More handpicked essays just for you.
Meaning of themes of oppression in literature
7 ways ayn rand life is reflected in the book anthem
anthem ayn rand effect on the reader
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Meaning of themes of oppression in literature
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a world where everyone was forced to be exactly alike? Well in Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem she directly confronts this topic through the main character named Equality 7-2521. Equality 7-2521 faces challenges directly relating to the issue that the government has been trying to address for many years. Equality 7-2521 is not like his brothers, he is smarter, wiser and even taller, therefore, his brothers think that he has “evil in his bones” (Rand 18). The book Anthem is the firsthand account of how Equality 7-2521 finds the word “I” amongst the word “We”. He does not agree with these rules that the government has put into place, these are the rules that held him back for a time, but in the end, pushed him forward to be his own person. …show more content…
The rules do not allow him to explore his intelligence, in fact they hold him back, but at the end of the book, he is able to overcome these challenges. He does not agree with the idea that the government has put into place. A quote to support this idea is “And they answered: ‘Since the Council does not know of this hole, there can be no law permitting to enter. And everything which is not permitted by law is forbidden. ‘But we said: ‘We shall go, nonetheless.’” This quote shows that equality tries to find ways around the rules so that he can enter the
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.
As Equality stops to devour the supper he caught, he notices a, “great satisfaction to be found in the food by which we obtain by our own hand” (Rand 80). For once, Equality puts the hunting skill he possesses to use, and the pleasure that comes with consuming an adequate meal made completely by him is far beyond that of meals prepared by others. And by residing in the Uncharted Forest, Equality experiences joy because he essentially is free and can pursue tasks he desires, like hunting, at any time. Furthermore, as Equality proceeds through his day he, “walks on til the sun had set” (Rand 80). Equality now does not have to conform his life to regulations, such as having a curfew, set by the World Council of Scholars. He has the power to choose where he wants to settle and the time at which he must be home, a decision that would not be left up to him back in the city. Ultimately, Equality for the first time broke the chains of uniformity that bound him since birth, and because of this he scoffs at the idiocy of the Scholars to realize that true happiness is achieved through liberty, not
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 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
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
After Equality is sent into exile he comes upon the perfect place for him to live: the Uncharted Forest. Equality feels very safe in the forest and, he is happy because for the first time ever he does not wake up in the morning because he has to but because he rested well. He enjoys eating his food for the first time and realizes that he actually is happier when away from everyone in the city. Before he sees his reflection in the water, Equality says, “We knelt by the stream and we bent down to drink. And then we stopped. For, upon the blue of the sky below us, we saw our own face for the first time.” (Rand 80).Because he now knows how his image looks, he feels like he can trust himself and confidently adds, “And we thought that we could trust this being who looked upon us from the stream, and that we...
The beginning of the story opens with Equality being chastised because he is too tall and too smart. He noticed that “to be free, a man must be free of his brothers” (Rand 101). This quote shows that when society controls him, and he relies on everyone else, a lack of progress is inevitable. Even the higher powers control their city with aggressive strength; the Council of Vocations assigns Equality to be a street sweeper even though he wants to be a scholar. Out of curiosity, he finds a tunnel while on duty. He begins to write about himself, even though “it is a sin to think words no others are to see” (Rand 1). Having no obligation to others allows one to work towards their own goals, Equality is able to pass his previous instinct where “all men are one” (Rand 20). With the revelation of himself as being a separate indiv...
This book is called Anthem and is written and published by an author named Ayn Rand. The genre of this book has a mix of sci-fi and fiction. The setting might not be specific but the time that this took place was in the future and was taken place in the utopian world which is completely different from the normal world. The main character is Equality 7-2521 (Prometheus) because he is the one of the people that found the tunnel, he was the one who started to invent things in the tunnel after discovering electricity, falling in love with a certain someone whose name will be mentioned later, and he found a forest where he found freedom. Liberty 5-3000 (Gaea) is another one of the main characters because she is the one that met Equality 7- 2521 in the tunnel. She also is
Anthem by Ayn Rand focuses on the life of Equality 7-2521. He lives in a society where the idea of individuality does not exist. Everyone works from the age of 15 until the age of 40. When they turn 40 they go to reside in the Home of the Useless. In Chapter One of this book, Equality 7-2521 says that it is unusual for men to reach the age of 45. Although he doesn’t specifically tell us the reason, here are a few possible explanations as to why the life span is so short.
He was able to say that he alone did this or whatever he put his mind too. He did not have to associate himself with others but could say he did it alone. He also realized that he did not have to worry about his other brothers because he that it is more to a brother than just following their rules but being able to discuss things went them and being able to make your own decisions. His also changed his name from Equality 7-2521 to Prometheus and Golden Ones’ to Gaea. Equality learned what it means to have something that yours. He proved that it does not take everyone to do something. a. He had to accept his way of thinking and turn it into something that he thought could make things better. That took determination to stay strong and the diligence to keep going. That why you have to keep your mind open and do not give up when it seem people are against
In Ayn Rand’s Anthem, the society in which Equality 7-2521 and his fellow brothers live is one where all must be the same. The epitome of an altruistically collectivist society, it not only discourages but punishes any deviance whatsoever from the standard man. It is a widely accepted belief in this society that “We exist through, by and for our brothers who are the State” (21). Equality 7-2521 has been taught this from birth, and knows well the values of his civilization. However, Equality 7-2521 was always different. He was “born with a curse. It has always driven us to thoughts which are forbidden … We know that we are evil, but there is no will in us and no power to resist it. This is our wonder and our secret fear, that we know and do not resist” (18). Every day he explores a mysterious tunnel that seems to have been left from the Unmentionable Times, a forbidden age long
Aristotle once said “the worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal.” As demonstrating in the powerful novella Anthem, Equality 7-2521, like many others in his community, is a victim of this. Ayn Rand’s writing depicts a strict collectivist society in which there is absolutely no individual expression. The lives of these people are controlled by the Council of Vocations, a powerful group which dictates the occupations held by every individual until the age of forty, when they enter the Home of the Useless. The Council of Vocations is supposed to assign jobs according to specific talents and skills that could benefit their society as a whole. However, as demonstrated many times, it is also used as a way of control. Even
The things that make one different are the things that cause the world to change and lead to conformity. Uniqueness is a characteristic that is in everyone; no one person is the same. In this way, Equality 7-2521 from Anthem, a novel written by Ayn Rand, conforms to society on his outward actions to keep him safe, but on this inside, his drive for individuality and not being “normal” allows him to discover a tunnel in which he discovers multiple things like electricity. In a similar aspect, I seek to with my mind, as if a moving vehicle, swerve sharply to the opposite direction to avoid indifference and achieve my maximum potential.