The Theme Of Equality In Ayn Rand's Anthem

788 Words2 Pages

A Whole New World Throughout the novella Anthem written by Ayn Rand, Equality comes to understand the life he really lives in. In Anthem Equality lives in a brotherhood society, the thought of yourself or speaking the word “I” is a sin. Equality is very curious and suspicious of his society and discovers things from the unmentionable times, which are events from the past life and are forbidden for any member of the society to uncover. With his new discoveries he finds new ways to live. By going against his leaders and starting a new chapter where he can do for himself. As the story concludes, Equality denounces his leaders and changes his lifestyle, because he discovers new ways of life: he is correct in his new ways because he has evidence …show more content…

Being a lawyer requires no personal thoughts and reasons, you can’t discuss the case with others. You always have to follow the rules, and Equality tends to break lots of rules. Although I feel with the situation Equality is in he would agree with Ayn Rand’s short essay, “There is no escape from the fact that men have to make choices; so long as men have to make choices, there is no escape from moral terms” (paragraph ). But Equality does escape moral terms by leaving and running off to a new life because of the choice he made. When he made the choice to escape his society, he made the choice to start over, and now he couldn’t be more enthused about his choice. Equality can’t help what he feels is unacceptable because the thoughts invade his life and help him to proceed with the choices he …show more content…

He now has the opportunity to decide his future, and how he can help change it! Because he wants to save his fellow friends and help them to see the new world. He will be the new change in his world. All because he went against his leaders and thought his own thoughts, he has the ability to change his world for not only him but the whole society. If you had this opportunity why would you not take it? Equality can be the change in his society so others do not have to live that miserable life he spent the last several years of his life

Show More
Related

  • Character Analysis of Equality 7-2521 in Ayn Rand's 'Anthem'

    824 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    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

  • Equality's Motivation In Anthem, By Ayn Rand

    793 Words  | 2 Pages

    “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

    Read More

  • Essay On Equality In Ayn Rand's Anthem

    955 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Identity In Ayn Rand's Anthem

    1085 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Equality 7-2521

    936 Words  | 2 Pages

    Anthem is a novella written by Ayn Rand, in which Equality 7-2521, the protagonist, struggles for self-identification living in a collectivist society. Equality believes that individuality is an eminent aspect of one’s life because individuality defines and outlines who man is. He endures all the hardships in his life living with people who support collectivism, and who reject his ideas. For example, when Equality 7-2521 invents and exhibits the light bulb, the World Council rejects it and tells him that it is selfish to work on something alone instead of working with his brothers. The World Council threatens to destroy the light bulb but Equality does not let that happen and rebels, so he is forced into exile from his society. Equality realizes that he is different from others because he cares about his happiness unlike others who are convinced to believe that a group’s happiness counts more than an individual’s happiness.

    Read More

  • The Shade Of Oppression In Ayn Rand's Anthem

    956 Words  | 2 Pages

    Why can a plant not grow in the shade? When a population is kept in the dark, no progress is made. One example of a community kept in ignorance is from the novella Anthem by Ayn Rand, a place where there is total control by the government. This technology deprived world insinuates that science and technology can spur rebellion, division, and change, showing that technological progress develops from the freedom of oppression.

    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

  • Ayn Rand's Anthem

    662 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ayn Rand's Anthem shows us her view of our world united under what seems to be communist rule. For example their view of right and wrong; which Anthem portrays is a system of very strict rules which mainly make sure that everyone is involved in a collective role within the society in this system no one is considered an individual or that they can even think as an individual.

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Freedom In Anthem, By Ayn Rand

    551 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Ayn Rand's Anthem

    823 Words  | 2 Pages

    in his world it was believed that ?What was not thought by all men cannot

    Read More

  • Equality 7-2521 In Ayn Rand's Anthem

    213 Words  | 1 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Equality 7-2521 In Ayn Rand's Anthem

    460 Words  | 1 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Anthem: The Struggle for Individualism in Equality's Society

    629 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Ayn Rand’s novelette Anthem, the main character lives in the distant future somewhere on earth. Equality is part of a society who believe everything should be equal, going from the body standards, education requirements, and much more. The educational system was at the pace of the slowest person, while everyone else was expected to have the same intelligence. Equality says that he “tried to forget his lessons” (21) just so he would be able to fit in and not get as much hate as he already does, he has to pretend to be as dumb as the stupidest person to escape from punishment. As one were to go through the book, on the first page of chapter one, the first words are, “It is a sin to write this.”(17) Equality is saying that because some people can not write, then nobody is allowed to either.

    Read More

  • Having Your Vocation Chosen for You in "Anthem" by Ayn Rand

    748 Words  | 2 Pages

    Anthem, by Ayn Rand is a classic novel about a man who struggles through life to try and show the positives about a life unknown, unlike the dark and wicked society that he lives in. It shows what collectivism can do to a society and how a community can not flourish without individual identities. Equality is shown as a extremely intelligent young man with great potential to the future of the society, but the Council of Vocations seems him in a different light. Looked down upon by everyone, Equality 7-2521 was given the job of Street Sweeper to make him equal to his fellow brothers and to erase any individuality he obtained.

    Read More

More about The Theme Of Equality In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Open Document