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Anthem by ayn rand essay analysis outline
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Anthem by ayn rand essay analysis outline
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Anthem: The Sin of Living Prometheus, the hero in the novel, Anthem, has struggled to free himself from the collectivist world that he lives in. His victory was possible by breaking a lot of the rules. He realized from the beginning that he wasn't like all the other children at the home of the infants and at the home of the students. When he became a street sweeper, he was so sad. He wanted to progress and become smarter at the home of the scholars, but since he was different he was not sent there. Prometheus knows he is different. It is made aware to him in the home of the infants. It is stated in the book Anthem, "... and of all the children that year, we were locked in the cellar most often." Everything about him was different, he was too tall, and too smart and everything he thought was different. He was made an outcast by this collectivist society because he was different and in a collective world everyone is supposed to be the same and work for their brothers and follow all the rules. When he was in the home of the students he really tried to fit in but it didn't work. His teachers knew he acted differently because he asked too many questions. Sometimes he fooled his teachers, but even then he was still an outcast because of his appearance. Ayn Rand wrote, "We are six feet tall, and this is a burden, for there are not many men who are six feet tall." Prometheus breaks rules from the beginning of his life in the home of the infants he fought with his brothers and in the home of the students he was too smart. He wondered things so he asked a lot of questions and that was forbidden. When Prometheus found the tunnel he must have known that was a sin because International 4-8818 told him that, "It is forbidden." Before he could have not known what he was doing then realized after. The first sentence of the book Anthem is, "It is a sin to write this." His whole life is a sin.
Prometheus Bound is quite different from other tragedies in that it is peopled entirely by gods. The play focuses on the story of Prometheus, and we have versions of this myth in Hesiod's famous works. There is reason to think that the author of Prometheus Bound was not only acquainted with Hesiod's version but actually drew on Hesiod directly in this play. This essay therefore aims to establish in what ways the author of Prometheus Bound seems to have drawn from Hesiod's version of myth, in what ways he has diverged from it, and what reasons he might have had for making these changes and innovations. This might therefore highlight any particular emphasis or purpose of Prometheus Bound and what its author might have been trying to get across. Though there is not space in this essay to discuss the problems of attributing this play, it must be recognised that this ambiguity of authorship and dating makes it even more difficult than usual to look at views and purposes behind the play.
An anthem is a sacred composition set to words from the Bible. This may have significance with the title that Ayn Rand has given the book by paralleling the story of Prometheus and Gaea to that of Adam and Eve. In the bible, Adam and Eve were given everything that they needed by God with the one exception of not to eat from a specific tree. They were told by the devil that this tree was the tree of knowledge and to eat of it would give them knowledge equal to God’s. In Anthem, Prometheus and Gaea are told that they have everything that they will ever need or desire by the council. They are forbidden to gain knowledge that is not permitted by the council but only to do as they are told. Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the pursuit of knowledge and ate of the tree in order to gain equality to God. When they did this God found out and so condemned them and punished them for all eternity. God banished them from paradise in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were no longer given anything as they were in the garden but instead were forced to suffer and survive on their own. In Anthem, Prometheus and Gaea go against the will of the council and Prometheus yearns to gain knowledge that he realizes is being hidden from him. Prometheus hides his studies at first but then wants to share them with the council for the betterment of society but is instead condemned.
Since only "we" exists and not individual men, individual men do not have the right to themselves. Prometheus comes to understand, however, through the word "I" that individuals do exist, and thus have a right to live for themselves, to take pleasure in things essentially self-centered and self-serving. The collectivist dictatorship in Anthem has a strong moral grip on its subjects. The hero Prometheus is able to break that grip through his devotion to his own happiness and finally through his recognition of the existence of individuality.
... When he and Liberty 5-3000, discover the house in the woods, he later discovers that the Unspeakable Word, was the word “I.” His joy at discovering the word was cut short when he realized that the impudent behavior of his so-called brothers, led to the loss of a word, which showed individuality, and allowed someone to characterize themselves and decide who they could become. In summation, Prometheus’ society believes that the “best in him”, his internal curiosity, is a sin, as it makes him different from his brothers. In actuality, his curiosity allows him to see that his totalitarian society has regressed and in doing so, they have lost the ability to give their citizens an independent identity, which could be used to benefit the society.
Accompanying the high margin for human error, untrained citizens can use firearms in unlawful ways. According to a violence policy center analysis of news reports, CCW (carrying a concealed weapon) permit holders have killed at least 14 law enforcement officers and 622 private citizens since May 2007 (LCPGV 1). Most if not all of those deaths could have been avoided if there was no concealed carry law. People now need to be informed of the facts, and not some old false reasoning. What holds many people back from seeing the truth is the disadvantageous annotation that comes with change. Sure, this country was built on people who rose up and overthrew the unethical government with their own weapons, but that is not what is being threatened; the right of a militia and to own firearms is written in the second amendment. What does need to change, however, is the idea that the constitution is flawless and covers all things. Although the constitution does lay very stable ground rules for a country to be governed, laws are meant to change with new inventions and ideals. New models of more and more deadly firearms are created everyday, each being deadlier that the latter. What could be called into the question is not the banning of the weapon, but the banning of the deadliness of the weapon. New guns can be specially constructed to wound a
On the other hand, Zeus is a strong, albeit authoritarian leader for both the other gods and mortals. Zeus is required to rule, sometimes absolutely, and when someone under his rule commits an act of treason, he is required to address the issue. When Zeus the leader acts forcefully, the rest of those under his reign will get the message. Prometheus’s act of handing o...
This new fear of the voting freedman angered many southern democrats. A war of intimidation began in the south in which the Ku Klux Klan was established that focused on murdering freedmen. There were even openly operating paramilitaries such as the White League who concentrated their attacks upon Republicans. In some towns the entire southern adult male population was engaged in a war against Reconstruction at one point. Reconstruction had done little to redistribute the wealth and land throughout the south. Likewise it did very little to alter the power structure of the region because the Southerners knew that when restrictions were to loosen things would return back to the ordinary conditions. All of the promises from the federal government such as “Forty acres and a mule” by General Sherman were lost and hardly anything was done to guarantee land rights to the
Concealed pistols have always been an issue that the public wants to know more and more about. Most people who were born and raised in the outdoors agree fully on the legality of a concealed weapon, whereas people who were born in big cities where they did not hunt, shoot guns, or have a firearm in their house do not. This is a very large and argued about cultural issue. I personally am all for concealed carry of a firearm. There are many reasons for this such as personal defense, sense of safety, and the protection of others around me. There are some questions that are raised about the carrying of a concealed weapon such as “what states can I travel in with my firearm?”, “what is the process of applying for a concealed carry permit?”, and “can I enter a weapon free zone to stop a shooter?”. Concealed carry has proven able to reduce crime and lower the casualty rate of a shooter who enters a public area with the intent to kill as many people as possible. Some people argue that concealed weapons are just carried by people who are looking for trouble and that you can obtain a pistol without a background check. This will also be explored and explained thoroughly.
Prometheus, a Greek god, is the son of Iapetus and Themis. He was a guardian and protector of humanity, and he is greatly known for his superior intelligence. He stole fire from the Greek god Zeus and gave it to the mortals. This mistake caused the heroine Prometheus to suffer greatly. Zeus punished him for his offense and bound Prometheus to a rock, and each day an eagle came and ate out his liver. Prometheus is both credited with and blamed for playing a gigantic role in the early makings of human kind. Prometheus stole the fire from Zeus in order to help the mortals because he had befriended them and took pity upon them. At that time, the humans were in desperate need of help and Prometheus wanted to see them reach their full potential instead of dying off. Prometheus stole the fire and showed the humans how to use it because he was a very compassionate man and wanted to help. Prometheus is seen as a gentle titan whereas Zeus is seen as a dark god. Prometheus was acting on what the future held because he had the gift of foresight. He knew that humans would need help in order to survive, and he was the titan that brought help in the form of fire. Prometheus represented a man “playing God,” as did Victor Frankenstein. Both u...
Did you know the second amendment states that you have a right to own and use arms for protection? Kentucky passed a law in 1813 that prohibits the carrying of concealed weapons. In May 1987, Florida passed a “shall-issue” law that became a model for other states. There were 11 states that have the “may-issue” law which allowed permits. On July 8, 2011, Wisconsin became the 49th state to allow concealed carry. (ProCon.org) Adults who go through training and obtain a permit should be able to carry a concealed handgun.
For example, in our weekly subcontractor meetings, I have to write down the scheduled of the progress plan for the upcoming
Prometheus, the Titan of Greek mythology, was considered to be the most important Titan ever in all the myths. He helped the human race tremendously in his efforts to sustain an easier lifestyle. Mankind had great respect for him because of his advantages and gifts or abilities he gave them. Also, his battle against Zeus as a result of his love for man was very much appreciated. Prometheus was one of the most interesting Greek mythology figures in his time. He was a very kind, loving, generous, and courteous god to mankind. This can be seen through many events in his life including a particular myth that the reader will acknowledge in this research paper.
“Ah me, alas, pain, pain ever, forever! / No change, no pause, no hope! – Yet I endure” (I, 23-24) – such are the words of Prometheus, when in desperation and overwhelmed by emotion, his thoughts dissolve in sheer agony and turn to himself, away from the Mighty God whose “ill tyranny” has nailed him to the “eagle-baffling mountain” (I, 19-20). In his essay, Prometheus: The Romantic Revolutionary, Northrop Frye observes that “pain is the condition which keeps Prometheus conscious” (96), because in reflection, he is confronted with himself, and his sense of self and being. But he is quick to call once again on the “cruel King” (I, 50), who has sentenced him to his fate, after begging the natural world to hear his cries and not punish him, no longer to injure his bones by “burning cold” (I, 33) the chains that bind him or let “Heaven’s winged hound” (I, 33) feed upon him. His words echo his earlier sentiment, found in Aeschylus’ work, where he mourns himself, as a “spectacle of pity” (14) who must suffer the “disease of tyranny (13) . In his quest and the earlier part of his imprisonment, Prometheus still longed to engage and relate to the Olympian, as “a counterpart of himself” (Frye 96), as one god contesting with another for power over and influence on the world. This struggle resulted in the imprisonment of Prometheus, because he craved to incite a revolution, where he desired not to transform the degenerate system of Jupiter but overturn it. Frye reminds us that “Jupiter’s real impetus is toward chaos rather than order” (96), as understood through the initial conversation between Prometheus and the Earth, where he identifies her as a “living spirit” (I, 139) but she is fearful of that description...
Carpe Diem is a way of living, it may sound a bit risky for many people while others believe it is better to live their lives as fully as possible. Sometimes I wonder, can I live my life as if tomorrow does not exist? However, something deep inside of me is afraid. There are days that I wake up with Carpe Diem in my mind and believe life is meaningless without the craziness. We have to dare and challenge ourselves because otherwise life becomes monotonous, but then again, there are days that I believe I have to be more judicious with my actions. As Marilyn Monroe once said, “Fear is stupid. So are regrets.” Despite of having several points in its favor, Carpe Diem also has many cons. It all depends on what you want to do and if what you are
‘Carpe Diem’ is a Latin phrase meaning “enjoying the pleasures of the moment without worrying about the future”! Days fly past in a wink and we let go many opportunities which could have had changed our lives. We give up on some things until we realize that it is too late to start all over again. This article is especially for 8th graders for whom life has changed drastically with the pressure of starting the three most important years of the school life. And for 9th graders who are preparing themselves for tenth, both academically and emotionally. I hope this article strikes a chord in all those facing “the last years of school” pressure!