Love is said to be something so rare and precious, that when found, it can change a person drastically. For better or for worse, the love that Equality 7-2521 has for Liberty 5-3000 has changed him more than pure knowledge ever could, though primitive that love may be. Some may argue that his thirst for knowledge after his discovery changed him moreso, however that had always been within his soul, it was a part of who he was as a person. His thirst for knowledge is clearly shown throughout the book. However in Chapter 1, in which Equality 7-2521 says, “... there are great things on this earth of ours, and that we must know them…,” his burning desire to know the things yet unknown is especially highlighted, thus one can conclude that this passion for learning is a part of his personality, and has therefore not changed him. …show more content…
Before this transgression, it is apparent that Equality has some regret for his actions, even saying after he was assigned to be a street Sweeper that, “...we were happy. We know we had been guilty, but now we had a way to atone for it.” However after Equality 7-2521 names Liberty 5-3000 the “Golden One” he feels no regret whatsoever. This is proved by his words when he says, “And we take no heed of the law which says that men may not think of women,” his choosing to say that he takes “no heed” indicates that he was fully aware of the implications of what he had done, but he did not care. The stark contrast between Equality 7-2521’s thoughts in regard to the discovery and Liberty 5-3000 show that it was Liberty 5-3000 that changed him, not his
Equality 7-2521 is rebellious. If a person is rebellious, he shows a desire to resist authority. This authority is most commonly a government that runs its territory in a way which the rebellious person does not support. Rebellious people argue for changing or replacing this authority because they often view it as corrupt or ineffective. Due to their desire for change, these people are often the most dangerous to governments that wish to retain power and control. Equality 7-2521 shows this desire to defy authority in Anthem. The society that he lives in forbids writing unless it is first approved by the Council of Vocations. However, he has done exactly
Equality 7-2521 aspires to be a self-proclaimed individual. In the novella, Anthem, Ayn Rand discusses of a dystopian society in which every man and women are set equal to each other. Equality is damned by the World Council after a discovery of light and electricity, and a contradictory belief in individualism. Freedom is an essential factor in the happiness of man. Equality is scorned for his different looks, mental competence, and independent beliefs but laughs when he recognizes that he should be glorified for understanding that his perception of life leads to contentment.
Equality expresses his love for science and aspiration to be a Scholar throughout the book and talks of how he wished to be sent to the Home of Scholars so badly his hands trembled under the blankets at night and he had to bite his arm just to stop the pain of wanting something so much (Rand 24). To want something so badly and have to conceal it everyday with no one to share it with is a very difficult thing for someone to have to do. Equality also struggled with concealing his friendship,“International 4-8818 and we are friends. This is an evil thing to say, for it is a transgression, the Great Transgression of Preference, to love any among men better than the others, since we must love all men and all men are our friends.” (Rand 30). It is impossible to not prefer one person more than the other, which is why all the men are afraid to defy their leaders by committing a transgression such as this. Equality knows he has a connection with International 4-8818, but he has to once again hide his emotions, and only know in his heart that they are friends. Later on in Anthem, Equality takes notice of a beautiful woman named Liberty 5-3000, who he immediately falls head over heels for, which is a transgression. “We stood still; for the first time did we know fear, and then pain. And we stood still that we might not spill this pain more precious than pleasure.” (Rand 39). Equality cannot even pursue the
One day, Equality is supposed to be in the theater, but he is not there. Consequently, Equality is imprisoned to the Palace of Corrective Detention. Oddly, the prison does not have many restrictions, so easily Equality escapes. After his departure, he goes directly to the Council of Scholars, which is where a group of people have a job to gain more intelligence. Intentionally, Equality goes here because he wants to reveal his new discovery of electricity to the scholars. In effect, they denounce him for carrying out a discovery because it is contradicting to the laws of their society. After this happens, Equality bolts to the Uncharted Forest, he begins to actualize that people should live as individuals instead of one group. Liberty follows Equality and, eventually, catches up to him. In the Uncharted Forest, they find a sublime house on top of a mountain. Once they examine the house, Equality and Liberty decide to live in it. Uninhibited, they develop a more profound relationship along with a newly-founded liberated life. As an individual, Equality wants to free the people of his society and eventually begin his own. Equality says, "We matter not, nor our transgression. It is only our brother men who matter. Give no thought to us, for we are nothing, but listen to our words, for we bring you a gift such as has never been brought to men. Listen to us, for we hold the future of mankind in our hands" (70; ch. 7). Equality's life dramatically changes as he extends his life as a
The society that Equality 7-2521 was brainwashed in since birth was based on no individualism. Ayn rand in fact was the maker of the self individualist philosophy. She based Equality’s qualities on individualism. Which means putting yourself first and showing all qualities of individuality. Equality 7-2521 wanted to have certains thing like people, places, and the way he learned more than others. As well as looking different than others; taller, smarter and of different color. He was an Individual; which allowed him to want to be a scholar in the house of scholars.
The natural desire of Equality 7-2521 is knowledge who is born with a curse of uniqueness. He abides within the walls of a collectivist society. The citizens of this society prioritize the good of society over the welfare of the individual. In the beginning of the novel, Equality confesses that “[He] have broken the laws. The laws say that men may not write unless the Council of Vocations bid them so” (Anthem 17). Equality is asking for forgiveness and proves this by quoting “[I] strive to be like all our brother men, for all men must be alike” (Anthem 19). Through Equality’s journey of self-discovery, he gradually starts changing his mind on how he perceives of how critical the Council truly is. He begins rebelling without a care and denounces
At this point in the novel Equality does accept the moral teachings of his society. He doesn’ feel shame When Equality and his friend find the hidden tunnel from the past, they knew that they probably shouldn’t explore it, but they do it anyway because curiosity is purely human nature and sometimes you just have to go with your instincts rather than what other people say for you to do.
When Equality 7-2521 turned fifteen, he writes that he was told that “you shall do that which the Council of Vocations shall prescribe for you” (Rand, 22). He says that although he knew it was sinful, he had a desire to become a scholar and learn the “science of things.” In Equality 7-2521’s world, it was immoral and illegal to prefer one subject or person over another because everything was supposed to be equal. Equality...
Equality is perhaps one of the most controversial concepts that has plagued human society and communities as well as nations, since Earth’s earliest days. The idea that all are deserving of an equal amount of respect and acceptance, however appealing it may be, is quite impossible. There will always be factors (ie. economic situations, former methods of servitude, personality, etc.) that will affect the way in which humans treat one another, no matter the circumstance. It is a ridiculous idea to even attempt to comprehend that one’s feelings and thoughts and history as a person could ever be the equivalent to another’s. As a result, we are able to achieve a sense of individualism within ourselves and are able to clearly notice the differences between one another. One specific aspect of each and every person that is notably different as you begin to analyze people for who they are is the concept of values. Each and every person upholds contrasting values, which may range from education and gaining knowledge to simply being happy and making others happy. This is no different for fictional characters—or at least well-written fictional characters—and one I can specifically mention is Lyddie, from the novel of the same name, written by Katherine Paterson. During a time of sexism, poverty, and child labor as its main issues, Lyddie is a 12-year-old girl who is forced to undergo all of the mentioned, paired with her own personal matters. She works at a textile mill in Lowell, working in gruesome, repulsive working conditions, with the primary objective of freeing her and her family from debt. Throughout her time working at the mill, a petition is proposed to Lyddie and her “coworkers”, requesting of the owners of the mill to shorten work...
Equality 7-2521 knew that technology was something that could be used for greatness, “This has never been done before, but neither has such a gift as ours ever been offered to men,”(61) but for the world he lived in, technology was an atrocity. Technology was considered to be a creative invention of an individual, something that was considered the vilest of offenses. Equality 7-2521, or self-declared Prometheus, was certain that if he showed the council how amazing the concept of technology, of light, that he could change the way his world saw technology and creativity. He believed that with the creations of his seclusion he would aspire to greatness, but in the world he lives in has clones of men who believe that what he did was a monstrosity. With the degeneration of technology, the world in which Equality 7-2521 lived in was able to suppress the thirst for knowledge in nearly all of the inhabitants. It only took one mind with a hunger for knowledge and learning to destroy an entire
Equality takes candles, flint, knives, and paper to this place where he has also taken glass vials, powders, and acids. He spends three hours a night in the tunnel studying, melting medals, and mixing acids. “Two years have passed since we found this place. And in these two years we have learned more than we had learned in the ten years of the home of the students” (Rand 36). Equality is becoming more self-reliant each day, as he knows more than his brothers and the council. With fear still in his head he says, “The nature of our punishment, if it be discovered, is not for the human heart to ponder” (Rand 37). This shows how much fear the council has put inside their heads. Despite the fear, Equality is still disobeying their laws. His morals are molding him into his own
Democracy stresses the equality of all individuals and insists that all men are created equal. Democracy does not persist on an equality of condition for all people or argue that all persons have a right to an equal share of worldly goods. Rather, its concept of equality insists that all are entitled to equality of opportunity and equality before the law. The democratic concept of equality holds that no person should be held back for any such arbitrary reasons as those based on race, color, religion, or gender. This concept of equality holds that each person must be free to develop himself or herself as fully as he or she can or cares to and that each person should be treated as the equal of all other persons by the law. We have come a great distance toward reaching the goal of equality for all in this country, but however close we are we are still at a considerable distance from a genuine universally recognized and respected equality for all. I will go into more details giving more information and making it clear to understand equality and civil rights for all and it affects everyone.
As the novel opens Equality 7-2521 states that what he's doing is a sin. In his 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. In his society everyone thinks the same, and if you were to be the different one you would be sent to the palace of correction and detention. Equality 7-2521 actually had a mind of his own. As you can see Science fascinated him. For example in chapter 1 while it was dark Equality 7-2521 would sneak into a dark tunnel in which he would spend 3 hours doing scientific research, and experiments. He would also steal manuscripts from the scholars, and every night he would study. This went on for two years. The difference between Equality 7-2521 and his society is that he actually wanted to succeed, while the rest of his society would settle for what they were told to be. The "glass box", can also be referred as a light bulb. After countless nights of experimenting, Equality 7-2521 succeeds in connecting the power of electricity to re-invent the electric light. This invention that he came up with can benefit to society, but he doesn't know how to tell them. Remember, you can't do anything that others can't do. That was the philosophy that the society believed in. He figured that since the council wouldn't appreciate his work, he would rather show his invention to the scholars. When the World Council of Scholars arrives in his city, he will present to them, as his gift, the "glass box with the power of the sky." One night while Equality 7-2521 was working on an experiment in his tunnel, he totally lost track of time. He rushed out, and then the council questioned him on why was he late. Equality 7-2521 refused to answer and therefore he was sent to the palace of correction and detention. He was able to escape and retreat back to the tunnel. He found everything the same way that he had left it. He was then getting prepared for the arrival of the scholars.
At the beginning, Equality thinks he is motivated to help his brothers. He wants them to praise him for his discovery, and accept him. After his prosecution and his escape into the forest, He realizes why he cares so much about this box of electricity. Equality was motivated to better himself. He writes,
to find the truth in love. He was the “ideal lover of wisdom”, never allowing