In Anthem, Ayn Rand depicts Equality 7-2521 as a man whose intelligence surpasses that of his brothers. In the Home of the Students, Equality’s performance portrays a significant difference from his brothers’ learning capabilities. However, Equality lives in a collective society in which the Council of Vocations forbids one to have a higher level of intelligence than his brothers, for it is a sin to be intellectually superior to them. “It was not that the learning was too hard for us,” Equality explains. “It was that the learning was too easy. This is a great sin, to be born with a head which is too quick…The Teachers told us so, and they frowned when they looked upon us” (21). The society finds Equality’s outstanding academic performance to …show more content…
be shameful and unacceptable for he has committed the sin of being positioned at a different level from his brothers. Even so, Equality continues to strive for his passion of learning and discovering new ideas unknown to the world as his curiosity grows into desire for knowledge. Initially, the impetus behind his diligent studying habits in the tunnel was provided by his growing curiosity of the natures of the world and his dream to become a Scholar.
Equality writes, “[T]he Scholars must study the earth and learn from the rivers, from the sands, from the winds and the rocks. And if we went to the Home of the Scholars, we could learn from these also. We could ask questions of these, for they do not forbid questions” (23). Equality’s aspirations of becoming a Scholar originate from the freedom of a Scholar to investigate and explore the Science of Things, for only a position of that caliber may do so. By obtaining acceptance into the Home of the Scholars, Equality can question the natures of the earth to no limit and further aim towards his greater ambition of uncovering mysteries that no other man on earth has ever discovered …show more content…
before. However strong Equality’s passion of becoming a Scholar may be, the Council of Vocations has decided his fate to become an ordinary Street Sweeper.
But Equality does not let this obstacle push aside his desire to learn and discover. He decides to study in a tunnel he suddenly stumbled upon one day and secretly experiment with materials from the Home of the Scholars. Night after night, Equality secretly comes to this tunnel to study alone, even though it is a transgression to work alone. Eventually, he invents a glass box that lights up by utilizing its wires to produce electrical energy, which then converts into light. “We created it,” Equality writes triumphantly. “We brought it forth from the night of the ages. We alone. Our hands. Our mind. Ours alone and only… Tonight, after more days and trials than we can count, we finished building a strange thing, from the remains of the Unmentionable Times, a box of glass, devised to give forth the power of the sky…” (59). Equality expresses great happiness toward the fruits of his research—an invention similar to a light bulb that was once utilized before the formation of a collectivist society, during the “Unmentionable Times.” He emphasizes how he created this great power solely from his own hands, revealing his satisfaction and pride regarding the amount of work to which he alone had been
dedicated. Although Equality is well aware that his invention will benefit mankind to a great extent, he did not conduct his experiments for this purpose. Equality’s dream of becoming a Scholar no longer became a motivation for him, after being assigned a Street Sweeper. His ambition of becoming a Scholar was only a step toward his dreams, but it did not ultimately provide the impetus behind his studies. The true motivation behind his decision to secretly conduct these experiments was his curiosity of the world that increasingly developed during the course of events, along with his desire to work on his project individually, rather than as a collaborative effort with his brothers. Following the creation of his product, he writes, “We, Equality7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature. And we have discovered it alone, and we are alone to know it” (52). After inventing his light, he realizes that what truly motivated him, besides his natural curiosity, was the freedom to work with none other than himself. He realizes that the fruit of his research was especially precious because it was solely his, and only his, work. Equality is right to be motivated by his natural curiosity and by his strong wishes of working as an individual. The law of the collective society is that “all men are one and that there is no will save the will of all men together” (20). Every individual in this society are no longer distinctly identifiable as “individuals”; rather, they seem to act more like puppets controlled by the strings of the collectivist Council. However, Equality obtains the ability to break free from these strings when he decides to break that ultimate law and independently study in his secret underground tunnel. As an individual, one must have the power to take control of one’s own life and decide how to live it. Equality declares that “a man has rights which neither god nor king nor other men can take away from him, no matter what their number, for his is the right of man, and there is no right on earth above this right” (101-102). He is correct in believing so, for one’s life solely belongs to the individual itself—by no means should one’s life belong to another. Every individual is granted unalienable rights to think and act for themselves. The reason behind the world’s inability to modernize and develop into an advanced civilization is due to the obsession with their current tools that were actually degraded from tools of the past, yet modern “Unmentionable Times.” Ironically, the Council believes that Equality’s new invention of an electric light “‘would bring ruin to the Department of Candles. The Candle is a great boon to mankind, as approved by all men. Therefore it cannot be destroyed by the whim of one’” (73). Due to the fact that Equality acted alone during the process of inventing his light, the Council disapproves of it, even though the light would benefit mankind in more ways than the candle could. The development of the collectivist society caused civilization to degenerate into one that had lost its past modern achievements, whether intellectually or technologically. If every individual would have the same curiosity and develop motivations in their lives, as Equality had, the world may not be as underdeveloped as it currently is under the control of the Council. Modern technology would come into existence and allow the society to experience a period of great prosperity, and every individual would even be freed from the puppet strings of the Council—the path to achieve distinct individuality would consequently open for the future.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a world where everyone was forced to be exactly alike? Well in Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem she directly confronts this topic through the main character named Equality 7-2521. Equality 7-2521 faces challenges directly relating to the issue that the government has been trying to address for many years. Equality 7-2521 is not like his brothers, he is smarter, wiser and even taller, therefore, his brothers think that he has “evil in his bones” (Rand 18). The book Anthem is the firsthand account of how Equality 7-2521 finds the word “I” amongst the word “We”. He does not agree with these rules that the government has put into place, these are the rules that held him back for a time, but in the end, pushed him forward to be his own person.
In the book Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, Equality 7-2521 had never seen his physical appearance. He was surprised to see such a strong individual staring at him. One day after escaping into the woods, he finally met himself at a flowing stream and gained new confidence. This was an essential part of the theme of "Anthem." This shows how Equality finally found himself as an "I" in order to help others see themselves as an "I." This is an important part of "Anthem" since it reveals Equality 7-2521's determination, bravery, and development as a person.
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
Equality 7-2521 aspires to be a self-proclaimed individual. In the novella, Anthem, Ayn Rand discusses of a dystopian society in which every man and women are set equal to each other. Equality is damned by the World Council after a discovery of light and electricity, and a contradictory belief in individualism. Freedom is an essential factor in the happiness of man. Equality is scorned for his different looks, mental competence, and independent beliefs but laughs when he recognizes that he should be glorified for understanding that his perception of life leads to contentment.
Many people seem to get entangled into society's customs. In the novel Anthem, the protagonist, Equality 7-2521, lives a period of his life as a follower. However, Equality eventually, tries to distant himself from his society. He is shaped to be a follower, but eventually emerges in to an individual and a leader. On his journey, he discovers the past remains of his community. Ayn Rand uses Equality's discoveries of self to represent the importance of individuality in a functional society.
The society that Equality 7-2521 was brainwashed in since birth was based on no individualism. Ayn rand in fact was the maker of the self individualist philosophy. She based Equality’s qualities on individualism. Which means putting yourself first and showing all qualities of individuality. Equality 7-2521 wanted to have certains thing like people, places, and the way he learned more than others. As well as looking different than others; taller, smarter and of different color. He was an Individual; which allowed him to want to be a scholar in the house of scholars.
According to Dictionary.com freedom means “the state of being uncontrolled by another, or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint.” Freedom. What does freedom mean to you? Even though freedom means the state of being uncontrolled by another, or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint, I believe that freedom means being able to accomplish what you desire and when you desire it without anyone saying anything, by reason of the comparison and contrast of our society and the society in the book Anthem by Ayn Rand, the negation of the word freedom, and synonyms of the word freedom. I believe that you should accept the consequences of the actions you take when you have your “freedom” as well.
“For the coming of that day shall I fight, I and my sons and my chosen friends. For the freedom of Man. For his rights. For his life. For his honor.”(page 104). In the novella Anthem by, Ayn Rand, the main character Equality, fought for a way to be himself and help mankind. Rand clearly made Equality’s primary motivation joining The Council of Scholars as a creator, and through the course of two years, due to Equality conducting experiments in all of his spare time until he discovers a method of harnessing the power of electricity to use it to light the community. Equality confirms the right to his motivation. What was Equality’s primary motivation, is he right to be motivated in this way, and what would the world be like if everyone was
At the start of Anthem, Equality is a collectivist who knows there is something wrong with the world he lives in. This allows him to evolve into an individualist. Equality says , “It is a sin to think words no others think and to put them down upon a paper no others are to see. It is base and evil. It is as if we were speaking alone to no ears but our own” (Rand 17). Equality admits he has committed a transgression and hopes to be forgiven. Equality, at this moment, is living to the standards of others because he lives in a society where no man is to think differently than another. This contradicts Rand’s philosophy because she says that a man is entitled to his own happiness and that you are in charge of it, but since Equality is living to the rules of his society, he cannot find his own happiness, for he is almost forbidden to do so. Likewise, it states in the text, “I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them. I ask none to live for me, nor do I live for any others. I covet no man’s soul, nor is my soul theirs to covet” (Rand 96). Equality realizes that he is not to live nor commit himself to the standards of others. He has come to the understanding, as Ayn Rand says in her interview, “That he cannot demand that others give up their lives to make him happy, nor should he wish to sacrifice himself for the happiness of others.” Equality finds his own happiness because he has found himself, and he has learned that he cannot put his happiness in the hands of others nor put the happiness of others in his own hands. This allowed him to find himself, and to find
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
Anthem and Fahrenheit 451 both hit a very similar theme. The theme in Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, and Anthem, by Ayn Rand can be connected to a universal theme, Equality has limits. Both books support this theme by supporting an idea of a utopia, and both failed in its own way.
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.
With his Book Nature, it allowed the accessibility of universal understanding. It shows Emerson’s belief that each person on their own must create an understanding, a personal understanding of the universe. In his introduction he believes all men should not rely on second-hand information, inherited information. He feels we should enjoy an original relation to the universe like our forefathers did when they beheld god and nature face to face. Emerson feels the past allowed people to have an immediate and intimate relationship with God; they were allowed to conclude their own understanding of the universe. But he wants to ‘’’demand our own works and laws and worship’’ .his rejection of learned wisdom is repeated throughout nature as he believes the importance of the present moment, the possibilities of here and now make past schemes and observations irrelevant. In ‘Language’ he believes the relations between spirit and matter Is not fancied a type of poet, but stands in the will of god and so is free to be learned and known by all men