You walk the same walk, talk the same talk, and think the same thoughts. No one is different. In fact, there is no “one” of anything. Equality is a very undefined topic that has many unanswered questions. I want to shed a little bit of light on it. To me, equality is a concept that we all strive for, of being the same as everyone, and fitting in. There’s deeper meaning than meets the eye about equality. This idea robs us of freedom, but we still use this collective idea as individuals to fit in, have friends, and be happy because we are willing to sacrifice some freedom for happiness. Equality can never fully take control of a society either because societies that work very well are the ones that use a little bit of collective and individualistic ideas. It’s only a matter of …show more content…
time till someone “wakes up” and has their own, individual ideas. Everywhere in the world from small town high-schools, to the big city businesses, we all try to fit in with everyone else.
We all want to have friends who like who we are as individuals. This is the good side of equality because it teaches us and shows us what love is. The bad side to it is when we come to love the idea of being liked by people to the point where we change ourselves so much, just to fit in, that we are no longer an individual at all. In a book called Anthem, by Ayn Rand, the main character struggles with the concepts of the collective ideas of these societies. At the end of the book he comes to this exact realization. He says, “What brought it to pass? What disaster took their reason away from men? What whip lashed them to their knees in shame and submission? The worship of the word ‘We.’” In the story Anthem there was a falling out between the people and government, and by some means, somebody was able to gain enough power to create a utopian society from the ruins of the destroyed society based upon the idea of equality. It was the only way that they thought that all people could co-exist and have mutual freedom and respect for everyone, but it definitely isn’t the only
way. Some of the best working groups today are those that mesh the ideas of the individualist and collectivist. Instead of having black or white like most issues of today, we have grey instead. This isn’t to say that these types of society don’t have their own flaws, but they function better. The most well known example of this is in the United States of America. The USA functions upon many principles but there are two that stick out to me. In the Declaration of Independence it states that, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights…” This means that no man is inferior to another and each has his own rights to himself.
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 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.
A society where people lack individualism and the government has suppressive control, ultimately restrains its citizens. Those who rebel from oppressive authority and redefine themselves are those who remain unconquered. To be unconquered is to be uncontrollable, undefined, and in no form abide by social normality. In the poem, “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley, and the novella Anthem, by Ayn Rand both protagonist, Invictus and Equality portray determination and vigor.
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.
“For the coming of that day shall I fight, I and my sons and my chosen friends. For the freedom of Man. For his rights. For his life. For his honor.”(page 104). In the novella Anthem by, Ayn Rand, the main character Equality, fought for a way to be himself and help mankind. Rand clearly made Equality’s primary motivation joining The Council of Scholars as a creator, and through the course of two years, due to Equality conducting experiments in all of his spare time until he discovers a method of harnessing the power of electricity to use it to light the community. Equality confirms the right to his motivation. What was Equality’s primary motivation, is he right to be motivated in this way, and what would the world be like if everyone was
At the start of Anthem, Equality is a collectivist who knows there is something wrong with the world he lives in. This allows him to evolve into an individualist. Equality says , “It is a sin to think words no others think and to put them down upon a paper no others are to see. It is base and evil. It is as if we were speaking alone to no ears but our own” (Rand 17). Equality admits he has committed a transgression and hopes to be forgiven. Equality, at this moment, is living to the standards of others because he lives in a society where no man is to think differently than another. This contradicts Rand’s philosophy because she says that a man is entitled to his own happiness and that you are in charge of it, but since Equality is living to the rules of his society, he cannot find his own happiness, for he is almost forbidden to do so. Likewise, it states in the text, “I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them. I ask none to live for me, nor do I live for any others. I covet no man’s soul, nor is my soul theirs to covet” (Rand 96). Equality realizes that he is not to live nor commit himself to the standards of others. He has come to the understanding, as Ayn Rand says in her interview, “That he cannot demand that others give up their lives to make him happy, nor should he wish to sacrifice himself for the happiness of others.” Equality finds his own happiness because he has found himself, and he has learned that he cannot put his happiness in the hands of others nor put the happiness of others in his own hands. This allowed him to find himself, and to find
The Society of Anthem is a striking instance of a dystopian society in which daily life is dominated by fear. The society is headed by a group of elders, who attempt to destroy the concept of individuality and promote the idea of collectivism. The society controls all aspects of life including roles and profession, emotions, mating and the freedom of choice. Equality 7-2521 undergoes a transformation that is contrary to the principles of Anthem’s society. In Anthem by Ayn Rand, Prometheus (formerly Equality 7-2521) should not feel guilty when he writes “why the best in me had been my sins and transgressions; and why I had never felt guilt in my sins.” because what he learned about himself over the course of the story.
“An inventor is a man who asks ‘Why’ of the universe and lets nothing stand between the answer and his mind”( Ayn Rand). In the novel Anthem, by Ayn Rand, Equality 7-2521 is seen as an outcast compared to his brothers; different. Equality is the inventor, he questions the council and the world around him. When we take a closer look at the protagonist of the novel, Equality, we can see that he is intelligent, unique in his own way, adventurous, and curious. Some might say his curiosity is what drives him to to be the way he is and seek out the unknown. To most, these characteristics, proves Equality a prophet that stresses the idea of Equality for all.
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
One of the overarching conflicts in Ayn Rand’s, Anthem, is Collectivism versus the belief in Heresy. Rand is a firm believer in heresy, making her one of history's most notable heretics. In the same way Anthem is bias, so is my ‘Big Idea’ collage. I used propaganda and symbolic images to express the importance and just within heresy. The two silhouettes of a human heads serves the significance of the seemingly everlasting conflict that both groups have. All the images that make up the silhouettes is what the different parties stand for. Equality’s rebellious views and experiments, such as ‘the power of the sky’ and the sacred manuscripts, are enclosed within the traced head on the right side. On the other side, I dissected the authority in
Every story has a quest and every quest has a hero from which one of them included the unconquered, Equality, who starts his journey from birth in the dystopian society of Anthem. Equality faces many challenges throughout the novel to prove and gain his true identity in the society but it does not come without difficulty. He was born different and better than others but in the end this difference became his most dangerous enemy.
Anthem by Ayn Rand focuses on the life of Equality 7-2521. He lives in a society where the idea of individuality does not exist. Everyone works from the age of 15 until the age of 40. When they turn 40 they go to reside in the Home of the Useless. In Chapter One of this book, Equality 7-2521 says that it is unusual for men to reach the age of 45. Although he doesn’t specifically tell us the reason, here are a few possible explanations as to why the life span is so short.
The evolution of the world's society is in a large part based on inventions and progression of human kind. If there is no one to invent new ways to ease ways, then there is no reason to try. This however does not mean that one should try to ease the way of men to do nothing at all. For if that happens, there is no reason to live anymore save for only being. The society Equality 7-2521 has grown up in is caught on thinking that no one man can do good for others, only if in a group of all. This way of thinking has set them far back in the terms of society and inventions. Everyone has to agree upon the same idea, even though that it not a way to progress. The motivation to do new things and invent new ways is a simple but very compelling instinct
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.
“There was no pain in their eyes and no knowledge of the agony of their body. There was only joy in them, and pride, a pride holier than it is fit for human pride to be.” This is one of my favorite quotes from Ayn Rand’s novella, Anthem. It represents the novels core dominate force. The profound society of the Great WE has punished the Transgressor of the Unspeakable Word for knowing the true meaning of self-sufficiency. He uses the word “I” and is publically burnt at the stake, and be-tongued for this sin. The word “I” is considered immoral, the characters must always use the word “We” when speaking instead because it is forbidden to have your own personal thoughts or beliefs. One of the major necessities to know is that it is obligatory