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How ideas and messages in anthem by ayn rand relate to our world today
Anthem by ayn rand thesis
How ideas and messages in anthem by ayn rand relate to our world today
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"Anthem" is a book written by Ayn Rand in 1937. It’s about a futuristic society. A male called Equality 7-2521, is the main character. His friends all go by “we”. This is because in this society “I” doesn’t exist. It’s disturbing that the counsels of the city forbid the citizens to be individual. I appreciate Rand’s creativity while making this story. She shows character development and goes into great depth into the story. Rand described a man’s rebellion against a totalitarian society perfectly. To begin with, the point of all the rules is so every person is treated equal. Even though some men are tall and short, they are forced to dress the same and act the same. The females are a part of a different group. Equality 7-2521 develops feelings for Liberty 5-3000. A female he met while working in the fields. He starts to call her “The Golden One” in his head. She becomes important to his decisions later in the book. The citizens of the city were expected to follow every single rule in the society. If not, their future would be decided by the counsels of vocation. Equality 7-2521 (also known as “Equality”) struggles to find the meaning of life and to understand his own nature. This makes him do reckless acts as his curiosity increases. …show more content…
While on duty as a street sweeper, he discovers a light bulb in a tunnel. Too excited about his new discovery, he ends up being late returning to the house of sweepers and gets in trouble for going against the rules. Equality is put in the palace of corrective detention, but escapes to go to the world council of scholars to show off the light bulb but is soon rejected. This makes Equality upset and go against the rules again and runs away to live in his own separate world. In my opinion, he was denied for being expressive with individualism and creative thinking. After plenty of walking he finds out that he’s in the uncharted
In the book Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, Equality 7-2521 had never seen his physical appearance. He was surprised to see such a strong individual staring at him. One day after escaping into the woods, he finally met himself at a flowing stream and gained new confidence. This was an essential part of the theme of "Anthem." This shows how Equality finally found himself as an "I" in order to help others see themselves as an "I." This is an important part of "Anthem" since it reveals Equality 7-2521's determination, bravery, and development as a person.
Imagine a world where people are only expected to live up to 45 years old. In today's society, there are countries that experience this. In the novel Anthem, by Ayn Rand; there are many factors like lifestyle, government, medicine, and education that lead to this. There are a couple of ways where the world in the novel is similar and different to today's society.
“We stood still; for the first time we knew 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 woman he loves because of the rules of his Society.
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.
Many people seem to get entangled into society's customs. In the novel Anthem, the protagonist, Equality 7-2521, lives a period of his life as a follower. However, Equality eventually, tries to distant himself from his society. He is shaped to be a follower, but eventually emerges in to an individual and a leader. On his journey, he discovers the past remains of his community. Ayn Rand uses Equality's discoveries of self to represent the importance of individuality in a functional society.
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
...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.
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.
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
Ayn Rand’s Anthem is a politically satirical novel set in a future society that is so highly collectivized that the word “I” has been banned. The world is governed by various councils who believe that man’s sole reason for existence is to enforce the Great Truth “that all men are one and that there is no will save the will of all men together” (Rand, 20). Any indication of an individual’s independent spirit is swiftly and brutally put down, with the transgressors being punished with severe prison sentences or even death. It is this dysfunctional world that Equality 7-2521 is born into. The novel begins with Equality 7-2521 alone in a dark tunnel, transcribing his story.
The dystopia depicted in Anthem could quite easily be considered Ayn Rand’s commentary on society. It puts into perspective the downfalls of societal trends and putting others above oneself. The novella itself is a satire of Collectivism, which can be seen in examples of Communism. Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism includes ideas of immutable facts, rationalist mentality, self-prioritization, and a capitalist society (ARI, n.d.). Her ideas are shown in a variety of aspects throughout the novella. Oppression felt due to the collective mentality is the most prominent of the ideas shown. Another aspect that is important to note is Equality 7-2521’s natural tendency to struggle against the restrictions set upon
Anthem by Ayn Rand is considered a dystopian novel. The characters live in a society where everything is bad, and they have no control over their life or destiny. The book is about a man, Equality 7-2521, who breaks all the laws of his society and dares to be different. The book is in first person and designed to seem like a journal entry. Equality 7-2521 lives in a futuristic society where people have no knowledge of individualism, and the words ‘I’ or ‘me’ do not exist.
The word collectivism often makes people cringe. Overall, there is a general fear of not being able to make personal decisions in America. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, collectivism can be defined as; emphasis on collective rather than individual action or identity (“Collectivism”). In Anthem, Ayn Rand describes an extreme collectivist society. Although Anthem’s society seems extremely surreal, aspects of its collectivist society closely mirror today’s society.
If it was my opinion, Equality 7-2521 would not include all of the rules in his society he is imagining at the ending of the book. Especially the no loving someone rule. I think the reason I think Equality 7-2521 would not make a society like that is because he takes his invention to show the World Council of Scholars he was made an idiot because he is a street sweeper and he invented something. It made him upset because he only wanted to be a scholar but he was picked by them thebe a street sweeper. That upset him so then he ran into the Uncharted Forests. The Council of Vocations picks what jobs you have to do, you can not even change what you do. It makes no sense to me, Equality has already broke so many rules and that’s exactly why I
Ayn Rand’s “Anthem” is a dystopian fiction novella that takes place at an unspecific future date where mankind has entered a dark age. Equality 7-2521 is the main character we are first introduced to as he illegally writes his thoughts on paper in a secret tunnel by the light of a candle he stole.