“And we know well that there is no transgression blacker than to do or think alone” (Rand 19). This quote shows that to think alone in this dystopian society is a significant sin that should not be committed. Modern society today puts a high emphasis on being and thinking as an individual, but in Ayn Rand's Anthem being an individual is slowly learned by Equality-72521 due to the requirement to think and be considered as one. In Ayn Rand’s Anthem a clearly different member of a dystopian society starts by always thinking of himself as a group member by using “we” and gradually throughout the book finds out that he is his own character and shows it by eventually finding the appropriate pronoun to show he is an seperate member and to only think …show more content…
“We strive to be like all our brother men, for all men must be alike” (Rand 19). By using we you cannot fully distinct yourself as one person. The definition of we is used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself and one or more other people considered together (Google). Therefore someone cannot have their own singular characteristics if they are defined as more than one person, or together. Because if you are all together as one. You cannot have different characteristics and must all be equal. “We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever“ (Rand 19). This quote clearly states that there are no men, except the great we, meaning that there is no one character or mind, because everyone is equal and must be the same, making them all we. To take away the distinctiveness of a single person defies individualism and follows the roots of this society. Being considered with everyone else does not include free thought, speech, and desired …show more content…
“Now if the council has said “carpenter” or “cook,” the students so assigned go to work and they do not study any further” (Rand 25). If they cannot choose their lifestyle, or job, they cannot have a say in their personal taste. For example, if someone likes the law, they may become a branch of the law, like a lawyer. In this society, they completely disregard your taste, which is a part of being your own character, and labels or brands you to a classification. In this classification, no one sticks out, they are all just considered for what their job is, Cook, street cleaner, etc. “The will of our brothers be done” (Rand 25). The saying they must use after getting assigned a job is stating that it is your will, your purpose, to only work to contribute back to your brothers and not to yourself. This ties in back to her use or writing and the use of we because if you are referring to yourself as all together (we) then your will is to work and help each other to be one and be together. Equality later realizes that he is not a we and finds a more appropriate word to fit because he feels working together is not the best way to go in
Within the lack of technology in the world of Anthem human being are unable to express themselves through the word “We”. The city is confined through a strict society known as Anthem. In the philosophical teaching known as Objectivism by Ayn Rand, the average age for a human being is forty. For a person in Anthem it is unable to choose freedom and is forced to become what is chosen for him. However as the story a progress Equality 7-2521 begins to discover self through events that have allowed him to find the truth. Since in the world of Anthem people must think as “we” and are forced to follow strict rules that force him to become unable to realize his inner being.
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
...nthem, she presents a collectivist society in which a man’s inalienable right of individualism has been revoked, which causes the citizens to render their souls to the strong dictatorship. They conform to part of the programmed group referred to as “We” and compromise their desires to accept the collectivist tenet as true. They possess no free thought and are forbidden to have free will. Gradually, they transform to which they need no palpable shackles because their minds are fettered through the deprivation they suffer. However, she uses the main character Equality to break down the binds of society and form his own individual path. Equality’s story to relates to human existence in which men must lead their own lives or suffer the horrid consequences of interdependence and living for society’s sake.
In Anthem there are so many rules and controls, yet there is one that truly rises above it all. And that word is “I”. There is no “I” only “We”, for the great “We” is what they follow. And they are one not individual, they are one. And poor Equality can’t seem to understand that the rules are rules, but in a way he’s making his own rules. And he is mistreated for his looks and appearance and dosen’t seem really one with his brothers. And he’s curious and most don’t even question life, and he notices the little things, “Yet as we stand at night in the great hall, removing our garments for sleep, we look upon our brothers and we wonder. The heads of our brothers are bowed. The eyes of our brothers are dull, and never do they look one another in the eyes. The shoulders of our brothers are hunched, and their muscles are drawn, as if their bodies were shrinking and wished to shrink out of sight. And a word steals into our mind, as we look upon our brothers, and that word is fear.”(Rand 46). He has a wanting to learn and build his knowledge, but the rules don’t permit his decisions.
In a year that remains undefined beneath a small city lit only by candles, a young man is working. He works without the council to guide him and without his brothers beside him. He works for his own purposes, for his own desires, for the dreams that were born in his own steady heart and bright mind. In his society, this is the greatest transgression. To stand alone is to stand groping in the dark, and to act alone is to be shamed by one’s own selfishness. The elegantly simple society that Ayn Rand has created in the novel Anthem has erased all segregation and discrimination by making every man one and the same with those around him; only Equality 7-2521 defies the norm with his ruthless
Totalitarian societies include government control over every part of life of the people in that society. The government often has a ruler who is a dictator and has absolute control over the public and private life of the citizens. The leaders of these societies, both real and fictionalized, enforce the rule that children have to live apart from their families because they want loyalty and allegiance to the government, collectivism among the people, and the practice of eugenics. Allegiance to the government is the most important factor in totalitarian societies because it helps dictatorial leaders manipulate the people of the society. Collectivism helps by eliminating any differences in the population, thus making it easier to control. Lastly eugenics provides an allowance for a better race of the human population, which eliminates any of the negative or unwanted genes from the gene pool. By separating children from their parents, all of the above actions are possible and easier to perform.
Ayn Rand, a contentious woman, the new favorite author to multiple people’s list. People who have read her magnificent book, Anthem, understand how exquisite and meaningful her words are. Books like Anthem are worth reading because it gives the reader more knowledge about controversial topics and it takes the reader to experience new places and new adventures. Equality, the main character, is a symbol. He represents many people today, living in countries like his society. Equality has to find his true identity first before helping the others. People are not allowed to believe in individualism, they should not have a identity of their own. Each person has a monotone routine to follow every single day of their lives. Each step a person takes
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 7-2521 embodies this essential idea throughout the story because of his eternal struggle with not quite being able to conform to society’s expectations. He is physically different from the others (Rand, 1946, p. 2) as well as mentally different as he disagreed with others even as a child (p. 4) and was smarter than the rest (p. 5), and this mental sharpness is carried into adulthood as he is able to discern the feelings of oppression and fear that weigh over all men in this time (Rand, 1946, p. 30). Rather than acting as a machine, he feels preferences and desires within himself. Equality 7-2521 enjoys science, dreams of being a Scholar, likes a pretty girl, and wonders about himself. Since these things are not shared by all, they are forbidden, and despite how simple they may be, they define
You and I do not exist; government deems it so. We are one, a single body functioning for the collective good of society. Ayn Rand’s Anthem speaks to this collectivist doctrine while highlighting the implicit contradictions that impede its successful implementation. Collectivism is any philosophic, political, religious, economic, or social outlook that emphasizes the interdependence of every human. Collectivism is a basic cultural element that exists as the reverse of individualism in human nature (in the same way high context culture exists as the reverse of
The beginning of the story opens with Equality being chastised because he is too tall and too smart. He noticed that “to be free, a man must be free of his brothers” (Rand 101). This quote shows that when society controls him, and he relies on everyone else, a lack of progress is inevitable. Even the higher powers control their city with aggressive strength; the Council of Vocations assigns Equality to be a street sweeper even though he wants to be a scholar. Out of curiosity, he finds a tunnel while on duty. He begins to write about himself, even though “it is a sin to think words no others are to see” (Rand 1). Having no obligation to others allows one to work towards their own goals, Equality is able to pass his previous instinct where “all men are one” (Rand 20). With the revelation of himself as being a separate indiv...
While Equality and Liberty take a hike in the Uncharted Forest Equality reflects on what he was taught back in his society as being one and not caring for your life, but the lives of their brothers, this is another realization he encounters of collectivism striping away his indivduality and joy. “If this is the great evil of being alone, then what is good and what is evil Everything which comes from many is good Everything which comes from one is evil This have we been taught with our first breath.” While walking in the forest Equality trips, falls, rolls, and then begins to laugh, this is his moment of joy. “Then our body, losing all sense, rolled over and over on the moss...And we heard laughing as if there were no power left in us save laughter.” While reading the manuscripts Equality comes across the word “I” for the very first time in his life, and for the first time he speaks as one person instead of two or more. “It is my will which chooses, and the choice of my will is the only edict I must respect.” Equality comes to the realization that collectivism takes away individuality and
In this novella, the characters have every aspect of their lives planned by the government in an attempt to make everyone indistinguishable. As a result, the characters have no sense of identity. For example, the characters have names such as Equality, Collective, and Union. Alone these names suggest a common core. Drastically, a complete loss of individuality can be noted by how the characters say "we" rather than "I", the forbidden word.
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.
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). This chant repeated by all men has influenced the thoughts of all within the society. Changing the thoughts to say you are not unique but you live only for your brothers. Language has influenced the men and women to not think for themselves but only for the society itself. “’You are not one of our brothers, Equality 7-2521, for we do not wish you to be. …nor are you one of our sisters’” (Rand 43). Equality and Liberty have both just changed how they are thinking and see that neither one is like the others. They both see past the ways they were taught to think and have started to think for themselves and see the changes in each other. Within a society of “We” these two people have found the “I” within themselves but have yet to find the real