Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem is about the main character Equality 7-2521 who struggles to live in a communist society. Equality is an intelligent and very ambitious person who dares to break the rules of The City. By following his heart, he discovers that he is worth a lot more than what he’s been taught. Once he and his love, Liberty 5-3000, break away from their toxic home land, they discovering the idea that individuality is more important than the collective “we”. In the woods, the two lovers find an abandoned house and they rename themselves Prometheus and Gaea. Ayn Rand chose these names because of how similar Equality and Liberty are to the mythological creatures.…
Ayn Rand perfectly captured the idea of a collectivist society in her book, Anthem, by creating a vivid image of the dangers of losing one’s sense of self. This concept can be applied to modern times, much like Equality does when proclaiming his anthem: “I understood that centuries of chains and lashes will not kill the spirit of man nor the sense of truth within him” (98). His statement personifies a man’s spirit,the perseverance of man, and implies that there are no restraints strong enough to thwart human nature.…
What is the meaning of the word “ego”? The literal meaning of ego is “the concern about one’s own interests”. It implies that one is more important than the collective, and that one is the proper beneficiary of one’s actions. Ayn Rand’s Anthem, tells the story of one man’s rebellion against a collective, totalitarian society. The story is set in the future dark age where the evils of collectivism and irrationality have destroyed the concept of achievement and individuality.…
In society it is socially accepted to be one’s own self. Anthem by Ayn Rand focuses on one’s own individualism and finding their own identity along the way. An expert titled “Don’t Read with Your Eyes” in How To Read Literature Like A Professor by Thomas C. Foster helps illustrate the bigger picture about individualism in Anthem. Therefore individualism is not just being in a state of control but rather finding the deeper meaning of who they are meant to be.…
A young man given the name, Equality 7-2521 is living in a futuristic dark age. He is withheld from a name to prevent any form of individuality, but given a word followed by a series of numbers on an iron bracelet to be worn on his left wrist, as a form of identification by the World Council. Equality 7-2521 has made a moral discovery throughout the story Anthem by Ayn Rand, as discovering his individuality and as he has changed from one who believes that the World Council states all truth, to one who has progressed into someone with the ability to compose ideas and moral values for himself.…
Regardless of the novella’s motives, Anthem easily draws in the reader to Equality 7-2521’s plight and journey through Rand’s dynamic writing style and her captivating ability to have her audience get glimpses of and empathize with the character’s soul through strong imagery and meticulously organized words to give a new depth to Equality’s entries.…
In today's world, the word "ego" is looked upon as a negative attribute. If one were to look up "ego" online, a very common definition that they would find is conceit, or self-importance. For some reason, the world has accepted synonyms such as these to mean the same as ego. The term can also be defined as "the 'I' or self of any person; a person as thinking, feeling, and willing, and distinguishing itself from the selves of others and from objects of its thought (Dictionary.com)." One can tell by this that egoism is not always a negative trait, and those with that in their personality are not always a bad influence on the direction of the world. This is shown by the character Prometheus in Ayn Rand's novella Anthem,…
Ego. A word shamed upon in western society, because of negative implications. Men who have become wealthy through their hard works and sacrifices are depicted as “self-centered”. Since, society is angry toward people with huge amounts of wealth. Although egoism is portrayed as a bad thing, it should be a reward and gift. In our world today and language, the word “I” is significant, because it presents individualism. Everyone has knowledge that no one is the same, everyone has unique characteristics. However, to live in a collectivist society, individuality is impossible, as everyone is oppressed under a leader or government. Sadly, a person cannot challenge authority or meet goals, because of the limit to one’s thoughts. Moreover, a collectivist…
The main character, Equality 7-2521, in the book “Anthem”, introduces readers to the numerous rules and controls in their city. Refraining from the concept of self and individuality is a major rule that all members of the society must abide by. The famous dystopian fiction novella, “Anthem”, was originally written in the 1930’s about the adverse side of collectivism. Ayn Rand describes a futuristic society where pronouns such as “I” are to be unspoken. Equality 7-2521 refers to himself as “we” repetitively throughout the book to address himself as an individual. The authors usage of words such as “we” or “us” helps readers understand the idea of collectivism while slightly using imagery to show the togetherness of the society. Equality 7-2521…
People think they know who they are. Personal characteristics and ideas turn a body into a human. Equality lived his life not knowing who he was nor did anyone else living in this world. The novella Anthem was a short story about how Equality discovered himself in a society where people never discover themselves or their abilities. In this world an individual does not exist only a collection of people working for the group. Ayn Rand, the author of Anthem, wanted to shine a light on common values which are now fading from todays society. Ayn Rand, the author of Anthem, was able to create individuality, identity and egoism in this world using repitition.…
Anthem is a dystopian novel written by Ayn Rand that takes place in a futuristic world in which, in theory, the human mind is not individual, but should be melded with its fellow citizens. There was no greater honor than to carry out the will of your brothers. However, although appearing to be a utopian society, it was actually a society full of cries of suffering, stifled by fear and mindless obedience to a government that had lost sight of the beauty of individualism, arguably, the most human of all of our traits. The protagonist of the novel, Equality, realizes this through the discovery of electricity, which…
“True freedom is the capacity for acting according to one's true character, to be altogether one's self, to be self-determined and not subject to outside coercion” (Corliss Lamont). The book Anthem by Ayn Rand, takes place in a collective society, all independence is eradicated. People can’t choose their name, can’t ever be alone, and never say the word “I”. They are mindless workers with the same routine everyday, until one man realizes the truth to life. The behemoth rulers of this society are the only ones who can think freely and make decisions. This sadistic society remains that way for many years because all people that are born are raised the same, brainwashed. They cannot be independant and don’t feel…
The poem “Invictus” by William E. Henley, and the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, both have common themes that discuss the importance of individuality in each society are forbid and belief of the unspeakable word ego and the word I should be eliminated from the vocabulary in a effort to eradicated the true “evil” are present as individualism.…
In Ayn Rand’s book Anthem their society has completely killed all sense of a personality or any sense of being an individual. The society that Equality is living in doesn’t care who you have feelings for they pick who you mate with, even though you can’t have feelings for anyone because they control that as well. Equality can’t give Liberty 5-300 a “pet” name because “it is a sin to give men names which distinguish them from other men”(41). Equality doesn’t care that the law says that “men may not think of women”(41) and that they must “save at the Time of Mating”(41).…
Equality is a major factor in the development of society because it teaches the members to value identity. However, a totalitarian society, like the one portrayed in Anthem, diminishes the idea of individuality, personality and pride. The government dominates every aspect of Equality 7-2521’s life, in attempts to contain his wild mind. Equality’s ambitions are to become a scientist; this ambition prompted him to discover an electric light source, similar to the light bulb. After being forced into an undesired occupation by authority, Equality lacks the ability to be himself. Through Equality’s character, the author shows the reader the effect a society can have on one’s individuality and overall motivation.…