Every individual person must forge their own path to freedom in order to become victorious. In Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem, it is almost impossible to have a personal victory. However, in the collectivist society that Equality lives in, he has a true victory, one that can only be attributed to himself. In Equality’s case, he must break free from the shackles of his oppressive society to achieve his own victory of becoming a free individual. Equality’s curiosity pushes him to learn more about the world throughout the novella. During his early days in the tunnel, he is fighting his guilt the whole time, yet he can’t seem to stop himself from transgressing. As he learns, he becomes more independent in his thoughts and actions. He tells himself …show more content…
that he is “a wretch and a traitor” for writing his thoughts and sneaking off to the tunnel, which shows that he is even trying to discourage himself from his own thoughts and actions (Anthem 37). Equality goes on to tell how “[he] feel[s] no burden” and there is “no fear in [his] heart” even though he knows that this is a crime against his brothers, and of the punishments that could follow if someone were to find out. It is a struggle between whether he should fall in line with the rest of society or flee with his new ideas. Equality’s victory is made possible through his individuality.
Without knowing the word “I”, he finds different ways to express his unique persona. He has been intellectually superior to his brothers from the time he was in the Home of the Students where he thought the work was “too easy” and “it is evil to be superior” (Anthem 21). It is not only his mind that stands out in this society, but also his appearance. His height, which he thinks “is a burden” stands out too, because “there are not many men that are six feet tall” (Anthem 18). He is not only above them mentally, but also physically. For Equality to reach his full potential for individuality, he has to side with curiosity and embrace his desire to learn. When he does do this, he says, “[his] soul is as clear as a lake” and it “is the first peace [he] has known in twenty years” (Anthem 37). Demonstrated here is how this excessively altruistic society crushes curiosity and has the people’s true nature repressed for the “benefit” of everyone. Twenty years is a long time, especially when it is put into consideration that at the age of forty, they are sent to the Home of the Useless. Living in this society is a life sentence, in which they are stripped of anything that could make them an individual, even something as simple as the word
“I”. Today, the most successful societies are the ones that show the greatest recognition and appreciation of individualism. But the problem doesn’t start with politics, it starts within oneself. Rand writes that it is “individualism versus collectivism, not in politics, but in a man’s soul” which illustrates the idea of where this movement starts (“The Soul of an Individualist”). Equality had to overcome the beliefs that had been forced on him since childhood, so that he could shatter the standing principles of his old society and open the gateway for people to join his new social order of the egotist. By the end of the novella, Equality knows that “centuries of chains and lashes [could] not kill the spirit of man nor the sense of truth within him” and believes in what he’s doing more than ever (Anthem 98). After escaping, he is free of all altruistic constraints, and can recognize his full self, mind and body. The words he has put on paper since his discovery of the tunnel document a triumph of the human spirit. It is the altruists in this society that are blinded by the needs of others and are poisoned by the belief that “we [they] are all in one and one and all” (Anthem 19). Works Cited Rand, Ayn. Anthem. 75th Anniversary Student ed., Signet, 1995. Rand, Ayn. “The Soul of an Individualist.” From For the New Intellectual, Signet, 1963, campus.aynrand.org/works/1943/01/01/the-soul-of-an-individualist. Honors English 10 Literary Analysis Essay Rubric Score % Description of overall piece 100-90 (A) The writers of these well-constructed essays fully answer all parts of the prompt. Working with a convincing thesis, the writer demonstrates a clear understanding of the task and the piece. The writer approaches the text analytically, and illustrates points with sufficient evidence to prove the thesis. Although not without flaws, the essay reflects the writer’s ability to control a thesis and write clearly with effective diction, with particular persuasiveness and/or stylistic flair. The introduction and conclusion paragraphs frame the body paragraphs, with interesting and relevant analysis to effectively introduce the topic or draw closure to the topic, respectively. The writer applies conventions of Standard English throughout with very few errors. 89-80 (B) The essay responds to the assignment clearly and directly, developing a sound thesis that answers all parts of the prompt. The writer indicates a good understanding of the text and supports his points with sufficient and appropriate evidence from the text. While his approach is analytical, the analysis is less precise than it could be. The writer’s points are less insightful, or discussion is more limited in scope, than in an essay in the A range. Nonetheless, the points and discussion confirm the writer’s ability to read literary texts with good depth of comprehension and to write with organization and control. The introduction and/or conclusion paragraph may need further elaboration or analysis, but the need is minimal. The writer applies conventions of Standard English throughout with sporadic errors. 79-70 (C) These essays respond to the assigned task, but the given analysis is somewhat simplistic or superficial, and the prompt may not be fully attended to. The writer indicates a surface-level understanding of the text, and may even rely on plot summary to address the prompt. Evidence from the text is basic, and may not consistently and clearly support the relevant points. The writer demonstrates adequate control of language, but many surface errors and lack of effective organization distort the essay’s overall message. The introduction and/or conclusion paragraphs need further elaboration or analysis. The writer applies conventions of Standard English throughout with occasional errors. 69-60 (D) These papers do not meet a major requirement of the assignment, either by omitting some part of the question, failing to provide minimal evidence, or basing analysis on a misreading or misinterpretation of some part of the text. Nevertheless, these essays normally present one or more insightful points, among others of less relevance. Organization and development need overall work, as do the introduction and conclusion paragraphs. The writer applies conventions of Standard English throughout with numerous and distracting errors. 59 and below (F) These papers commonly combine two or more serious failures: they may not address the actual question; they may indicate serious misreading of the text; they may not use evidence -- or may use it in such a way that suggests failure to understand the text; they may be unclear or unacceptably brief. The style of these papers is usually marked by multiple distracting errors or by abruptness that suggests the writer did not finish. Some essays in this range may be smoothly written but devoid of content. Subtotal = _____/100 OVERALL SCORE = ______/50 MLA Format: ______/5
The rules do not allow him to explore his intelligence, in fact they hold him back, but at the end of the book, he is able to overcome these challenges. He does not agree with the idea that the government has put into place. A quote to support this idea is “And they answered: ‘Since the Council does not know of this hole, there can be no law permitting to enter. And everything which is not permitted by law is forbidden. ‘But we said: ‘We shall go, nonetheless.’” This quote shows that equality tries to find ways around the rules so that he can enter the
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.
Equality eventually escapes from the place that never felt like home, and runs off with his love, Liberty 5-300, who he calls the Golden One. After learning about the men from the Unmentionable Times, Equality would agree with Ayn Rand’s words in her short essay, “How Does One Lead a Rational Life in an Irrational Society?”, where she not only talks about the importance of having moral judgment, but also about being brainwashed by your leaders and government. Equality can relate because, for his whole life, he was in a society where their version of wrong and right were opposites to what they should have been. Individualism and moral judgement weren't encouraged, they were prevented, and that is where the society became
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
The book Anthem is a book that can be perceived many various ways. To me, Anthem is about an outstandingly smart young man, named Equality 7-2521
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
“For I know what happiness is possible to me on Earth. And my happiness needs no higher aim to vindicate it” (Rand 95). In this part of the novella, Equality, the narrator, is aware that he can find his own happiness and he should show it once it is found. Throughout the novella, Anthem written by Ayn Rand, Equality is trying to find himself in a society full of equals. As he discovers the tunnel, Equality creates a light bulb in which he wants to flaunt upon the people of his society. Subsequently, when it is rejected by the Council, he hides in the forest from those who see him as a betrayer. Equality tries to find himself in a collectivist society that he knows he does not belong in, in which he evolves. The author believes in objectivism,
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
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
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. He begins with a declaration that “It is a sin to write this… [because] men may not write unless the Council of Vocations bid them so” (Rand, 17). Equality 7-2521 writes that he was born with a curse: He is different than the other men in his society. He laments that “the learning was too easy. This is a great sin, to be born with a head too quick” (Rand, 21). From the youngest age children were taught that ability is a vice, not a virtue. They were to be embarrassed of their superiority because “it is not good to be different from our brothers” (Rand, 21). Equality 7-2521 writes that he tried to stifle this fault but was unable to do so.
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.
The government’s authority over several aspects of society displays its corruption and causes more people to become conformists who lack egotism in Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem. The government chooses the occupations of all of the citizens. It is the Council of Vocation’s position to decide everyone’s job, thus suppressing the right of the people to freedom of choice. The teachers, who had been appointed by the Councils, inform the students to “Dare not choose in your minds the work you would like to do when you leave the Home of the Students. You shall do that which the Council of Vocations shall prescribe for you. For the Council of Vocations knows in its great wisdom where you are needed by your brother men, better than you can know it in your unworthy little
Equality had more than one primary motivation on his mind. I think the world would be a better place if everyone were motivated in the same way. Equality had more than the light on his mind. Equality started looking at Liberty 5-3000 and called her the ‘Golden One” “You are Beautiful, Liberty 5-3000” ( Chapter 2, Paragraph 17) I think Equality is allowed to feel this way. He should have the right to like a person more than he likes another person. He cared about Liberty and was glad she was only seventeen, so she didn’t have to go to the Palace of Mating. “How old are you?” we asked “Seventeen” they whispered “And we sighed, as if a burden had been taken from us, for we had been thinking without reason of the Palace of Mating.” ( Chapter 2, paragraph
In the book Anthem, an unnamed dystopian society, placed in the future is ruled by various councils. These councils have established many rules in order to prevent individualism and to control the population by controlling their every thought and action. Individuals have lost control over decisions such as what job they would like to pursue, where they would like to live, and even with whom they would like to have conversations. So controlled are the members of this society, that they do not know the word, “I.”