Comparing Collectivism In Ayn Rand's Anthem And Catch-22

Without a system of government or leadership, the world would crumble into an anarchic chaos, leading to a dangerous environment for its citizens. However, often times governing bodies lean the other direction, with laws and enforcement so strict its people become oppressed. The novels Anthem and Catch-22 by Ayn Rand and Joseph Heller explore the fine line between anarchies and oppressive dystopias in their books about two men and their struggle against their governments. Ayn Rand, staunchly against collectivism in her own life, wrote the allegory Anthem to reflect her anti-collective sentiment. In Anthem, the central character, Equality 7-2521, describes growing up in a collectivist society at an unspecified point in the future in his secret,

A fear of punishment causes the public to act cautiously and not take potentially beneficial risks. For example, while Equality 7-2521 is working a new invention, the light bulb, in his secret cellar, he is constantly afraid of his punishment and what they might do to if he is discovered. He describes his secretive work as a “supreme transgression” and a “crime of crimes hidden…under the ground” (Rand 20). The fear of punishment may have led him to not follow his scientific curiousity or share his invention with his community, consequently harming everyone and further proving the collective is destroying a personal idea and freedom of expression. Moreover, a fear of standing out in an otherwise equal and regulated society forces people to conform to a specific standard. Throughout the novel, Equality is persecuted for being too tall, too smart, et cetera, rather than being accepted and appreciated for his differences, which eventually contribute to his success. He explains, it “is a great sin, to be born with a head which is too quick” (Rand 21). Although Equality’s intelligence leads him to new innovations and eventual success, the collective in Anthem believes that any deviation from the norm, even a positive one, is wrong,

Due to harsh rules and regulations, most or all employees are unable to select their jobs, leading to a decreased sense of freedom in the employment sector. Additionally, because of the government selecting peoples’ jobs rather than themselves, they are often dissatisfied with the job they end up with and become unhappy or unsuccessful. When Equality was young, he always dreamed of joining the coveted Council of Scholars, and he was qualified to do so, thinking “we wished to be sent to the Home of the Scholars” (Rand 24). However, since the government did not tolerate Equality’s differences, like his height or talents, he was instead chosen to be a street sweeper, making him extremely depressed. In this scene, the Council decides “Street Sweeper”, and Equality “felt the cords of [his] neck grow tight”, reflecting his grief and sadness (Rand 26). After the decision, Equality is extremely disappointed and his dreams are crushed when he is not chosen to be in the Home of the Scholars. His personality and individuality are stifled as a Street Sweeper and his talents are not used to their full extent. Furthermore, placing someone in a job they aren’t suited for or are not as skilled at as others may have been can be harmful to the collective. For example, Equality would have been much more