Synthesis Essay
Humans often rush to obtain wisdom, a trait supposedly essential in proving value; however, once people achieve sagacity they think they are too wise to experience change or to face uncertainties. Those still living in curiosity are too intrigued by the unknown to confine to borders and they will be the ones to grow and learn. For example, Albert Einstein made many of his discoveries through his own fascination in the world around him, “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing”(Albert Einstein). Numerous trendsetters have taken consequential risks, and have been wildly curious, allowing them to pave the way for the rest of humanity. While without this interest, humans may become stuck in their ways with no motivation to go further. Continuing to explore even after reaching what society has set is an apparent idea in narratives including The Odyssey and Anthem. Curiosity is more influential than wisdom, as wonderment brings an incentive to undergo new uncertainties, while wisdom induces fear of these risks.
Equality is filled with curiosity that demolishes the boundaries placed and motivates him to seek out new ideas. Moreover, Equality discovers the word I and states his newfound feelings over the council’s rules, “I wished to know the meaning of
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things. I am the meaning. I wished to find a warrant for being. I need no warrant for being, and no word of sanction upon my being. I am the warrant and the sanction” (Rand 108). Realizing that there is nothing to hold him back pushes Equality to know more; consequently, his hunger for knowledge outshines the council’s warnings and threats, and because of this he has no fear when taking on new adventures such as the Uncharted Forest. Nevertheless, the council and those who follow will remain adamant in their system with no grasp on what the world around them has to offer. Furthermore, Equality shares the lightbulb and the advancements it may bring, “there are no limits to its secrets and its might, and it can be made to grant us anything if we but chose to ask" (86). The lightbulb is used in Anthem to symbolize the new ideas of those who wish to acquire cognition. Relating to curiosity, there are no boundaries put on this strong desire to learn and with it people can discover more than ever. Equality exhibits the human brain without limitations, and how this fervent interest compels humans to uncover the most rousing parts of life. On the other hand, the council is confined and blinded by these set rules due to their past experience. Those who live with the borders of wisdom, without fascination, will never truly understand what’s happening around them. Some may say that curiosity is the worst flaw one can have, but without it we wouldn’t have the capacity to influence others and educate the people around us. For instance, Odysseus sends his men to check out the Lotus eater’s terrain out of pure curiosity. “They wanted to stay with the Lotus-eaters, eating the lotus, forgetting all thoughts of return. I dragged those men back to the shore myself by force...Then I ordered my men to embark quickly on the fast craft, fearing that others would eat the lotus and forget their homes”(Fagles IX. 63-104). Because of Odysseus’ being attracted to the unknown, he is willing to send two men to explore and is granted with the knowledge of what truly inhabits the strange home of the Lotus Eaters. With this understanding, he can save the rest of his men and let others know not to go near the tempting flower. In addition, Odysseus’ curiosity prompts him and his men to take on the land of the Cyclops, “‘What are they—violent, savage, lawless? or friendly to strangers, god-fearing men?’”(Fagles IX. 120-123). The king’s interest in the Cyclops influences his men to venture out into an eerie territory, and the outcome is Poseidon punishing Odysseus. Although it may have not been the best decision, the impact of his curiosity is clearly greater than if he was wise and aware of the risks. Odysseus also gains the experience from this adventure and is able to educate others by learning from his mistakes. His passion with the aspect of knowing reveals his intelligence, and motivates him to discover the many secrets embedded in his surroundings. Curiosity bears the thrill of discovering while wisdom brings fear of these advancements; therefore, sagacity places boundaries on a person’s intelligence.
Characters in The Odyssey and Anthem abstain from the civilization’s limits while utilizing their eagerness to comprehend. Society should not be afraid to wonder about their surroundings because those who do break ground for new ideas. Being curious is in our nature from the moment humans are born, yet as we get older we stop fueling this attribute. Humans are so stuck in getting a title or reaching a limit, such as wisdom, that they are too stubborn to realize the impact of simply asking
questions.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a world where everyone was forced to be exactly alike? Well in Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem she directly confronts this topic through the main character named Equality 7-2521. Equality 7-2521 faces challenges directly relating to the issue that the government has been trying to address for many years. Equality 7-2521 is not like his brothers, he is smarter, wiser and even taller, therefore, his brothers think that he has “evil in his bones” (Rand 18). The book Anthem is the firsthand account of how Equality 7-2521 finds the word “I” amongst the word “We”. He does not agree with these rules that the government has put into place, these are the rules that held him back for a time, but in the end, pushed him forward to be his own person.
In this story, Ayn explains a group known as, Equality 7-2521 where the word “I” has no meaning and everyone is told what to do by a council of scholars.
Equality is different from the other men in his world, and because of this he has lived most of his life concealing his emotions, being outcasted and punished by the leaders and teachers of his society, and stripping himself of his talents and uniqueness, therefore he has every right to criticize the leaders who kept the real Equality trapped inside for so very long. 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.
As Equality stops to devour the supper he caught, he notices a, “great satisfaction to be found in the food by which we obtain by our own hand” (Rand 80). For once, Equality puts the hunting skill he possesses to use, and the pleasure that comes with consuming an adequate meal made completely by him is far beyond that of meals prepared by others. And by residing in the Uncharted Forest, Equality experiences joy because he essentially is free and can pursue tasks he desires, like hunting, at any time. Furthermore, as Equality proceeds through his day he, “walks on til the sun had set” (Rand 80). Equality now does not have to conform his life to regulations, such as having a curfew, set by the World Council of Scholars. He has the power to choose where he wants to settle and the time at which he must be home, a decision that would not be left up to him back in the city. Ultimately, Equality for the first time broke the chains of uniformity that bound him since birth, and because of this he scoffs at the idiocy of the Scholars to realize that true happiness is achieved through liberty, not
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
Equality 7-2521 discovers the word “I”. For the first time, he can express his identity as an individual in language. He is now using his freedom. He just doesn’t know about but also lives it. It's interesting to note how quickly he moves from "I" to "my" – from talking about himself and his actions to talking about his possessions. The switch from “we” to “I” opened up a whole new life for him. It was such a big deal for Equality.
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
Equality deserves the right to be motivated in his own way, and the people in the world today would or would not benefit from being motivated in all the same ways. Firstly, the main character was creating electricity to finally be added into the House of Scholars. Next, he deserves the right to be motivated in this way because he is his own person. Finally, in today’s world if everyone was motivated in the same way we would not be our own person anymore. In conclusion, every man has his own
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
Equality realizes that he is different from others because he cares about his happiness, unlike others who are convinced to believe that a group’s happiness counts more than an individual’s happiness. After Equality is sent into exile, he comes upon the perfect place for him to live: the Uncharted Forest. Equality feels very safe in the forest and, he is happy because for the first time ever he does not wake up in the morning because he has to but because he rested well. He enjoys eating his food for the first time and realizes that he actually is happier when away from everyone in the city. Before he sees his reflection in the water, Equality says, “We knelt by the stream and we bent down to drink.
Equality has discovered something all by himself and he’s the only one that knows it. Equality would help create a new idea of the period of invention and discovery but only if it was accepted by the Council. (Pg 53 Rand)“We put a piece of copper and a piece of zinc into a jar of brine, we touched a wire to them, and there under our fingers, was a miracle which had never occurred before, a new miracle and a new power.”
middle of paper ... ... Our curiosity is what makes our interactions interesting and entertaining. As members of society, it is our innate ability to wander further than what we have in front of us. We want to impose our opinions on everything.
The Odyssey is filled with emotion and adventure. Homer’s ability to show and give the reader a visual of each and every scene gives the story its unbelievable significance. To all the people who read his work there is something to be captured within every sentence, each one different in its own, unique way. Through tales of courage and defeat, friendship and love this book tells of all the values within the life of a single, solitary man, and his journey to attain what is true and dear to him. And this journey is known to all of us as The Odyssey. The Odyssey is a test of human devotion and trust through the gods, the mortals, and the obstacles through which they venture. No matter where they go or what they do, humans are tested for certain characteristics everyday of their lives, whether they realize it or not; and The Odyssey is just one of those many miraculous tests.
As children we are born with a natural curiosity that pulls us out into the world. Going out and experiencing new things, seeing different environments; like the first time you see the ocean or snow or the Grand Canyon, it adds to the world that we know and changes our perspective on it with each new thing. But if we reflect upon it and ask what is the ocean? Or what is it that gives us life and makes us so different from a rock. These are questions which cannot be easily answ...
The behavior of people is strongly influenced by the effect of society. Starting from a young age, education systems limit children’s knowledge by educating them out of their creative capacity which enables to, let alone use their imagination, but from even learning about imagination. However, to curious people it has slowly become human nature to “’want to know more than we can see’” (Fontenelle 11), which concept has risen because of the idea of existence beyond planet earth. Fontenelle uses imagination as a tool to visualize the unknown; he speculates that there is life in all the other planets surrounding the planet earth. He himself does not believe what he is imaging but continues to describe the world by looking beyond what it portrays, leaving place for the mind to wonder. Even more, imagination and proof couple together as tightly as mind and body. In other words, just like the human body needs