Collectivist Society: The idea that people should prioritize the good of society over the welfare of the individual. Collectivism-- relating closely to the word collection—has to do with the political theory that put the group before the individual.
The book Anthem by Ayn Rand depicts a completely collectivist society that is very different from our society in America. The council in the book makes strict laws on how one should never exceed the rest of the population in any aspect; everyone must be the same. Before reading this book I would’ve definitely thought that a collectivist society would be a good thing; one wouldn’t have to worry about choosing a job, not being good enough, or being unlike the others, but Ayn Rand really shows the downside of it and how it is not a good way to live.
The council in Anthem displays a collectivist society through the strict laws they have that limit a person’s individuality. Collectivist leaders promote the culture as a stress-free environment where everything is chosen for members of society and everyone can depend on their peers. People in communities that follow collectivism focus more on the good of their community and less on self betterment. It is a sin to be better or worse than the rest of the
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But, after reading Anthem, I realized that individuality is a big part in my life and that I value being different from others. A job tells a lot about who a person is and about his/her interests and personality. In contrast, in the book, each person is assigned a profession that doesn’t tell a lot about who they are. For example, Equality 7-2521 is assigned to be a street sweeper, which prevents him from displaying his aptitudes. In reality, he is an extremely smart person who should've been in the Council of