't give up on his dream of education. Equality finds an underground tunnel where he conducts experiments

Imagine if a person was fated to live in a society where everything is regulated by the government, which makes the conditions atrocious. This is the definition of a dystopia. Ayn Rand, the author of Anthem, criticizes the idea of communism by writing about a man named Equality who challenges collectivist ideals. Rand uses the symbolism of Liberty, the lightbulb, and the Unspeakable Word to show how their collective society is actually a dystopia. Liberty is an alluring woman whom Equality is

History has often presented the control of government over the power of man. Government can regulate the media we are exposed to, and the rights which we are allowed to practice, but the one thing no power can take away from an individual is their thoughts. In Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem, one man practices this inalienable right of free thought, and his name is Equality 7-2521. In a society where creativity and individuality is considered a transgression, Equality has committed the ultimate crime

Equality doesn't always equal happiness. Ayn Rayn used symbolism in her book Anthem to show a deeper meaning on how she feels about collectivism based on how it affected her at the time. Three of of the most important symbols are a simple light bulb, a screaming person, and the Uncharted Forest. This proves that Anthem is classified as a dystopia because each symbol represents the fear and how powerless the people really are in their lives. In Anthem, Equality rediscovers electricity in a

In the book Anthem by Ayn Rand there are many character changes, and all of them crucial to the story. With Equality 7-2521 being the biggest. I believe he had the biggest change because he was born in a society where your life is set with no questions asked even if you do not like what you receive. With these regulations, Equality 7-2521 followed them until he had a change of heart. In the first chapter of Anthem Equality says “It is a sin to write this. It is a sin to think words no others think…”