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Motivation In Ayn Rand's Anthem

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The proper definition of motivation is the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way. In the novel Anthem, Ayn Rand presents the character of Equality as a solution to the evils of Collectivism. Rand uses this character and story as an outlet of her thoughts and solutions. Somewhat covertly, Equality’s motivation from an author’s standpoint is to inspire readers to have the will and drive to stand up to corrupted governments and societies. On the other hand, from a character standpoint, Equality’s motivation is to prove to himself that he can make a difference in his society. Equality’s motivation from an author’s standpoint is not candidly mentioned in the novel Anthem, but is covertly apparent if we read in between the lines. Equality’s …show more content…

One similarity is that both sides are trying to achieve the goal of making an imprint on others around them. Although, a difference is that the author’s side is a more realistic scenario and non-fictional while Equality’s side is more within the realm of Anthem and completely fictional. Additionally, another similarity is the fact that both sides can be applied to modern day society in the sense that everyone wants to make the world a better place and no matter where we come from, or what we do, we can change the world. We can make an imprint on society that inspires generations to come. Lastly, there is one more major difference between the two sides of Equality’s motivation. This major difference is that Equality’s motivation from a character standpoint is more self-centered than the author’s view on his motivation. I say this because Equality’s motivation from a character standpoint is mostly looking out for just equality. This is true because Equality is just looking for a better life for himself and that led to him discovering that he needed to start a new society. With Rand, her goal was always to help

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At the beginning of Anthem Equality has changed his mind about a lot of things in the beginning of the story. Equality got picked to be a street sweeper by the government, but he really wanted to be a scholar but couldn’t because of the government. Equality had a rough life. Well he was a street sweeper but he was smart enough to be a scholar the government did not think he was. In the book anthem by ayn rand Equality was not good for any body or anything at the beginning he had a rough start to his life.

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In Ayn Rand's story Anthem, the protagonist Equality 7-2521 has a power unlike no other within their collectivist society. One day when Equality was working as a street sweeper, he finds an old abandoned underground railroad tunnel from the Unmentionable Times long ago. This is where he conducts his experiments that fill him with pride and joy. Equality dreams how his new invention that he brought into existence can change the world, but helping mankind is not his true motivation behind his passion to create. Throughout the story, Equality's true motivation is him trying to find his inner self and his identity as an individual.

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Lucius, from The Village, is asking permission from the Council of Elders to go into the Forbidden forest to retrieve medicine. He has watched people from the community die unnecessarily. “I ask permission to cross into the forbidden woods and travel to the nearest town” (That Guy). Equality from Anthem is much like Lucius because he invented the light and wants to leave to go explore the other societies. Both characters know there is more to life than what they were told and they are determined to find out more to advance their

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In Rand’s Anthem, the main character, Equality has a different idea of what is needed for the society while everyone else disagrees. This means that Equality see a different version of the truth of what people need than the rest of his society, “Let us throw away our candles and our torches. Let us flood our cities with light. Let us bring a new light to men!” (Rand 19) Equality, the main character brings to the council of his society something he believe will help everyone.

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Oppression The society in Anthem, by Ayn Rand has many oppressive rules that control the people living in it. These rules exist to repress people from feeling anything special for someone else, to cover up the past world, and to keep everyone completely equal. These horrible rules would certainly not exist in the world that Equality envisions creating at the end of the story. Clearly the rules put in place by The Council decrease the quality of life for everyone living in that society, and can give someone a new appreciation for the freedoms they have as individuals.

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Ayn Rand’s Anthem starts by Equality 7-2521 saying “It is a sin to write this.” Throughout the story, Equality’s views and mindset changes, he realizes that he is different from his brothers and its ok to be different. He discovers that if something is legal it is not certainly right. His eager for knowledge taught him the word “I” abandoning the word “We”.

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In our society, people are motivated in lots of different ways. This can create both positives, such as putting a man on the moon, and negatives, such as war and starving people. Anthem is a story about a man who is going against his collectivist society in his search for individuality. Equality’s main motivation is to discover new things and new ideas in the world around him, as well as to try to figure out who he is as an individual. His motivation is correct because he enables the thought of free will, and the world could become a better place if everyone was motivated like Equality.

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Equality has a philosophy that should be adopted by everyone. He values individuality. He recognizes how important choice is and how it makes it meaningful life. The three main traits he portrays are being his own person, how choice is paramount, and, the importance of following his gut.

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Equality wants to create a power within other people, within people like him. He creates an idea after he had escaped to go back, to go back and bring the people which know they have a power within themselves, with him, “ I shall call to me all the men and the women whose spirit has not been killed within them” (101) If everyone like him were to go with him, voluntarily, what kind of world would that lead to.? This newly founded type of world that Equality, amongst others, would share would be egotistical and “it will become the heart of the earth, lost & hidden at first but beating, beating louder each day” (104) Ayn Rand believes “a man’s ego is the fountainhead of human progress” this shows that she wants there to be a world full of ego - worry about yourself then others. This to me means take care of yourself first, then care for

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As Equality starts to grasp onto topics not known to people of his society, he starts questioning the actions he involves himself in, but ultimately develops a sense of independence from society as these new activities start bringing him happiness and delight. Equality shows these emotions as he describes, “And yet there is no shame in us and no regret... it seems to us that our spirit is clear as a lake troubled by no eyes” (37). Equality feels “no shame” and “no regret” in everything he’s doing, but this is just the beginning of his growing awareness towards being sovereign from his original society. He continues by expressing that his “spirit is clear as a lake troubled by no eyes.”

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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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In Anthem, Equality says, “For men are forbidden to take notice of women, and women are forbidden to take notice of men. But we think of one among women…”(Rand 38). Equality is thinking about someone of the opposite gender, which is prohibited by law in his society. This community controls everyone but Equality is straying from the rules they have enforced. In Harrison’s community, the government keeps handicaps on people who are more advanced.

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1042 Words | 5 Pages

Equality finally gets to escape his miserable society and all the institutions, practices, and officials that are a part of it. He comes to the realization that there is more to life than serving other people, and that he owes nothing to his brothers or his society. Equality, after struggling and fighting for his freedom, finally knows why he lives and what has been missing in his life. “The moral purpose of a man’s life is the achievement of his own happiness.” (The Ethics of

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In the novelette, "Anthem" by Ayn Rand and "The Declaration of Independence. " They both have similarities and differences on "Equality" as used in Anthem and The Declaration of Independence. In The Declaration of Independence there is one quote that's quite famous in today"s society "All men are created equal", this message is still being used in today's society and in the society of the novel Anthem. But in Anthem equality is used differently, equality is taken more seriously.

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In the beginning, Equality was devoted to the Council and their reasons behind the social structure. Equality begins to experience emotions that separates himself from his brothers and he

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