“No thief, however skillful, can rob one of knowledge, and that is why knowledge is the best and safest treasure to acquire” (L. Frank Baum 8). In all of your education, you have acquired knowledge, whether or not you have gotten good grades. Ayn Rand’s novella, Anthem, tells the story of Equality 7-2521 who attempts to acquire knowledge and intelligence by experimenting with his individuality. Likewise, Stephen Vincent Benét’s short story, By the Waters of Babylon, describes the adventures of John who will become a priest after his father. John, a teenager, goes against society to attain knowledge of the Place of the Gods, which is forbidden. In both inspiring stories, knowledge is important to the progression of the characters. In them, …show more content…
Equality knows that it is forbidden to think about science and be curious about certain things, but he continues to do it. “It is a sin to think words no others think and to put them down upon a paper no others are to see” (Rand 1). This shows, even early on, that he is interested in things that others are not and will most likely break away from the collective society he’s a part of. He is aware of the risk he is making and still continues with his research. This shows that he is strong-headed and stubborn in his ways. When Equality and International 4-8818 find a tunnel from the Unmentionable Times, Equality realizes the importance of the tunnel, or subway, and acts on it right away. “The Council does not know of this hole, so it cannot be forbidden” (Rand 31). Equality, in the moment of finding the subway, probably feels a sense of panic. He immediately tries to cover up his discovery because he knows it may have the potential to impact his entire life. He shows that he cares about Liberty 5-3000, or the Golden One, by acknowledging that he prefers her over others. “But we think of one among women, they whose name is Liberty 5-3000, and we think of no others. Once again, Equality knows that he shouldn’t favor the Golden One over any other women, but he does. By the definition of Ayn Rand, he is a hero because he thinks for himself. He knows that he is disobeying …show more content…
He not only finds himself, but he finds knowledge and the importance of the ones before us. At first John was scared that he had entered the Place of the Gods and went about it carefully. “All the same, when I came to the Place of the Gods, I was afraid, afraid.” (Benét 47). John is aware of his feelings- this shows that he is becoming an individual and being conscious of his decisions. John finally discovers the importance of the people of New York City, or the Place of the Gods, and realizes that we must retain knowledge throughout the generations to develop societies. “I remember the dead man’s face. They were men who were here before us. We must build again” (Benét 52). There comes a time in everyone’s life that he discovers the significance of the people and the inventions and cultures that came before his time. John, like others, had uncovered the reason why we should study and learn about the people and societies that were founded before us. John, in the end of what we know of him, uncovers the importance of learning and acquiring knowledge about the generations before us and what impact we will make on the
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.
Imagine a world where people are only expected to live up to 45 years old. In today's society, there are countries that experience this. In the novel Anthem, by Ayn Rand; there are many factors like lifestyle, government, medicine, and education that lead to this. There are a couple of ways where the world in the novel is similar and different to today's society.
Equality expresses his love for science and aspiration to be a Scholar throughout the book and talks of how he wished to be sent to the Home of Scholars so badly his hands trembled under the blankets at night and he had to bite his arm just to stop the pain of wanting something so much (Rand 24). To want something so badly and have to conceal it everyday with no one to share it with is a very difficult thing for someone to have to do. Equality also struggled with concealing his friendship,“International 4-8818 and we are friends. This is an evil thing to say, for it is a transgression, the Great Transgression of Preference, to love any among men better than the others, since we must love all men and all men are our friends.” (Rand 30). It is impossible to not prefer one person more than the other, which is why all the men are afraid to defy their leaders by committing a transgression such as this. Equality knows he has a connection with International 4-8818, but he has to once again hide his emotions, and only know in his heart that they are friends. Later on in Anthem, Equality takes notice of a beautiful woman named Liberty 5-3000, who he immediately falls head over heels for, which is a transgression. “We stood still; for the first time did we know fear, and then pain. And we stood still that we might not spill this pain more precious than pleasure.” (Rand 39). Equality cannot even pursue the
One day, Equality is supposed to be in the theater, but he is not there. Consequently, Equality is imprisoned to the Palace of Corrective Detention. Oddly, the prison does not have many restrictions, so easily Equality escapes. After his departure, he goes directly to the Council of Scholars, which is where a group of people have a job to gain more intelligence. Intentionally, Equality goes here because he wants to reveal his new discovery of electricity to the scholars. In effect, they denounce him for carrying out a discovery because it is contradicting to the laws of their society. After this happens, Equality bolts to the Uncharted Forest, he begins to actualize that people should live as individuals instead of one group. Liberty follows Equality and, eventually, catches up to him. In the Uncharted Forest, they find a sublime house on top of a mountain. Once they examine the house, Equality and Liberty decide to live in it. Uninhibited, they develop a more profound relationship along with a newly-founded liberated life. As an individual, Equality wants to free the people of his society and eventually begin his own. Equality says, "We matter not, nor our transgression. It is only our brother men who matter. Give no thought to us, for we are nothing, but listen to our words, for we bring you a gift such as has never been brought to men. Listen to us, for we hold the future of mankind in our hands" (70; ch. 7). Equality's life dramatically changes as he extends his life as a
“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 this point in the novel Equality does accept the moral teachings of his society. He doesn’ feel shame When Equality and his friend find the hidden tunnel from the past, they knew that they probably shouldn’t explore it, but they do it anyway because curiosity is purely human nature and sometimes you just have to go with your instincts rather than what other people say for you to do.
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
“We shall not report our find to the city council. We shall not report it to any men” (Rand #33). This quotation shows that Equality does not want to share it with any others and he wants these findings for himself. This is the first time Equality experience a little taste of individualism. “It is our second transgression of preference, for we do not think of all our brothers as we must, but only of one, and their name is Liberty 5-3000” (Rand #41). This quotation shows that Equality is not thinking about everyone but one single person. In this society thinking about only one person is a sin and now Equality is starting to show that he doesn't care if he commits a sin. “So long lies before us, and what care we if we must travel it alone” (Rand #54). In this quotation Equality says that he would be fine with living alone and without his
An individual’s motivations may appear to be justified by those around them given situations they are put in. This is because in life, everyone get curveballs and it’s a choice whether to want to try and hit them because there could be potential home-run or to not hit it because it’s not the type of ball that was desired. It solely depends on how bad an individual is motivated to see the outcome of that hit. A prime example of this statement appears numerous times in the novel, Anthem by Ayn Rand. Equality, a twenty-one-year-old with a curious spirit, residing in an extremely dystopian-like civilization, swims against the current that is the lifestyle the rest of the citizens choose to live and abide by. Undoubtedly the motivation behind the madness of Equality’s “unusual” behavior, logic, plus rebellion contrary to what his draconian culture thinks, was the simple fact that Equality admired learning and using his intelligence to the best of its capability.
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.
In the novel, Anthem, written by Ayn Rand takes place when mankind has entered another dark age. A man named Equality 7-2521 lives in a society where he struggles to live equal within the brotherhood. In the world he lives in people are told they exist only for the sake of serving society, and have no other purpose. Therefore, each individual is assigned a vocation as a permanent life career which determines who they socialize and live with. However, Equality being very different from his brothers, believes in individualism and rejects the collectivism society around him. The concept of individualism vs collectivism is portrayed in the story because individuality is unknown to the people where no one is unique or excellent in any way. The people
They were just normal human beings. “That is all of my story….they had been men, neither gods nor demons. It is great knowledge, hard to tell and believe” (Benet p.321) Even John knows this truth is hard to believe, but he thinks more about how hard it is going to be telling everyone back home. “Truth is a hard deer to hunt….you may die of the truth.” (Benet p.321) This thought from John shows how hard he thinks this truth about the Gods may hit everyone back home. “It is better that truth should come little by little.” (Benet p.321) Knowing quite well the effects of knew truth John decides this as the best choice of action. If not, the knowledge that everyone knew to be true would come to be too great of a shock for them to handle. “Perhaps, in the old days, they ate knowledge too fast” (Benet p.321). Now understanding the power of knew knowledge, John believes this is one of the downfalls that brought down this city. He wonders if they believed all knowledge that they learned when not all of it was true. This new knowledge could have then lead to lies and
Equality fights in what he believes in just like Prometheus. He wants Liberty to conceive his child and help create a new society for themselves and others. Equality has many similarities to Prometheus. In Greek Mythology, Prometheus brought fire to mankind. Likewise, Equality had brought fire to his town through a light bulb. It was made to show his light and power. (Ayn Rand Anthem Pg 52) “We Equality 7-2521, have discovered it alone, and we are alone to know it.”
Striving to know more about his surroundings, Equality thinks,¨We think there are mysteries in the sky and under the water and in the plants which grow..(...)..and questions give us no rest.¨ Wishing to be a Scholar, Equality’s curiosity landed him the job of street sweeper. His questions were forbidden, since his brothers didn’t have any, neither should he; or at least that’s what his teachers said. Equality struggles with this concept, but is not yet ready to rebel. He has had the word altruism sculpted into his mind, and in this society, there is no second choice, for egoism was effaced. In The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand remarks, ¨The choice is not self-sacrifice or domination. The choice is dependence or independence. This is the basic issue. All that which proceeds from man’s independent ego is good. All that which proceeds from a man’s dependence upon man is evil.¨ Anthem’s author, Ayn Rand, is saying that asking questions is good, while depending on only a handful of people (in this case the scholars) to ask them for you divides mankind into egoists and altruists, although altruism is the only side taken. More curious than any of his brothers, Equality has always had more questions. In his world, this got him in trouble, but according to Ayn Rand, he should be praised for being a ¨creator¨ in a sea of
One moment where this is evident is when Equality realizes singularity is the answer to finding freedom. He says, “This is my body and spirit, this is the end of the quest.” (94). This showcases how Equality is glad he found an explanation for why he was ostracized in his former society because he learns that he never felt the power of “we” but always felt the impact of singularity. This same feeling was felt by Rand when she left a communist society and entered into a democratic one. Another scene where the society Equality wishes to created is depicted is when he decides we should not be used unwillingly. He says, “The word “We” must never be spoken, save by one’s choice and as a second thought. This word must never be placed within man’s soul, else it becomes a monster, the root of all evils on earth, the root of man’s torture by men and of an unspeakable lie.” (97). This quote showcases how Equality is hoping to create a society completely opposite to the one he was raised in because he disagrees with the core philosophy of collectively being one group and he believes one should only be involved with who they wish to be involved with. The final instance where it is clear Equality does not want any of the rules from his former society is when he disagrees with serving others. He says, "I am not a tool for their use. I am not a servant for their needs.”