“It is a sin to write this,” begins Anthem, and the digression of the society around him slowly falls. The argument asks if I reason about the Equality’s sins being evil or marvelous. The outtake of his decision decides his fate on the community around him, lifeless slaves being controlled by the government. So, I believe his sins are for the greater good. It shows that he is not a enslaved monkey in a science lab, but the arrogant monkey who refuses to do the tests. He shows the people around him what it feels like to be independent, and the feeling of color. Here is a quote to represent the curiosity about him, “What -- even if we have to burn for it like the Saint of the pyre -- what is the Unspeakable Word?” (Rand 57) “For this wire is a part of our body, as a vein torn from us, glowing with our blood. Are we proud of this thread of metal, or of our hands which made it, or is there a line to divide these two?” (Rand 5.10) This quote above shows that he will do anything for his invention, electricity. He will go as far as almost die with it. He will do anything, as long as it’s safe. That shows that he is different from the others, the community. …show more content…
It is base and evil. It is as if we were speaking alone to no ears but our own. And we know well that there is no transgression blacker than to do or think alone.” (Rand 1.1) So ends the end of this essay, Equality’s moral assessment in his life was worth the risk he took to be independent. His name is Prometheus, and his girlfriend’s name is Gaiea. The moral assessment was right, I think. In which right can mean wrong, and if it is wrong then I don’t want to be right. It was just him, and no one helped him get to where he is. The community may have been against him, but it didn’t ruin his morals. I give thanks to Ayn Rand for a great book and a great example , R.I.P. for your writing will always be
Based on a man named Equality 7-2521, Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, tells his story as a captive. He was not ordinary like everyone else but was very different in many aspects. He was said to be cursed due to his great height, his intelligence, and his forever wandering mind. Equality 7-2521 was smarter than the other students he learned with. According to the Councils over the captives, everyone should be one or in unity.
Anthem by Ayn Rand is about a young boy named Equality 7-2521, age 21. Who had recreated electricity, and wanted to show the council to get himself into the home of the scholars. He terrified them all and ran off into the uncharted forest. Where he sees a house full of books. It all finally leads him to believe that you are not free, if you’re not free of your brothers.
There are many examples of irony in Anthem that the author uses to carry the plot and deepen the story and an example of irony that some people don't get until later in the book is the idea of "we". Therefore it is ironic that a person wouldn't know the word for one's self. The definition of irony is "the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect. " The use of we is to really push the idea that Equality 7-2521 only thinks as a group. This example is dramatic irony because the readers of Anthem know that Equality 7-2521 is an individual yet still calls himself "we".
Throughout Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem, numerous objects and occurrences symbolize much more than what they are presented as. Of the more obvious symbols, light has the largest impact on the course of the story. The most important instance of light centers around Equality 7-2521’s re-invention of the light bulb. Rand uses light to provide a religious, mythic feeling to the acts of Equality 7-2521 and how he symbolizes light himself. In a society where all men and women are one equal and single minded being; Equality 7-2521 becomes the lone source of individuality and a beacon of light to the people of this oppressed civilization.
An individual in an authoritarian socialist society has no ability to prosper because it is in the best interest of the government to keep the people down. This allows for easy control over the people by the government. In Anthem, you are held back as an individual and are not allowed to prosper because goes against your brothers. If you have “What is not done collectively cannot be good”(Rand 73). The quote was said by a scholar in anthem.
The United States of America is one of the most prideful countries in the world. We dedicate July 4th to our independance, proudly wear red, white, and blue, and we join together in many rhymes of patriotism. The Pledge of Allegiance is one of the many ways we show our pride towards our country. In the novel Anthem, by Ayn Rand, a scripture reminiscent of the pledge is repeated by the narrator in times of temptation. The scripture, however, sends a very different message.
In "Anthem" by Ayn Rand, there's a big similarity between the society of The Brotherhood and the Declaration of Independence. In the Declaration of Independence it says that all men are created equal and in Anthem all men are really created equally. The men in Anthem are created so equally that they refer to themselves as "we" because, almost is as if they're an individual. Although the main purpose of the Declaration of Independence was the Americans separating from the British after realizing that the British country is small,we can see that some of the ideals in the Declaration of Independence are tantamount to those in Anthem. Anthem reveals that Equality isn't the same to the others in the story which makes him stand out in being the equal to all of them, which is quite ironic because his name is Equality.
Anthem’s opening line, “It is a sin to write this,” creates a significant theme of guilt within Equality’s own mind, and it injects the theme of the importance of purity and morality by provoking Equality’s eventual assessment and recognition that society’s view of sin does not reconcile with his
After realizing the impact his invention would have on his entire community, he makes an even bigger breakthrough: the feeling of self admiration. His eagerness to share the light with The Council shows how proud he is of it, which in reality, is a direct reflection of the pride he takes in himself for creating such a thing. As mentioned in “The Soul of an Individualist” — a speech from another Ayn Rand novel, The Fountainhead —, this fulfillment that he feels is natural, for “creators [are] not selfless. It is the whole secret of their power — that it was self-sufficient, self-motivated, self-generated”. Not only did Equality experience new emotions from his achievement, but also new desires.
This shows the government’s way of controlling and keeping order throughout the city. The first time Equality witnesses one of the many punishments is when “men [were] burned alive in the square of the city” (49). A punishment this cruel could only result from speaking the Unspeakable Word that is “I”. The Saint of the pyre, the Transgressor, had the “calmest and the happiest face” all the while he was being burned at the stake (50). This reveals that the Saint of the pyre is sending a message to Equality as the Saint “had chosen us from the crowd and [was] looking straight upon us” during his public execution (51).
A man by the name Yegor Letov once said “I am a communist. Communism is when a person overcomes his personal self and turns into more than just 'me'.” (Yegor Letov Quotes). Mr. Letov believed in a society based on communism, which would create similarity between each member of this society. Any choices made would no longer be about ‘yourself’ as he said, but instead would be replaced with the concept to always think as ‘we’.
Moral codes are very important in a society. In order to have a great society, the morals must be clear and have a sturdy foundation. By the end of the Anthem, Equality 7-2521 has become very critical of leaders in his society, denouncing them in moral terms. Equality 7-2521 is correct in judging the leaders in his society. Equality 7-2125 would agree with Ayn Rand’s article, "How does One Lead a Rational Life in an Irrational Society?”
So long a road lies before us, and what care if we must travel it alone!” (54) In this statement all Equality cares about is his invention and he is still trying to expand his
If they don’t like what somebody does, they push them deeper, until they cannot see who they are. For an example let us go to page 63. Equality hides a secret from a council member, and through the bare of bickering, Equality is then sentenced to being lashed bare. Because a person utilizing what would be known as freedom of speech, they get whipped? What world is this to ask for the basic human right to be stripped from the humans themselves?
The Paragon of Freedom Equality is something strived for by society, to liberate ourselves of oppression and be ourselves unconditionally. But, equality cannot be achieved by the oppression of others, it will only cause others to retaliate or resist. This can be seen in Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem, where she depicts this exactly, the protagonist, Equality, is a young man who has been assigned the job of a street sweeper by his society. Equality has grown up being wrongly taught that the individual is subordinate to the whole society, therefore being oppressed by a collectivist society; due to his inquisitive nature, sense of self, and desire for self-improvement, he is able to break free and practice individualism rather than the oppression he faced during his time in collectivist society.