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The Role Of Morality In Ayn Rand's Anthem

1160 Words5 Pages

The Impact of Beliefs Contrast Equality’s view of morality at the end of the novel to the morality exemplified by his society’s institutions, practices and officials. In your essay, consider what Ayn Rand has to say in these excerpts (Hyperlink on One Note) from her writings. The collectivist society created in Anthem by Ayn Rand, rules with a strict hand condemning anyone who chooses to speak out against it to harsh punishment, or worse, death. Equality 7-2521 lives his early life without understanding what individuality is and being entirely oblivious to emotions that are meant to be present in each human life. Through recounting his life, Equality 7-2521 is able to recognize how he always had an inner voice that was suppressed by his society because it was telling him to be an individual and put his personal wants above the wants of his fellow brothers. In a world where no one is able to think privately, Equality 7-2521 breaks away from the only moral belief system he has ever been taught and …show more content…

Constantly being told how to feel, think, and live can create a world of rebellion as people fight for their rights and beliefs. Equality 7-2521 is proof of the fight that happens in one’s mind and how it is often translated into a conflict with others of different morality. Since the society Equality 7-2521 lived in had a more “popular” morality than the one he created, he was seen as an outcast and never fit in with his brothers. Leaving everything he knew, Equality 7-2521 risked his life to be different from others and was finally able to feel emotions that were trapped in him. He lived with confliction throughout his life trying to understand the morals he was unknowingly creating for himself, but in the end fought for a cause that meant something to him and impacted his world

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Characterizing Equality 7-2521 In Ayn Rand's Anthem

199 Words | 1 Pages

In the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, she characterizes Equality 7-2521 as a brother living in a Dystopian society. Equality shares his traits and his belief on the transgression that he holds. Collectivism makes him portray a different way towards the rest of the society. He exhibits curiosity, intelligence and loneliness so the reader can identify Equality as a symbolic figure in the novel. This is what outcasts him from the rest of his brothers mentally and physically.

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Equality 7-2521 Quotes

682 Words | 3 Pages

In the novel, Equality 7-2521 learned that to be your own person you must first stop trying to be like someone else. Exemplifying a theme of Anthem where individuality breaks through teaches Equality a big lesson. Brothers stick together and help each other but are not supposed to be exactly like one another. In this novel it tried to make everyone the same and as one, rather than as individuals. The quote “To be a free, a man must be free of his brothers” (chapter 1 page 1) exemplifies a theme by saying that not everyone has to be the same.

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Equality 7-2521 Quotes

493 Words | 2 Pages

In Ayn Rand's Dystopian/Philosophical novel “Anthem” we are given the chance to witness Equality 7-2521 flourish and bloom as a character in the first chapter alone. Despite living in a society where his rights as a human being are overly oppressed, Equality began to bring forth his uncoerced mind by the end of chapter 1 through his desire to know more about himself and the world around him. At the beginning of the story Ayn Rand portrays Equality 7-2521 as a defiant yet compliant person, Accordingly Equality states that “... there is no transgression blacker than to do or think alone … The laws say that men may not write unless the Council of Vocations bid them so. May we be forgiven!”(Rand 3).

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The Theme Of Equality 7-2521 In Ayn Rand's Anthem

1247 Words | 5 Pages

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.

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Dictatorship In Anthem, By Ayn Rand

1193 Words | 5 Pages

Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000 find their freedom in the Uncharted Forest. They came onto a house in the middle of the forest from the Unmentionable Times where they are able to live their lives the way that they want to without anyone criticizing them. Equality is denouncing the leaders of his society when he says, “But I am done with this creed of corruption. I am done with the monster of ‘We,’ the word of serfdom, of plunder, of misery, falsehood and shame. And now I see the face of god, and I raise this god over the earth, this god whom men have sought since men came into being, this god who will grant them joy and peace and pride.

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Equality 7-2521 Anthem Quotes

448 Words | 2 Pages

no one knows about the freedom of men. To have individual freedoms, you must free yourself from things that hold you back. Equality 7-2521 had his brothers and the council holding him back from his freedom and self-ego. Equality 7-2521 tries to show the council his invention.

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Equality 7-2521 In Ayn Rand's Anthem

829 Words | 4 Pages

For example, Equality realizes that although he was “born with a curse” of being different, he possesses “no will…to resist it” (Rand 18). Unlike everyone else, Equality does not try to fit in; instead, he accepts—and even prefers—his peculiarities. Rand uses Equality’s stubbornness to argue her point against conformity, as his situation shows that having differences is not a reason to be forced to change. When Equality discovers electricity, his skepticism towards the society multiplies because it becomes clear that the Council of Scholars, despite their claims, does not know everything. Upon this epiphany, Equality begins to understand that his leaders are either dishonest or ignorant; therefore, neither their words nor their laws should be believed or followed.

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Examples Of Egoism In Anthem

812 Words | 4 Pages

He now begins to work on his creation more. When Equality 7-2521 is finally confident with his creation, he decides to bring it to the scholars to show them what he has done. At this point he gets in much more trouble and they immediately shut down his idea. He decides to run away to the Uncharted Forest where he finds his own happiness with his loved one, the Golden One. Equality 7-2521 is seen as an egoist in the story because his only goal is to pursue his own happiness, and not to serve others and make them happy as well.

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Summary Of Individuality In Ayn Rand's Anthem

1128 Words | 5 Pages

Equality-72521. With an inquisitive nature, an innovative mind, and latent desire, Equality withholds the traits of a visionary who advocates for individuality. Every step Equality takes, is one away from the public-spirited system. Another towards personal identity. Each step is an internal struggle, due to the communist machine’s brainwash and eloquent reprogram of Equality’s instinctive mind.

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Symbols In Ayn Rand's Anthem

669 Words | 3 Pages

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.

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The Road To Individualism In Anthem, By Ayn Rand

452 Words | 2 Pages

Equality lives in a collectivist society, which is a society that believes, “that man must be chained to collective action and collective thought for the sake of what is called “the common good.” Therefore, Equality being the person he is, struggles with being an individual. He knows it is against the law but he enjoys knowledge so much, it confuses him. He states, “And in our heart-strange are the ways of evil! - and in our heart there is the first peace we have known in 20 years.”

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Bullying In Ayn Rand's Anthem

905 Words | 4 Pages

With Ayn Rand’s story starting off with the world building through the main characters' eyes. This said main character's name is Equality 7-2521, he introduces us to how he lives in this dystopian world. As Equality 7-2521 describes how he lives, we see many errors about what is wrong in this dystopian world. We also see how much he breaks the rules just so he can actually experience true happiness. As Equality 7-2521 breaks rules he understands that he is and so do others like Liberty 5-3000 when she states “Such thoughts as these are forbidden, Golden one” (Rand 56).

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Influence Of Equality On The Path Of Freedom In Anthem By Ayn Rand

940 Words | 4 Pages

Equality 7-2521 can free himself from collectivism because he was independent. In the novel Anthem Ayn Rand makes us comprehend that Equality had and inner struggle and

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Collectivism And Selfishness In Ayn Rand's Anthem

594 Words | 3 Pages

There's so much emphasis on putting others before oneself that people often forget to look out for their own needs, as shown in this book. Ayn Rand successfully captures the negatives of an overrated ideology and presents an unorthodox perspective on the matter. In conclusion, Equality's true motives behind his work are much more selfish than they first appear to be. Equality strives to fulfil his own personal desire rather than contribute everything to society, and this isn't necessarily a negative thing.

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The Importance Of Objectivism In Ayn Rand's Anthem

1162 Words | 5 Pages

Judging the morals in life regarding different societies expectations quickly became the focus of Equality’s thoughts, exactly as Ayn Rand had made it the importance of her own efforts. Objectivism is different from what many people live by, but it worked for Equality by the end of Anthem. It is important to realize everybody needs different things, which leads to thinking diversely. Some need self-respect to be able to give respect, and others live their life following instead of leading. It is impossible however, to say objectivism needs to vanish when it never has before, more so, the world would be unbalanced with only equal thoughts from all; there would be no innovation if all thoughts were for the same narrow concept.

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