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Case of individualism versus collectivism
Case of individualism versus collectivism
What is the difference between individualist and collectivist culture
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Ego, a common word used in most people?s lives, unfortunately its not as common or
even nonexistent in the lives of Equality 7-2521 and Z. They live their lives a bit different than most people. They live as a collective. Yes, a collective, they live in societies that don?t believe in individualism. Without individualism there are no ideas or opinions and without them its very hard for a society to function.
Z , an ant who lives to help his colony, risked his life for the women he loved. Equality 7-2521, a determined man who broke countless laws to save the pride of his life, his light. Although Equality 7-2521 and Z have many similarities they have very different lives. Individualism, which is a big difference between Z and equality 7-2521. Z has a name that can distinguish him from other people. Were as Equality 7-2521 does have a very descriptive name. Another difference is Z is aloud to have opinions on issues. Conversely Equality 7-2521 has no opinions he is not even aloud to have them.
Even though Equality 7-2521 and Z are different, in many ways they have very similar characteristics such as: the desire to be different without being an outcast because they are smarter or stronger. No matter how hard Equality 7-2521 and Z tried they always managed to
Equality 7-2521 and International 4-8818 found an underground tunnel. This is where Equality 7-2521 spends a lot of his time thinking for himself, and finding ways to bring his society from everything being "we," to people being able to relate to an "I," like "The Unmentionable Times" is an unspeakable word. Equality 7-2521 never gave up, even after the brutal punishment he experienced. Equality 7-2521 - Seeing his will to fulfill his dreams was another reason he began to trust himself as he saw his reflection for the first time. More ideas flowed through Equality 7-2521's head with interest in the "Unmentionable Times."
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
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.
Equality 7-2521 embodies this essential idea throughout the story because of his eternal struggle with not quite being able to conform to society’s expectations. He is physically different from the others (Rand, 1946, p. 2) as well as mentally different as he disagreed with others even as a child (p. 4) and was smarter than the rest (p. 5), and this mental sharpness is carried into adulthood as he is able to discern the feelings of oppression and fear that weigh over all men in this time (Rand, 1946, p. 30). Rather than acting as a machine, he feels preferences and desires within himself. Equality 7-2521 enjoys science, dreams of being a Scholar, likes a pretty girl, and wonders about himself. Since these things are not shared by all, they are forbidden, and despite how simple they may be, they define
The world is divided up into numerous things: Countries, states, cities, communities, etc. However, when looking at the big scope of things, one can group the vast amount of people into a society. This society is where the majority lie in the scheme of things - in other words, the common people. Individuals do exist in this society, but they are scarce in a world of conformism. Society’s standards demands an individual to conform, and if the individual refuses they are pushed down by society.
Anthem is a novella written by Ayn Rand, in which Equality 7-2521, the protagonist, struggles for self-identification living in a collectivist society. Equality believes that individuality is an eminent aspect of one’s life because individuality defines and outlines who man is. He endures all the hardships in his life living with people who support collectivism, and who reject his ideas. For example, when Equality 7-2521 invents and exhibits the light bulb, the World Council rejects it and tells him that it is selfish to work on something alone instead of working with his brothers. The World Council threatens to destroy the light bulb but Equality does not let that happen and rebels, so he is forced into exile from his society. Equality realizes that he is different from others because he cares about his happiness unlike others who are convinced to believe that a group’s happiness counts more than an individual’s happiness.
“To be free, a man must be free of his brothers”. This quote means, to be free, Equality must break the rules which he has lived by for his whole life. Everyone in Anthem is equal and nobody is greater than anyone else. Everyone has certain jobs they must do everyday, and nobody breaks the rules. “We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, one, indivisible, and forever” (chapter 1, paragraph 8) In order for Equality 7-2521 to be free he must get away from his brothers. Everyone lives for their brothers, because that’s who they are, and Equality must live for himself and not for his brothers. “We are nothing, mankind is all. By the grace of our brothers are we allowed our lives. We exist through, by, and for our brothers who are the state.Amen.”(chapter 1, paragraph 15)
Right from the beginning we learn that Equality 7-2521 is breaking an important law. He is in a society that is tightly protected and there is not much freedom to do anything. Everything is fixed and there is no changing. Also, we see that no one can be alone and there is no freedom if there isn’t any alone. We find out that Equality 7-2521 can break some rules and will.
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
As the novel opens Equality 7-2521 states that what he's doing is a sin. In his society it is a sin to do things that do not involve others, and the words he thinks and writes are for no one eyes to see or hear, but his own. In his society everyone thinks the same, and if you were to be the different one you would be sent to the palace of correction and detention. Equality 7-2521 actually had a mind of his own. As you can see Science fascinated him. For example in chapter 1 while it was dark Equality 7-2521 would sneak into a dark tunnel in which he would spend 3 hours doing scientific research, and experiments. He would also steal manuscripts from the scholars, and every night he would study. This went on for two years. The difference between Equality 7-2521 and his society is that he actually wanted to succeed, while the rest of his society would settle for what they were told to be. The "glass box", can also be referred as a light bulb. After countless nights of experimenting, Equality 7-2521 succeeds in connecting the power of electricity to re-invent the electric light. This invention that he came up with can benefit to society, but he doesn't know how to tell them. Remember, you can't do anything that others can't do. That was the philosophy that the society believed in. He figured that since the council wouldn't appreciate his work, he would rather show his invention to the scholars. When the World Council of Scholars arrives in his city, he will present to them, as his gift, the "glass box with the power of the sky." One night while Equality 7-2521 was working on an experiment in his tunnel, he totally lost track of time. He rushed out, and then the council questioned him on why was he late. Equality 7-2521 refused to answer and therefore he was sent to the palace of correction and detention. He was able to escape and retreat back to the tunnel. He found everything the same way that he had left it. He was then getting prepared for the arrival of the scholars.
Ego identity is said to be one of the many things Erickson has focused on. He believed that through social interaction we gain mindful sense of ourselves, which can be commonly referred to as Ego identity. Although, Freud referred to the ego as the match over the necessities of the identity and superego, Erickson saw the ego as our way of our self-esteem. The way Erickson describes ego is the way we commonly use it in conversation. The main i...
Mankind is all. By the grace of our brothers are we allowed our lives. We exist through, by and for our brothers who are the State. Amen’” (Rand 21). This chant repeated by all men has influenced the thoughts of all within the society. Changing the thoughts to say you are not unique but you live only for your brothers. Language has influenced the men and women to not think for themselves but only for the society itself. “’You are not one of our brothers, Equality 7-2521, for we do not wish you to be. …nor are you one of our sisters’” (Rand 43). Equality and Liberty have both just changed how they are thinking and see that neither one is like the others. They both see past the ways they were taught to think and have started to think for themselves and see the changes in each other. Within a society of “We” these two people have found the “I” within themselves but have yet to find the real
As long as you are alive and your mind functions in and through the body, ego will arise and exist. This ego or pride is not permanent and unquestionable reality. It is a temporary experience; it is only lack of knowledge that invests it with permanency. It is a concept; it is lack of knowledge that elevates it to status of reality. Only enlightenment can bring this wisdom.
Since the beginning of time, people have been trying to become individuals and stand out as unique beings. During the foundation of the colonies, individuals were focused on preserving their religious beliefs. As slavery became more predominant, the Civil War era fought to give black people their identity back. In the 1800s and 1900s, the individual initiative shifted from giving a group of people identity to individuals fighting for their own personal beliefs. In today’s society, individualism has been diminished by the collapse of the economy, forcing people to live with their parents for longer periods of time. As the economy continues to grow again individualism is making strides in a positive direction.
vanity. The definition of vanity suggests it is excessive belief in one ́s own abilities, in other