The Theme Of Dystopian Society In Ayn Rand's Anthem

1179 Words3 Pages

Imagine a world where the right to choice your own ideas and ideals are stripped away from your being and you are forced to live like a robot without the joys and the rewarding aspects of life. The leaders in this dystopian society believe that they are doing this for the progress of society and the to avoid regression. In Anthem, Ayn Rand uses the progress and the regression of society as one of the central themes because the society faces regression and they try to progress into a better future. In the Giver, Lois Lowry also shows the progress of society because they take precaution to further better society but also faces dramatic regression. In Anthem and the in the Giver the citizens of society are assigned jobs instead of their own desire …show more content…

In the Giver, Lois Lowry states, “When adults of the community became older, their lives became different. They were no longer needed to create family units. Jonas's own parents, when he and Lily were grown, would go to live with the Childless Adults (Lowry 102)”. The families in this society are assigned and they are not meant to show affection only guidance and when the kids grow up the assigned parents go to the live with the childless Adults. This helps the society progress because without affection the kids will have no attachment to their parents and become successful in their jo which is beneficial to their society. In Anthem, Ayn Rand states, “We remember the Home of the Infants where we lived till we were five years old, together with all the children of the City who had been born in the same year. The sleeping halls there were white and clean and bare of all things save one hundred beds (Rand 2)”. The kids in this society are living and treated like a robot because they are sent into crowed house full with other kids. This would help the society progress because the kids will less likely to think on their own and agree to the assigned job that they are given without a second thought, though we can see that Equality is an exception. The kids are sent into houses in a way in which they would be less likely …show more content…

The community where his entire life had been lived lay. Before he had left the dwelling, he had laid his hands firmly on Gabe's back and transmitted to him the most soothing memory he could: behind him now, sleeping (Rand 168-169)”.
The Receiver of Knowledge is to the next Giver and the Giver can give the society solutions to the answers unknown or from another generation. Jonas leaves the society behind his back and takes Gabriel with him. This affects the progress of society because when the people of the society are faced with a problem which requires knowledge from other generations such as an natural disaster, then the people with not know how to react, but furthermore the only person retaining that knowledge which is Jonas decides to leave his community and home.
In the Anthem, Ayn Rand States, “"We give you the power of the sky!" we cried. "We give you the key to the earth! Take it, and let us be one of you, the humblest among you. Let us work together, and harness this power, and make it ease the toil of men. Let us throw away our candles and our torches. Let us flood our cities with light. Let us bring a new light to men!" "No," said Collective 0-0009, "we cannot decide upon this, our brothers”. We swung our fist through the windowpane, and we leapt out in a ringing rain of glass (Rand

Show More
Related

  • Comparing Society Today with Ayn Rand's, Anthem

    616 Words  | 2 Pages

    Imagine a world where people are only expected to live up to 45 years old. In today's society, there are countries that experience this. In the novel Anthem, by Ayn Rand; there are many factors like lifestyle, government, medicine, and education that lead to this. There are a couple of ways where the world in the novel is similar and different to today's society.

    Read More

  • Equality, S Self Journey In Ayn Rand's Anthem

    975 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Ayn Rand´s Anthem: Failure in the Implementation of Marxist Ideals

    701 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Collectivist Society Depicted in Ayn Rand’s Anthem

    1295 Words  | 3 Pages

    A captivating novelette in which a man’s priority is to serve only for his brothers, Ayn Rand’s Anthem illustrates a society that has suffered the ghastly consequences of collectivism. She depicts an oppressive culture in which the word “I” is unheard of and men belong to the collective “We.” Men’s lives are determined through the Council of Vocations, a group that maintains a powerful dictatorship by subjugating the public from the beginning of their lives. The idea that “If you are not needed by your brother men, there is no reason for you to burden the earth with your bodies” (Chapter 1) has been forced into average mindset of the vehemently maintained society. In contrast, Rand mocks the totalitarian civilization through the main character Equality. Since he was born, Equality possessed a quick mind and constantly strayed apart from his peers. Through his life, he shows an unwilling behavior to conform not only to his name, but also to the rules of society. After he is found guilty of independent thought, he is sadistically beaten and dragged into the Palace of Corrective Detention, an unguarded jail that castigates the public of their wrongdoings. Shackles are unnecessary as a result of the brainwashed society and their compliance to obey orders, which consequently allows Equality to escape. In a collective society, citizens are denied their inalienable right of individualism, which ultimately eliminates all thoughts of opposition. Through their submission, the presence of their souls vanishes and society deems the collectivist tenet true. The lack of guards and old locks in the Palace of corrective Detention symbolize the evils that result from a collectivist society.

    Read More

  • Altruism In Anthem By Ayn Rand

    1126 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Examples Of Objectivism In Anthem

    756 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Social Class In Anthem By Ayn Rand

    1029 Words  | 3 Pages

    People in every Society are placed in categories according to gender, religion, race, and age from which one of these categories includes social class. In the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, people are placed in social classes according to the government's liking and instead of race, age, gender etc their social class depends on the job they are given by the government. This was done to treat everyone equally in order to keep peace in the society. However, sometimes equality can cause rebellion and this idea is portrayed through the protagonist of the novel, Equality 7-2521. Ever since the unmentionable times had caused destruction to the society of Anthem, the government had taken away all the free will and individuality of its people.

    Read More

  • The Shade Of Oppression In Ayn Rand's Anthem

    956 Words  | 2 Pages

    The nature of science and technology is implied by the totalitarian world of Anthem by Ayn Rand by implying that it can stimulate rebellion, division, and change, which can indicate that progress develops from the absence of oppression. The added information of new technology can spur clashes of resistance among the population. Differing opinions can contribute to division among society, the opposite of what a totalitarian government wants. Change can develop from technology and science since these tools can widely lessen ignorance and spread the word about new and correct information and concepts. In the present world, LGBT+ rights have made clashes, uprisings, and change; showing the citizens of the current times have been subjected to oppression and ignorance which need to be brought more into the light of new

    Read More

  • Equality 7-2521

    913 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout history, authors have teased their readers with the idea of what the future might bring. Often times these stories are littered with new technology and fascinating theories, but occasionally it is the contrary. In the situation where society has taken a step back, there must be a character to give civilization a kick start. In the novella Anthem, by Ayn Rand, society is bound to collectivism, where everyone relies upon each other to live and learn; but the protagonist, Equality 7-2521, is able to break free from the fear of independence and move toward individualism. During the course of the story, Equality discovers the freedom he can bring himself. Then he realizes his mind is the door to the truth, not society. Finally, Equality recognizes himself as different from the rest of the population. These steps toward individualism are perfectly embodied by three quotes Rand incorporates in her story.

    Read More

  • Anthem Essay

    553 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Anthem, the narrator, Prometheus, lives in a community in which all of the children born that year live in the same house until they turn fifteen. Then they are assigned a job and live with the people that share that occupation. This keeps the people from having an emotional attachment to someone like they would have with a family. Totalitarian rulers often control the thoughts and beliefs of people as well. The citizens of the community are forbidden to question or explore things that are unknown to other citizens.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Collectivism In Ayn Rand's Anthem

    1045 Words  | 3 Pages

    And if the Councils had decreed that you should be a Street Sweeper, how dared you think that you could be of greater use to men than in sweeping the street?" (Rand 71-72). The government controls many aspects of its inhabitant’s lives including diet, marital status, and occupation. In essence, Anthem's collectivist society can be summarized by, "We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, one, indivisible and forever" (Rand

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Anthem, By Ayn Rand

    1282 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is a rare conception where a human being is completely and utterly alone. One problem we tend to overlook due to our primitive ideals of staying as a group, is the fact of us becoming solely to that group. In the book Anthem ,by Ayn Rand, a man named Equality 7-2521 sees this problem evolve and how it becomes a nuisance to his society. The book has made me open my mind up to the ideals of doing things for yourself and not always for those around you. The feeling of the story showing a world where many are brought down for being unique and talented hurts me as I imagine a time where all are mere specs of the world. The book hits the hard points of what can easily go wrong with our society if we decide to go over the line. I can see a life

    Read More

  • Rules And Control In Ayn Rand's 'Anthem'

    885 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the book “Anthem” the city has many rules and controls. Such as, not loving any person over another. Not saying the forbidden word “I”. Not stealing from another. With these rules and controls, Ayn Rand created a collective society, but with the idea of a utopian society.

    Read More

  • The Themes Of Individualism In Anthem, By Ayn Rand

    815 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Analysis of Child Raising in Anthem by by Ayn Rand

    557 Words  | 2 Pages

    Anthem, the powerful and outstanding novella by Ayn Rand, focuses on a totalitarian society where individualism is punished by the leaders, and hard work is overlooked. The people are not allowed to think of themselves, or to pursue their goals. Families are forbidden. When babies are born, they are immediately taken from their parents and put into a House of Infants, where they are taught the values of society. They will never get to know who their families are. The society is led by a group of people who strictly enforce these values. In many of the fictionalized and real totalitarian societies talked about today, dictators force children to live apart from their families. This is done for three reasons. The dictators fear the rebellion of the people, want to control their people as much as they can, and enforce this because they want to oppress individualism completely.

    Read More

More about The Theme Of Dystopian Society In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Open Document