Ayn Rand’s 1938 novella Anthem, all people live as a collective society, where everyone is equal. Individualism no longer exists in this dystopian story. The government in this society controls all of its citizens and decides that person’s life for them. The main character, a young boy named Equality 7-2521, decides to challenge this collectivist government on his quest for new discovery and accomplishments. Throughout the story Equality’s personal character and individualism evolve parallel to his achievements in his underground tunnel. Equality, a street sweeper, uses his vast curiosity to invent new things that he believes will help with his greatest ambition of becoming a Scholar. While Equality believes that his discoveries will benefit …show more content…
He is brighter, smarter, and more driven than the others. The society that he lives in tells its people that they are all equal, meaning that no one is more intelligent or talented than anyone else. However, Equality exceeds these standards. By learning his lessons in school Equality excels prominently in his studies. He knows he should be a Scholar, but that is not what the Council of Vocations thinks. He is placed as a street sweeper where he spends his days cleaning the city. One day while working with International 4-8818 they stumble upon a tunnel, that is presumed to be from the unmentionable times. This tunnel becomes a safe haven for Equality. It is a place where he can go and experiment every night and learn about the world. It is here where Equality discovers the power of light. This new discovery enlightens Equality, though being afraid of his transgression. He brings the new power to the Home of The Scholars where he is ridiculed and shot down by every one. The Scholars refuse to except this new …show more content…
However, writes “No single one can possess greater wisdom than the many Scholars who are elected by all men for their wisdom. Yet we can. We do. We have fought against saying it, but now it is said. We do not care. We forget all men...” This journal entry shows that Equality has found the strength and courage to accept what he has discovered. It is human nature to be driven to succeed in life, and to prove ones worth. To Equality, this discovery does just that. This sense of need for self ( ) shows that it is okay for Equality to be motivated in this
Prompt: Explain the following quote: “To be free, a man must be free of his brothers.” How does this quote exemplify a theme of Anthem? In the novel “Anthem” by Ayn Rand, the main character Equality 7-2521 expresses his own individuality. Through the challenges that he was faced with, he learned many way to express himself differently.
In contrast, making the Transgressor a martyr only sparked another flame in Equality 7-2521 as a young boy. The Transgressor had stared at Equality 7-2521 “trying to tell us something through the flames” (51). This newly found spark leads Equality 7-2521 to follow a similar path of the Transgressor. This also leads us to the punishments Equality receives. After being late to the Home of the Street Sweepers, he does not give his explanation of tardiness.
He decides that his new name is will be Prometheus. Prometheus is a Greek god that brought fire to citizens but, it was against the god’s wishes and was punished as a result. Equality worked to create electricity and attempted to bring it to the council of scholars in hopes of one day becoming a scholar. But, they present his invention and as a result Equality flees the city to the Uncharted forest where he finds a home. There he discovers books and wants to better educate himself the moment he discovers the word “I”.
Equality is a smart man, but in a society where everyone must be the same, he cannot express his ideas freely. He finds a subway tunnel from the Unmentionable Times. This is where he learns, writes, and invents in secret. He rediscovers electricity. He is terrified that if he is caught, he will be punished.
Equality acted against the society because he was a street sweeper doing a Scholar’s job. This is what he had to say about what Equality had done. “ How dared you, gutter cleaner,” spoke Fraternity 9-3452 “,to hold yourself as one alone and with the thoughts of the one and not of the many?” ( Rand 72 ). Equality begs for them to keep the light, but the world council is stuck to their collective ways.
Being brought up in a closeted, colorless society, Equality knows nothing but what he is “meant” to be. Unfortunately, for him, he is far more than the
Equality grows up with a superior intellect and ambition than all others around him, so the Council of Vocations assign him to street sweeper in the hope that Equality will give up his thirst of knowledge. He starts becoming self-aware and everyday for three hours he sits in a secret tunnel accumulating new knowledge. He
He is extremely motivated to establish a world where information isn’t limited and people are able to live as they please. Equality has finally uncovered his purpose and is not only willing to defend, but also promote it. Equality’s mindset generated a reaction from the nurture he received, resulting in him to discover his identity. A monumental point in one 's life is when they remove the toxic and unveil their true self.
In response to the choice of Street Sweeper, Equality thinks, “We knew we had been guilty, but now we had a way to atone for it” (26). With his intelligence and curiosity, Equality would do much better as a Scholar. The government punishes him for being different, and as a result, they can’t see him become advantageous. They are blinded by their beliefs on
This selfishness is what eventually prompts Equality to look at his reflection in awe, create electrical lighting with his ingenuity, and, lastly, love Liberty. By recognizing and accepting these individual strengths, interests, and desires, Equality is victorious in freeing himself from collectivism. Man only comprehends rigid conformity. Nevertheless, Equality is “not like that of our brothers” (19), with a grand stature, a fascinating face, and straight capable arms resting at his sides. His distinctive features, are however, not just arbitrary.
She also notices him. As they continuously meet in the fields, she eventually names him the Unconquered. Equality soon discovers a tunnel and begins to secretly explore it even though this action is forbidden. While exploring the tunnel Equality discovers electricity, which is un herd of in his society. Equality decides to experiment with the technology and constructs a glass box that emits light.
The passage, Anthem, is a science fiction novel written by Ayn Rand. It is mainly about the protagonist, Equality 7-2521's, futuristic journey on rediscovering various aspects of human’s nature. Concepts such as individualism and freedom have been lost due to the oppressive rule of the government, serving as the main antagonist of the novel. Throughout the passage, Anthem, the author uses the literary element of theme. The theme is the main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work.
The novel Anthem by Ayn Rand is a great example of dystopian literature. The natural world is banished, independent thought is restricted and citizens live in a dehumanized state showing that Anthem is a true example of dystopia. The uncharted forest is very mysterious to the citizens of the city and no one ever enters into the forest because there is beasts that will kill them. “The uncharted about which men must not think. ”
There's so much emphasis on putting others before oneself that people often forget to look out for their own needs, as shown in this book. Ayn Rand successfully captures the negatives of an overrated ideology and presents an unorthodox perspective on the matter. In conclusion, Equality's true motives behind his work are much more selfish than they first appear to be. Equality strives to fulfil his own personal desire rather than contribute everything to society, and this isn't necessarily a negative thing.
However, since the council fails to recognize this idea, Equality has two options: either face imminent execution or flee. By choosing the latter and fleeing into the Uncharted Forest, Equality finally is, in a physical sense, free from the rule of collectivist society. Now he is alone in the forest, alone with his thoughts. He decides where he goes, when he sleeps, what he eats. However, he is still not fully