The Role Of Collectivism In Ayn Rand's Anthem

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In Ayn Rand’s novella, Anthem, children are often seen living apart from their families. Unfortunately, it’s not their choice, but society is set up such that they are made to live apart. Children are forced to live like this because dictatorial leaders are committed to collectivism. Collectivism is an emphasis on collective rather than individual action or identity. Leaders enforce the separation between parents and children in order to maintain collectivism and ultimately have complete control over the children. 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 …show more content…

Ayn Rand consistently explores this collectivist notion throughout Anthem, through the eyes of an individual; foreshadowing the ever-present threat to the doctrine. For example, hey have numbers rather than names. They are also expected to treat everyone equally and not to have special friends. In this context, you can see why they would want to raise kids apart from their parents. If you grow up with your parents, you form a family. It is you’re "in group." You identify most with your family and other people are not as important to you. When you do this, you form the idea that you are different from everyone else. In this book, the leaders want everyone to be the same so that they will not try to rebel against the society. The leaders want everyone to think the same so that there will be complete social

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