A Fight for Ego
From the beginning of time, men have been very curious about anything that was unexplainable. Men have always been baffled by anything out of the ordinary, anything not understood. Ayn Rand depicts this quality wonderfully in her book, Anthem.
Anthem tells a tale of the future world, a world in which the word “I’ does not exist. Nobody is an individual; everybody is equal in every way. The main character, whose self-given name was “Prometheus”, dared to go past the boundaries so clearly laid out for him. For this, he was banished from society. But with his separation from the world that he knew all his life, Prometheus gained a lot spiritually. For the first time in his whole life, he was able to be self-dependent. He no longer was told when to wake up, when to eat, when to sleep, etc. Prometheus was finally able to completely interact with the woman he loved, Gaea. He had won man’s most prized possession, freedom. And with freedom, ego too came to Prometheus. He had finally proved what he knew all along, that there was more to the world and more to life than what he was told.
In the story of the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were punished for being disobedient. They were both presented with a wonderful life and wonderful everything, but there was just one rule. Adam and Eve broke that rule, and were prosecuted for it. Their natural instincts of being curious and disobedient had gotten them into trouble.
Both of these stories deal with the intrigue of the untouchable. Adam and Eve had everything, but they both wanted just a bite of apple. They were both banished from the Garden of Eden. But they too gained from their exile. After they were banished, they both began to explore the nature of human beings. They started mating, and taking care of themselves, and so on… When Adam and Eve got kicked out of the Garden of Eden, they created the world as we know it today, or at least that’s how the story goes. In Anthem, there too was a forbidden item. However, it was not a mere fruit. Prometheus’ fruit was in fact knowledge. Prometheus was probably a genius. He didn’t think like all the men in his world.
Anthem is a book full to the brim of symbolism. Some of it is clear to see and others you have to really pay attention to capture. Anthem is not a hard book to understand, but it can still be difficult to grasp the full meaning of it. The meaning of which is elusive at points, slipping between your fingers and resting on the pages in plain view. Unity, we, I, Ego, it all plays a major part in this book along with the symbolism of things.
When wisdom is mixed with disobedience it opens the door for evil to abound. Although Eve was the first to take of the fruit and Adam the second, both shared responsibility in the transgression as Arnold describes it. (62;67,
In the book Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, Equality 7-2521 had never seen his physical appearance. He was surprised seeing 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 to 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.
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 book Anthem is a book that can be perceived many various ways. To me, Anthem is about an outstandingly smart young man, named Equality 7-2521
He is positive that with his quick brain he can uncover the Unmentionable Times and live the way they should have all along. His thoughts are identical to Ayn Rand advice in her short essay “How Does One Lead a Rational Life in an Irrational Society?” since he is the one to lead a rational life in Anthem. In a house that belongs to the Unmentionable Times holds Prometheus, a new name that Equality has given himself, meaning a god who took the light of the gods and brought it to men and taught men to also be gods. Within those walls, he plans to be like Prometheus that the books state: Taking the light to men and teach them how to live a rational
Adam was the first man that God created and was created to be the image of God himself. God planted the beautiful Garden of Eden in which there was no sin and the trees were filled with delicious fruits, everything a person would need to eat. In the middle of the garden was the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.” One day, a serpent came into the garden and convinced Eve to eat an apple from the forbidden Tree of Knowledge. The fruit did not make Adam and Eve any better than they already were. Instead, the jealousy, the desire to eat what was forbidden—and then the physical eating of the fruit that was forbidden—allowed sin to enter humanity. God punished Adam and Eve, and all their descendants, by making their lives hard. Likewise, in the novel, peace and innocence left the Devon school and Gene and Finny's friendship, and after the winter session, discipline and hard work began. Eve eating the apple can be paralleled to Gene jostling the limb of the tree while Phineas was standing on the edge of it for in that second, both of their lives ch...
Throughout history, authors have teased their readers with the idea of what the future might bring. Often times these stories are littered with new technology and fascinating theories, but occasionally it is the contrary. In the situation where society has taken a step back, there must be a character to give civilization a kick start. In the novella Anthem, by Ayn Rand, society is bound to collectivism, where everyone relies upon each other to live and learn; but the protagonist, Equality 7-2521, is able to break free from the fear of independence and move toward individualism. During the course of the story, Equality discovers the freedom he can bring himself. Then he realizes his mind is the door to the truth, not society. Finally, Equality recognizes himself as different from the rest of the population. These steps toward individualism are perfectly embodied by three quotes Rand incorporates in her story.
In Anthem, the narrator, Prometheus, lives in a community in which all of the children born that year live in the same house until they turn fifteen. Then they are assigned a job and live with the people that share that occupation. This keeps the people from having an emotional attachment to someone like they would have with a family. Totalitarian rulers often control the thoughts and beliefs of people as well. The citizens of the community are forbidden to question or explore things that are unknown to other citizens.
Anthem is a story of man’s struggle to be free and to fight the masses of conformity. It tells of human nature and the want to gain all the knowledge that one could possibly attain. Man loses his safe haven and his security when he lets this lust for knowledge overpower him and lets it be seen by others. He becomes vulnerable Like Johann Faust, Prometheus sells his life for wisdom. Unlike Faust, however, Prometheus is expelled from his society but gains his freedom of individuality and his freedom of knowledge and the ability to understand. In Anthem, Prometheus and Gaea sin against society to become singular and understanding much like Adam and Eve’s sin against God when they ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge to gain wisdom; as a result, they can be compared to each other by there desire for learning and by their damnation.
“Our uniqueness, our individuality, and our life experience molds us into fascinating beings. I hope we can embrace that. I pray we may all challenge ourselves to delve into the deepest resources of our hearts to cultivate an atmosphere of understanding, acceptance, tolerance, and compassion. We are all in this life together.” -Linda Thompson. In the Novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, the main character Equality 7-2521 (later known as Prometheus), documents his story of his discovery of the word “I”. He later writes his anthem about how individuality and uniqueness are the most important attributes to mankind, he shows this when he writes, “I am done with the monster of ‘We,’ the word of serfdome, of plunder,
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.
A sin, is refined in my mind as a transgression against standards set in one's society. (Summary) In Anthem, by Ayn Rand, Prometheus seems to be one of the few individuals able to think on part of his own account, and give credit to his own abilities. In Prometheus' strict society, even the slightest flaw or inadequate action results in consequential punishment. This is because of the Councils struggle to maintain equilibrium, and to avoid same predicaments during the evil times.
This act of disobedience describes the first moral flaw, and the consequential corruption of mankind. By disobeying God, Adam and Eve take the first steps towards independence and freedom. This helps them reach their spiritual and intellectual capacity. After Adam and Eve leave the Garden of Eden, they create a new harmony referred to as “the end of days” (622). To the prophets, man is right to disobey; this allows him to think for himself.
Little details can make all the difference, from poems to movies, details can pick out the littlest difference. Anthem is a book that can easily relate to other books, poems, movies, and even songs. The movie Village, written by M. Night Shyamalan, and the poem The Road Not Taken written by Robert Frost, can both be immensely the same in significance. From using fear to control people and keep them in an orderly manner, to taking the road less traveled. There are so many details that make these and many other books, cut from the same cloth.