Self-Worth v. Selfishness
Main characters often struggle with finding their self-worth, but the distinction between self-worth and selfishness may often be unclear. The protagonists of both Anthem, by Ayn Rand, and Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse, fluctuate between being self-aware and being selfish. If Equality is an honest narrator, then to describe him as selfish would be an incorrect understanding, because the laws in place by Equality 7-2521’s community strips every one of their individuality and, therefore, their humanity; however, to describe Siddhartha as selfish is a more accurate understanding, because Siddhartha never lost his humanity and only strives for his own desires. Anthem begins with Equality 7-2521 stating “And we know well that there is no transgression blacker than to do or think alone. We have broken the laws. The laws say that men may not write unless the Council of Vocations bid them so” (Hesse 24). lf the setting in Anthem was set in 2017 America, where the government allows for individual pronouns and ownership, then readers would not even question if
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The ferryman, Vasudeva, asks him “Don't you see what your son is trying to tell you? Don't you see that he doesn't want to be followed?’ But he did not say this in words. He started making a new oar. But Siddhartha bid his farewell, to look for the run-away” (Hesse 167). Siddhartha and Equality 7-2521 are similar in that they both believe they possess higher intelligence than others; however, Siddhartha strives for self-awareness merely for himself. Equality 7-2521 is fighting not just for his humanity but also for the rest of the oppressed community. His final sentiment: “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” (Rand
Equality 7-2521 aspires to be a self-proclaimed individual. In the novella, Anthem, Ayn Rand discusses of a dystopian society in which every man and women are set equal to each other. Equality is damned by the World Council after a discovery of light and electricity, and a contradictory belief in individualism. Freedom is an essential factor in the happiness of man. Equality is scorned for his different looks, mental competence, and independent beliefs but laughs when he recognizes that he should be glorified for understanding that his perception of life leads to contentment.
Equality lives a great amount of his life as a follower because his conforming society establishes him to act a certain way. In fact, Equality follows the rules of his society as most men do. He follows the laws
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
In a year that remains undefined beneath a small city lit only by candles, a young man is working. He works without the council to guide him and without his brothers beside him. He works for his own purposes, for his own desires, for the dreams that were born in his own steady heart and bright mind. In his society, this is the greatest transgression. To stand alone is to stand groping in the dark, and to act alone is to be shamed by one’s own selfishness. The elegantly simple society that Ayn Rand has created in the novel Anthem has erased all segregation and discrimination by making every man one and the same with those around him; only Equality 7-2521 defies the norm with his ruthless
He defends not only his rights but his society’s. There is a quote by a Greek poet, Sappho, that says “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” The Council of Scholars gives every resource available to the society so they will be able to survive in a world where the word “I” does not exist. A person should not go against someone that has done everything for them. It is supporting that Equality should not become critical of his leaders, but his moral values were stronger than the fact that the Council helped him to become the human he is today. The leaders of Anthem select the best decisions according to them to be able to provide resources for people. Equality decides go to against them and bring a new perspective to his society, which puts the leaders’ moral reputation in doubt about how secluded they keep the society. Furthermore, Rand stated in her essay, “There is no escape from the fact that men have to make choices; there is no escape from moral values; ...” (Rand, 7). It does not matter the situation, men have to make choices even if others disagree with them. Equality makes multiple choices to improve his society, while the leaders make choices that only helps them to be in control of every single thing happening in Anthem. At some point Equality started to realize that there was more to learn and enjoy, it was not just to work with his “brothers” and support each other. He
Ayn Rand’s Anthem is a politically satirical novel set in a future society that is so highly collectivized that the word “I” has been banned. The world is governed by various councils who believe that man’s sole reason for existence is to enforce the Great Truth “that all men are one and that there is no will save the will of all men together” (Rand, 20). Any indication of an individual’s independent spirit is swiftly and brutally put down, with the transgressors being punished with severe prison sentences or even death. 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.
Can being selfish ever be acceptable? Anthem by Ayn Rand and the song “I Get Out” by Lauryn Hill share a similar theme relating to selfishness. “I Get Out” expresses the theme that man should be selfish, with Hill singing of reaching a new and better life strictly for her benefit . In comparison, the theme of Anthem is that one should praise man’s ego and, again, allow themselves to be selfish. Anthem focuses on standing out from the crowd and expressing individual interests for their own sake when Equality, a young man forced into a collectivist society, finally chooses to escape to an independent land.. Both Anthem and “I Get Out” possess the similar theme that man should be selfish, based on both Hill and Equality’s knowledge of better life, their repression by leaders of their society, and the strength of their quest for freedom.
From the beginning of Siddhartha, Siddhartha shows that shows that he feels as if something is missing. He wants to be able to reach something that his father and the other elders are yet to achieve and that is enlightenment. He tends to go against what his father believes as well as his religion, he is taught by the samana even though everything in his life has told him that the samana is the wrong religion. It is clear that Siddhartha is ready to go on his journey to find enlightenment when he goes against what his father believes and tells him when he goes to stuff with the samanas. To be able to go against his own fathers ideas and beliefs showed that Siddhartha was very strong willed and determined. Siddhartha also shows his determination when he decides to leave the samanas because he comes to the realization that he does not need teachings or a teacher to show how to reach nirvana, he even goes to the extent of abandoning his own friend as well as the Buddha because he believes in his mind that he will be able to find nirvana on his own. On the other hand, there is Gilgamesh, the ruler of Uruk. In order for Gilgamesh to keep the people of Uruk alive he must be strong willed and he is but to the point where it perceived as arrogance to the people of Uruk. Gilgamesh believes that his one of the god even though he is only 2/3 god and 1/3 human. Even
"On the great journey of life, if a man cannot find one who is better or at least as good as himself, let him journey joyfully alone." The story of Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse makes this point true. The main character Siddhartha dealt with the Samanas and Gotama Buddha, the second with Kamala and then the ferryman. The three parts correspond to the three stages though which Siddhartha passes on his journey to enlightenment: The stage of the mind; the stage of the flesh; the stage of transcendence.
After Kamala dies, Siddhartha keeps his son with him by the river. The boy, though, refuses to accept Siddhartha as his father and consequently does nothing he is told. Many months pass, but the boy remains intransigent. Eventually the boy runs away. Vasuveda tells Siddhartha to let him go, but Siddhartha follows him. Upon reaching the town, Siddhartha recalls his own experiences there and admits to himself what he knew all along, that he could not help the boy. Siddhartha feels a great sorrow at this loss, and the happiness he had known as a Ferryman leaves him. Vasuveda soon arrives and leads the despondent Siddhartha to back to the river.
I believe that the quote “When you throw a stone into the water, it finds the quickest way to the bottom of the water. It is the same when Siddhartha as an aim, a goal.” is an accurate comparison. When Siddhartha has a goal, he barely has time to consider his decisions, then plunges right into what he is doing. His goal now is to immerse himself in material life. This means that he is giving in to all of his desires to find the bottom of the pond, or his answers.
Throughout the tale, Siddhartha strives to be one with Atman, or internal harmony/eternal self, but by his own attainment. Even when he is offered the insight of Gotama, the divine and perfect one, who is the embodiment of peace, truth, and happiness, he refuses following him and decides to attain Nirvana in his own way. In this, Siddhartha shows his prideful nature but also reveals a positive aspect: self-direction. He realizes that others' ways of teaching can only be applied to their past experiences, but is still reluctant to ac...
... middle of paper ... ... He makes Siddhartha listen to the river and Siddhartha laughs at how he chased his son. Siddhartha is soon reminded by the river of how he left his own father.
Siddhartha left his life as a Samana because his expectations of being taught enlightenment were not fulfilled. After giving the Brahman life a chance to prove itself, Govinda and Siddhartha find themselves doubting their recent choice. “Well Govinda...”, Siddhartha begins, “are we on the right road? Are we gaining knowledge? Are we approaching salvation? Or are we perhaps going in
Throughout the novel, Siddhartha is both internally and externally separated from society. While Siddhartha searches of enlightenment, he assimilates into multiple groups, but separates himself internally from others within the group. As a Brahmin’s son, Siddhartha was surrounded by educated, wealthy, and strong spiritual followers. Despite this, Siddhartha was singled out as exceptional, this carries on as he becomes a Samana and the beginning of his stay in the village. It is this separation that creates and strengthens Siddhartha’s greatest vice, his ego. Throughout the book, Siddhartha tries to rid himself of his attachments; yet, the way in which he views the society around him ensures his attachment to his own ego. Midway through