American chemist and author, Linus Pauling once stated, “Satisfaction of one's curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.” In other words, by acting upon impulses of curiosity, one can achieve happiness. As for Equality 7-2521, the protagonist in Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem, this claim may hold true. Equality is a teenage boy living in a dystopian society, where the concepts of freedom and individual rights are eliminated. Society is controlled by the World Council of Scholars, who ensure that no individual stands out to maintain sameness. However, sameness can never be achieved because Equality always stands out, for he is intellectually and physically advanced compared to his fellow brothers. Equality’s different characteristics …show more content…
Throughout the novel, Equality allows his active curiosity to encourage him experiment, venture, and learn. Reactions to impulses of curiosity can lead to the discovery of one’s potential, purpose, and self-reliance. Therefore, in Anthem, Ayn Rand demonstrates the outcomes of curiosity through Equality’s behavior in the tunnel from the Unmentionable Times, in the Uncharted Forest upon finding his home, and in the house when he begins to read. To begin, by acting on urges of curiosity, one can discover their potential. Within the tunnel from the Unmentionable Times, Equality discovers his potential as he applies his skills, which is provoked by the drive of his curiosity. As Equality completes his community chores, he stumbles upon an abandoned tunnel buried within weeds. While entering the tunnel, he encounters items he believes are remains from the Unmentionable Times. Gradually, he begins spending months within the tunnel, taking advantage of the materials accessible to him; his curiosity for the artifacts lead him to the creation of a glass box, within it, the power of electricity. Equality understands the power of his invention and considers the possible collective benefits it would have in his …show more content…
As he settles into his newly declared home, Equality reflects on his responses to his urges of curiosity, which resulted in the discovery his purpose. After fleeing from the World Council of Scholars and eluding into the Uncharted Forest, Equality is soon joined by Liberty 5-3000, the woman who he has fallen in love with. For days on end, the couple walks the paths of the forest, with the hope that there is more to the uncharted region than they are told to believe. Equality and Liberty soon happen upon what appears to be a white flame among the trees. As they conclude that the flame is not a flame, but rather a reflection of the sun casted upon the object, Equality and Liberty move closer to the source of the light. They then find themselves in front of a two story house, which they assume is left from the Unmentionable Times. Upon entering the house, Equality and Liberty are amazed by the artifacts within, including the vast array of garments and manuscripts. Together, they conclude that in this house, they will raise their family. Soon after, Equality contemplates his actions in the course of the previous days and comments, “I wished to know the meaning of things. I am the meaning” (Rand 94). Before Equality allowed curiosity to guide his behavior, he was not able to grasp the meaning of his life. However, at this point in the novel, Equality finds that only he, himself, can determine the
In the book Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, Equality 7-2521 had never seen his physical appearance. He was surprised to see 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 of 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.
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 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
“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 about a man who overcomes the pressures of society to remain uniform, and breaks barriers in technology thanks to his individuality and hunger for more knowledge. The theme of the value of individuality in Anthem is developed through Equality 7-2521’s desperate need for knowledge, Equality 7-2521’s creation of the lightbulb, and Equality 7-2521 discovery of the word “I”.
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
The word collectivism often makes people cringe. Overall, there is a general fear of not being able to make personal decisions in America. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, collectivism can be defined as; emphasis on collective rather than individual action or identity (“Collectivism”). In Anthem, Ayn Rand describes an extreme collectivist society. Although Anthem’s society seems extremely surreal, aspects of its collectivist society closely mirror today’s society.
Imagine living in a dystopian society where the world that once thrived was completely forgotten. Individualism and freedom cease to exist. Equality 7-2521 finds himself living in this society in which he soon realizes he does not belong. Anthem, by Ayn Rand, portrays the theme of freedom versus confinement through the eyes of Equality 7-2521 as he struggles to free himself from the restricting society in which he lives.
Bill Richardson, politician and former New Mexico governor, states that “Ignorance has always been the weapon of tyrants; enlightenment the salvation of the free.” In Ayn Rand’s Anthem, Equality is able to discover a sense of enlightenment. This causes society to view him as an abomination. Equality laughs when he remembers he is “the Damned” because he comes to a realization about the irony of it all.
In the tale, this thought drives the entire actions of Equality 7-2521 as he progresses in his attempt to become an individual. His happiness is not satisfied when he must share it universally with all men. Not every man can be as happy as the next, and therefore the forced brotherhood of all men will only deplete the spirits of those who are successful. In Anthem, Rand tells of Equality's joy when he "discovers" electricity. At that moment he knows that the joy of discovery is only his to relish, and that it cannot be shared or manipulated by any other man. In that regard, his own well-being is the end of his striving; he has fulfilled his wishes. To say that his happiness was only the means to, say, world peace would be to abolish his status ...