More handpicked essays just for you.
How is society reflected in literature
How is society reflected in literature
Themes of freedom in literature
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: How is society reflected in literature
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. The
Morality is a particular system of values and principles of conduct. In the novella Anthem written by Ayn Rand that she writes about two opposite moralities: collectivism and individualism. Collectivism is followed by a totalitarian dictatorship. Equality, the protagonist, is opposed to collectivism morality; instead, Equality chooses individualism as his moral compass. Equality’s characteristics are curious, intelligent, and strong. He lives in a society that encourages universal uniformity and crushes individualism.
There's many examples as to how the Holocaust can relate to the dystopian book Anthem by Ayn Rand that are shown throughout the book; however they also have many differences. The author writes about many events that can clearly be related to the book The Night by Elie Wiesel about the Holocaust that can be supported with direct quotes. A dystopia is “a community or society that is undesirable or frightening. It is translated as "not-good place" and is an antonym of utopia” accourding to https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dystopia. In other words, a dystopia is a society where people live often fearful lives and are dehumanized and classified just like the jews were during the Holocaust. In many dystopian books power is maintained through
“It is a sin to write this.” So begins Anthem. Equality 7-2521 thought that being alone, thinking alone, and writing thoughts down was all sin. In the end Equality now thinks he was correct to think the way he did. It is a basic human right to live as an individual, so Equality was right because it is a human right; everyone is unique, and this perfect society does not exist.
Following what one knows is right can sometimes come at a great price, often going against what has always been known. This can be difficult, and people do not have the drive to find their own happiness most of the time. The secrets of the earth are not for all men to see because discovering new things requires freedom to have a voice of your own and the will to search.
In the book Anthem by Ayn Rand, there are a bunch of different buildings for different types of people. Like, The City of the Damned, the City Theater, the Home of the scholars, Home of the useless, and more. Each one has its own function that focuses on one specific thing.
We learn not by what people teach but by what we teach ourselves. This is what Ayn Rand was helping the audience understand. Sometimes it does not matter what we are trained to think, it is what we train ourselves to think. This is the theme of the book Anthem. Now we all see this through the main character Equality 7-2521. He was the only one that ever thought of anything outside of his fellowship in this book. That was because it was denoted as a sin to ever think of anything that the government did not put in front of you.
In the novella Anthem written by the novelist and the philosopher Ayn Rand, a collectivist society is depicted throughout the entire story. The people of the society are taught from the time of their birth to consider others before themselves. They are not to be prideful of themselves or of their own uniqueness. The goal of the society is for all of the people within its control to be relatively simple, low-minded people who just go through the routine set by the higher authority without question. Any person who stands out from the others is considered to be cursed and evil. The higher authority of the society, the Council, forbids people from using the word “I” when pertaining to themselves because that brings a sense of individualism that is forbidden.
In the book Anthem, by Ayn Rand, Equality-72521 stood alone from the crowd of mindless slaves, and was frowned upon. I think that Equality is right to denounce his leaders because of the secrets that this society has kept from everyone, and the fact that he cannot live a life of freedom and individualism. I also believe that Equality-72521 would fully agree with Rand’s short essay, How Does one Lead a Rational Life in an Irrational Society.
Anthem, by Ayn Rand, is a very unique novel. It encircles individualism and makes the reader think of how people can conform to society and do as they are told without knowing the consequences and results of their decisions. Also, it teaches the importance of self expression and the freedom that comes along with being your own person and having the power to choose what path to take in life. Figurative language is used often in this book and in a variety of quotes that have great importance to the theme, plot, and conflict of the novel.
Question: Aside from very rare exceptions there is literally no opposition to the leaders in this society. Why is this? What ideas must the people in this society have accepted to live a life of obedience, drudgery, and fear?
"If a man is not faithful to his own individuality, he can not be loyal to anything" (McKay 1). The book Anthem demonstrates that individuality is key if one is to learn, love, and be oneself. Though the Council says the world is equal, it is in reality unbalanced and unfair because the Council makes all the decisions for the place. The book shows that people become mindless and "machine-like" because of Collectivism. Equality, the protagonist and the one with different ideas, shows that identity is very important to humanity. Throughout the book Anthem, the theme of individuality and one's own identity, shown through Equality's own ideas, love, and ego, are important to show Collectivism's downfalls.
Under the busy streets, the fluorescent lights, and the hot summer night of New York City, I sat in complete silence itching to read the last few words. I didn’t want to be here in the first place. I wanted to be free. I wanted to play outside in the summer breeze of July while sucking on fruity Popsicle sticks. But my mother stopped me. She told me to stay here and finish the task saying that it will be for my own benefit. But as soon as I read the last two words of the last page, I quickly shut the book with a “bang” and ran from it as if it was a sin to be near the book.
Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. In America there is numerous of choices that someone may make on a daily basis. If someone were allowed to make their own choices and were being told what to do; then they would not be free. When someone is allowed to speak when they want to, and say what they want; such as their opinion or view of something. Being allowed to have a right to speak is one of the most important characteristics of being an American. Thinking and stating your opinion in any predicament it a strong part in being a citizen because people in the United States are known for being able to think in their own ways. Freedom can stretch too many things such as being able to do as they please, they are not forced into doing anything that someone may want. The citizens of the United States are not made to do anything that one may not want to do; like
What does freedom mean to you? Are you able to do the things you love or see the people you want to see? To me, freedom is the right to do as I please as long as I am following laws and rules. This means that my actions do not hurt or harm others in a negative way. To me, freedom means being able to play video games.
Have you ever imagined a world where there was no such thing as the word “I”? In the book “Anthem” written by Ayn Rand, the society is the only thing people know and are familiar with. Equality 7-2521 lives in a world where he does not even know himself. Exploring, learning, and experimenting is beyond forbidden. Throughout the book Equality learns who he is and why he grew up the way he grew up. Therefore Equality envisions a brand new society where he omits the rules that he once lived by that does not involve “We” as in the government of collectivists but more “I” as in individuality.