Language In Ayn Rand's Anthem

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This is a book that celebrates the individual human ego, a story of rebellion against the collective. Anthem begins written in first person plural, there is no 'I', "There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever"(Rand 19). The society the narrator lives in is one that suppresses anything that would allow an individual their own identity; first-person singular, names, and mirrors. Anthem speaks of 'I' in a holy light, deeming the word a god in and of itself, inciting the reader to feel awe towards the word. It uses biblical and religious tones to highlight the importance of first-person singular pronouns. At the same time, words with negative connotation are used with 'We' and 'Our', the first-person plural pronouns.

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