Totalitarianism is when the government controls every aspect of the public and private sectors. It means to erase the line that separates government and society. There were three leaders known to fit the mold of totalitarians. Adolph Hitler of Germany, Benito Mussolini of Italy, and Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union.
A Collectivist World like in the novel Anthem written by Ayn Rand have an effect into the Government has Authority for everybody and everything, Restriction on choices for the Individual, and Desire to create or innovate is forgotten. Although, a Collectivist Government is capable for equality, no matter what their position is in the society. However, the individual does not have the capability to make decision in their life without a supervision decides on what the person will do for living in that society. In History, there are examples of a collectivist society, such as China and Japan have their standards for everybody is to working as a group, and everybody thinks the same way as a group. The Author Ayn Rand had to deal with living in
From a young age, humans learn that truth comes from authority. This concept is addressed in the dystopian novels 1984 by George Orwell and Anthem by Ayn Rand when they convey the possibilities of a totalitarian society. The controlling governmental figure in 1984, Big Brother, uses psychological torture to convince his citizens that life is better when he is in charge. In Anthem, the society has reverted to times before electricity and everyone is convinced through their loss of information that individual thought, even if it is to advance society, is dangerous. Regardless of both novels differing, they are unified through their author’s warning that the destruction of individualism by the government can quell the growth and progress of humankind.
The idea of totalitarianism was discussed in Ayn Rand’s short essay “How Does One Lead a Rational Life in an Irrational Society?”. During the essay, Rand explains how she feels towards this topic. She speaks of how in a world such as Equality’s there is no distinguishing the right from wrong. Rand tells of how nothing can corrupt a culture or a man’s character such as moral agnosticism.
Collectivism violates all that the democratic republic of the United States stands for. It gives too much power to the government, depriving the people of their freedoms. Individual freedom is one of the primary reasons that people choose to live in
Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem depicts a collectivist society in which members are shunned for being different, and are not allowed to act or think as an individual. On a stage set many years in the future, Rand gives the reader a unique insight into her individualistic views in which she highlights the dangers of this collective society through the leaders in Anthem using propaganda, fear, and the restriction of knowledge in order to enslave the minds of their subjects. Through this, Rand is also able to share her insight on collectivism in which she believes that collectivism is evil, nonsensical, and impractical. First of all, Ayn Rand’s novel exemplifies the ridiculousness and evil contained in a collective society by showing how the leaders of
A major idea presented about the society in Ayn Rand’s Anthem is “we are all in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever” (19). The collectivist society presented in the novella suppresses and outlaws any who consider themselves individuals. As these suppressions grow in the future, they eventually evolve into a dark age. In Anthem, society’s control is used to represent collectivism.
Malcolm Gladwell uses famous photograph in the history of the American Civil Rights Movement that was taken on May 3, 1963, by Bill Hudson to demonstrate that even though underdogs are outnumbered along the journey they learn a few things about fighting giants. In 1963 Martin Luther King came to Birmingham, Alabama to take fight against city’s racist police commissioner Eugene ”Bull” Connor. The picture taken in 1963 was of a young teenager being attacked by a police dog. The well dressed boy seeming to be leaning into the dog, his arms limp to his side, calmly staring straight ahead as though he is saying,” Take me, here I am, expresses Gladwell.” Even to this day this photo has not lost it’s power to shock.
In the story Anthem by Ayn Rand, there is a society where freedom and individuality is nonexistent. In this setting, each individual exists only to serve the state. This philosophy is known as collectivism. Due to collectivism, a global dictatorship has been established.
Holden Caulfield lives his life as an outsider to his society, because of this any we (as a reader) find normal is a phony to him. Basically, every breathing thing in The Catcher in the Rye is a phony expect a select few, like Jane Gallagher. What is a phony to Holden and why is he obsessed with them? A phony is anyone who Holden feels is that living their authentic life, like D.B. (his older brother). Or simply anyone who fits into society norms, for example, Sally Hayes.
A good society, from some points of view, is one in which all individuals are free. The government does not control the people in any way and every person lives as they please as long as they do not encroach on each other’s liberties. In a free society, individuals have the right to liberty and its protection from the agendas of others, including authoritative figures. As shown through John Hospers, Ken Kesey’s character McMurphy, and India’s Nehru, a free society does not allow for the presence of an all-powerful authority. John Hospers, a philosopher, describes libertarianism as a fundamental part of a free society that does not allow for extremely authoritative leaders similar to Nurse Ratched in Ken Kesey’s novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s
In The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Mr. Antolini gives Holden Caulfield advice when he is at one of his lowest points. Already aware of Holden’s mental state and position on school, he quotes Wilhelm Stekel, a psychoanalyst, “The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.” (Salinger 188). Although Holden fails to grasp Mr. Antolini’s message, the quote applies directly to his life because of his relationship with death as a result of his younger brother, Allie’s, death. Mr. Antolini uses this quote specifically because he wants Holden take a step back and try to live for a noble cause instead of resorting to death.
In response to Caleb: I do not agree with, or understand your statement completely. I realise we have the right to choose where we live (as stated in your paragraph), however, I don't think this issue is completely related to urban sprawl. Urban sprawl means the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas; expanding these areas by building roads and cities. Without the control of these developments, farm lands and natural areas will be destroyed and used up; resulting in a domino effect of destruction for our environment. In my opinion, I believe that there should be limitations on land use control against urban sprawl.
Adorno et al. (1950) proposed that individual’s with an authoritarian personality are most likely to be prejudice. Those with an authoritarian personality tend to be hostile to members of minority groups, but respect and submit to authority figures. They categorise people into groups, seeing their own group as superior. They are also rigid in their opinions, beliefs and values.
Totalitarianism is a political and social concept that explains a form of government where the state has all control over the civilians. Such government assumes full power, without any limitations. As put by Juan Linz, a totalitarian scholar, the three main factors of a totalitarianism government are “a monistic center of power; an ideology developed, justified and pursued by the leadership; and mass participation in political and social goals encouraged and even demanded by that same leadership” (Silberstein 42). Throughout the 20th century the manifestation of totalitarianism was an extreme measure of harsh political occurrences.
