Anthem

Anthem by Ayn Rand ventures to depict an extreme version of a collectivist society. One of the main characters is Equality 7-2521, or Prometheus. He is a rebel who goes against the government in order to learn and discover on his own. The government of Anthem resembles collectivism by having no one distinguished by an actual name, but by numbers, and they train the people to show complete respect for their dictatorial leaders. Dictatorial leaders want children to live apart from their families so that children only learn what the government wants them to learn.

Children are very moldable because they don’t know anything; therefore, they rely on someone to teach them. Dictatorial leaders are very smart. They know that children will believe what they are told. Consequently, dictators often take children away from their families at a young age to raise them how they want. If children are left at home, the dictators run the risk of the children learning ‘unnecessary’ or unwanted information. However, when the children are being taught by governmentally run teachers, the government can more easily ensure that the children are learning want they want them to learn. Dictatorial leaders want control over everything, including children’s minds.

Dictatorial leaders want everyone to love them. They don’t get into power by appearing as a greedy dictator, but as an inventive patriot that wants the best for their people and nation. As adults, people can more easily realize the corruptness of government. Dictatorial leaders don’t want to risk the parents/families of realizing the government/leaders corrupt nature and teaching that to their children. Therefore, the two are separated. In government-organized schools the children are taught loyal...

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...the children to be raised in a setting where they are valued for their uniqueness. The government wants them to be taught to be valued for their averageness. A family encourages different ideas, values, and people instead of sameness.

Dictatorial leaders want children to be raised apart from their families because in that way the government can more easily assure that they are raised the way the government wants them to be. In Anthem by Ayn Rand, the government leaders separate the different age groups and also the families. In fact, most of the citizens do not understand the concept of a family because the government has made sure that they were only taught about the brotherhood and not the tow beings that gave birth to them. Dictatorial leaders want their way taught and kept and they start by brainwashing the children of society.

Works Cited

Anthem by Ayn Rand