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Critical analysis of dystopian literature
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5 paragraph essay anthem by ayn rand
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It is common for individuals to envision a perfect world; a utopian society where everything is paradise, with equality, happiness, and ideal perfection. Unfortunately, Equality 7-2521 lives in a dystopian society, a world in which everything is far from perfect. Dystopian society is a place where many do not which to live upon. Equality 7-2521 is not fortunate enough to do what he enjoys. He is forced to follow rules and laws, which many of them he has already broken. Ayn Rand's novelette, "Anthem," is based on a dystopian society in which individuals are created to be "equals".
In Ayn Rand's novelette, "Anthem," there is rare opposition to the leaders in that society. I believe that there is rare opposition to the leaders in that society
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The society believe that doing things they want is a sin. They believe that this is normal because that is the only way they have been taught to live. "It is a sin to write this. It is a sin to think words no others think and to put them down upon a paper no others are to see. And we know well that there is no transgression blacker that 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. May we be forgiven!" They were taught this and believe that there is nothing …show more content…
This contributes to a major part as to why no one opposes to leaders in this society. "The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore the things which are known by all do not exist." The council have successfully taught this society that no freedom exists. In this society the Council of Scholars makes decisions for every individual. The Council of Scholars are thought to be the wisest,and greatest of this society. "All the great modern inventions come from the Home of the Scholars...". In Ayn Rand's novelette, "Anthem," individuals are taught to say "we" instead of "I". "We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever." No individual has ever tried to say the word "I" because they believe that no such great thing exist. They have been taught since the beginning that they are all one and must not be one on their own. No individual has ever tried to defy the Council because they believe that they are all one and there is no point as to why they should defy them. This was the way they were taught, so that is the way they think is
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.
Many people seem to get entangled into society's customs. In the novel Anthem, the protagonist, Equality 7-2521, lives a period of his life as a follower. However, Equality eventually, tries to distant himself from his society. He is shaped to be a follower, but eventually emerges in to an individual and a leader. On his journey, he discovers the past remains of his community. Ayn Rand uses Equality's discoveries of self to represent the importance of individuality in a functional society.
Ayn Rand, in Anthem, illustrates a futuristic, socialist society. In the novel, Rand destroys any sense of individuality and describes the social setbacks endured after living ‘only for the brotherhood’. The individual person fails to exist and is but a ‘we’ and recognized by a word and a series of numbers rather than a name. Additionally, she describes the horrors encountered within this different system of life: from reproduction methods to punishments. Through the life of Equality 7-2521, Rand demonstrates a person’s journey from obedience to exile in this socialist society. Throughout the entire novel, Rand criticizes Marxist theory as she demonstrates socialism’s failure to suppress revolution, thwart material dialectic, and its detriment to humanity.
“For I know what happiness is possible to me on Earth. And my happiness needs no higher aim to vindicate it” (Rand 95). In this part of the novella, Equality, the narrator, is aware that he can find his own happiness and he should show it once it is found. Throughout the novella, Anthem written by Ayn Rand, Equality is trying to find himself in a society full of equals. As he discovers the tunnel, Equality creates a light bulb in which he wants to flaunt upon the people of his society. Subsequently, when it is rejected by the Council, he hides in the forest from those who see him as a betrayer. Equality tries to find himself in a collectivist society that he knows he does not belong in, in which he evolves. The author believes in objectivism,
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
Ayn Rand, a contentious woman, the new favorite author to multiple people’s list. People who have read her magnificent book, Anthem, understand how exquisite and meaningful her words are. Books like Anthem are worth reading because it gives the reader more knowledge about controversial topics and it takes the reader to experience new places and new adventures. Equality, the main character, is a symbol. He represents many people today, living in countries like his society. Equality has to find his true identity first before helping the others. People are not allowed to believe in individualism, they should not have a identity of their own. Each person has a monotone routine to follow every single day of their lives. Each step a person takes
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.
The dystopia depicted in Anthem could quite easily be considered Ayn Rand’s commentary on society. It puts into perspective the downfalls of societal trends and putting others above oneself. The novella itself is a satire of Collectivism, which can be seen in examples of Communism. Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism includes ideas of immutable facts, rationalist mentality, self-prioritization, and a capitalist society (ARI, n.d.). Her ideas are shown in a variety of aspects throughout the novella. Oppression felt due to the collective mentality is the most prominent of the ideas shown. Another aspect that is important to note is Equality 7-2521’s natural tendency to struggle against the restrictions set upon
In this novella, the characters have every aspect of their lives planned by the government in an attempt to make everyone indistinguishable. As a result, the characters have no sense of identity. For example, the characters have names such as Equality, Collective, and Union. Alone these names suggest a common core. Drastically, a complete loss of individuality can be noted by how the characters say "we" rather than "I", the forbidden word.
In the novel Anthem, Equality 7-2521 lived in the dark ages of the future; a loveless world that lost all trace of science. Throughout the novel, Equality 7-2521 struggled being a man of his own in a society where thinking alone was a crime. The author Ayn Rand uses different literary devices including setting, point of view, imagery, and simile to enhance this theme of individualism.
Ayn Rand’s Anthem is the story of a man by the name of Equality 7-2521’s personal growth and quest for freedom from the rules and regulations in society, which he lived. Long ago something called the Great Rebirth happened and later all of mankind started to think of it as one “great WE”. Members of this society were expected to obey the rules; these rules are set in place to help this society function as a unit.
Ayn Rand’s “Anthem” is a dystopian fiction novella that takes place at an unspecific future date where mankind has entered a dark age. Equality 7-2521 is the main character we are first introduced to as he illegally writes his thoughts on paper in a secret tunnel by the light of a candle he stole.
In Anthem Ayn Rand displays communism by letting us know the thoughts in Equality 7-2521’s mind. The story is written all from his point of view and is in first person so we only know what is thoughts are. “Our name is equality 7-2521….” Chapter 1 Paragraph 5.
Mankind is composed of sovereign individuals, and each person only has one obligation to self: think of "me" before "we."
Equality; the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities. Ayn Rand the author of Anthem made her society, so that everyone was equal no one referred to themselves as an individual. Everyone was one with everyone. The view her book takes on equality is different from how we view equality to be . The society that her characters live in no one is better than the other. But Equality, the main character of this story brings the story to life because of how different he is from everyone else in the society. He thinks, sees, and even looks different from everyone in his society. Equality, does not feel like he belongs at first in the story, but as the story goes on he learns that him being different might not be such