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The Similarities Between 'Anthem And Invictus' By William Henley

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In many works, the characters face problems in their society. Anthem by Ayn Rand and “Invictus” by William Henley is much like this. They are both beaten by society, start in dark places, and both are depressed, yet not afraid. In both works, the main characters are beaten by society. In the poem, the speaker faces reality like it’s a living hell. The speaker is beaten to death because of his doings. The speaker states, “In the fell clutch of circumstance. I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance. My head is bloody, but unbowed.” This statement relates to both of these literatures because, in the novel Anthem, Equality gets beaten because he created the light bulb, and is always the one who questions. The scholars question him on their behalf stating "Where have you been?” Equality states, “We will not tell you.” Moments later, the scholar’s state, “Take our brother Equality 7-2521 to the Palace of Corrective Detention. Lash them until they tell.” pg: 27 of 49. Both speakers get beaten because of their beliefs. Their realities are a living hell and they face it without fear and hatred. …show more content…

The speaker in the poem also faces this problem. The speaker states, “I am the master of my fate,/I am the captain of my soul!” The speaker is saying that he is in charge of his own life, and no one is allowed to tell him otherwise. In Anthem, Equality’s lifestyle is very depressing. Everyone has to do a job 24/7 with no remorse. It’s hard for anyone to receive help when needed. It’ll be a crime for those who question their work. Equality is one of those people who question work and how to be free. All of his life he has been alone: “We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great we, one, indivisible and forever!” Pg: 2 of 49 Equality has to face it without fear. In both literatures, both have depressing times but they both must not be

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Equality’s life started with being given everything and being put down because of his mental and physical abilities that differ from the rest of society. Everyone is required to follow the same rules, but Equality hates how he cannot be free and do his own thing. Although Equality lives a depressing life, he is granted peace, freedom, and happiness when he enters the Uncharted Forest. Similarly, the speaker lives a depressing life as well. He loses his faith in god and darkness tries to cover over him.

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In contrast, making the Transgressor a martyr only sparked another flame in Equality 7-2521 as a young boy. The Transgressor had stared at Equality 7-2521 “trying to tell us something through the flames” (51). This newly found spark leads Equality 7-2521 to follow a similar path of the Transgressor. This also leads us to the punishments Equality receives. After being late to the Home of the Street Sweepers, he does not give his explanation of tardiness.

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Although at first he sought approval, Equality grows to accept his role against the society and builds to a defiant nature. "Neither am I the means to any end others may wish to accomplish. I am not a tool for their use. I am not a servant of their needs. I am not a bandage for their wounds.

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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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In Anthem, the protagonist Equality escapes into the Uncharted Forest after his encounter with the Council of Scholars and becomes aware that his actions are for his benefit and not for others. Equality realizes this when he says, “We have not built this box for the good of our brothers. We built it for its own sake,” (34). He concludes that he built the lightbulb not for the good of society, but rather for himself. This is in contrast to what he was taught when he was an adolescent: He must prioritize the good of society over himself.

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Equality defies the council of scholars and his government by studying and learning about the world. “How dare you think that your mind held greater wisdom than the mind of your brothers” (Rand 71). Equality goes against

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These examples illustrate that the people in Anthem's society are not truly happy, as their conformity comes at the cost of individuality and happiness. The quote, "Indeed you are happy, how else can you live for your brothers?" spoken by

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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

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Equality wonders what the words forgotten in the Unmentionable Times are that have been forbidden (Rand 49). The curiosity which Equality possesses is forbidden, especially because it is a sin, in his society, to wonder what others do not. There is a power only Equality knows off which goes against every law known to man (Rand 53). This power, electricity, was forgotten and lost through the years, yet Equality continues to wonder, learn, and explore this new found force. As Equality explores hidden truths, he finds the word “I” and once he fully understands it he cries in pity and remorse for the world (Rand 98).

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Have you ever felt like a total outsider? In Anthem Ayn Rand shows a perspective from a young boy in a dystopian society. In the far future what lies ahead, no one knows. In this story you get an idea of one scary scary possibility.

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Anthem is a dystopian novella written by Ayn Rand, first published in 1938. The story is set in a future society that has banned individualism, and the plot follows the struggles of the protagonist, Equality 7-2521, as he seeks to discover his own identity and break free from the oppressive constraints of his society. The book is a powerful critique of collectivism and an exploration of the importance of individualism and freedom. The society in Anthem is one in which the concept of the individual has been erased. People are not allowed to have names, but are instead identified by a series of numbers.

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He is saying that he does not want help nor to depend on someone to be there when he messes up that he can do it himself. He also declares them in public by saying “I covert no man’s soul nor is my soul theirs to covet.” (Rand96). Equality knows his brothers want him dead but tries to show them he made electricity so that they would change their mind. He then goes to say “I am done with this creed of corruption.”(Rand97).

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Anthem is a book that makes oneself contemplate the future and what evils are bestowed upon it. In this novel, the reader is caught in the life of Equality. Equality’s life is placed in the future, where the feared reality of communism has conquered all but the souls of few weary men. Equality is one of those few men who have a light that is invulnerable to a ravaging wind. Equality’s time captive before his extraordinary escape has taken a toll on his body and mind and now at the end of his journey forces him to question whether the decisions he’s made are full of sin or teeming with righteousness.

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Equality recalls when he was younger and watched the execution of someone his society only labelled as “The Transgressor” (50). The Transgressor was burned at the stake for speaking “the Unspeakable Word”, “one single word which is not in the language of men, but which had been” (49). As Equality recalls the incident, he remembers that the Transgressor was not like other men. He was proud and smiling, even as he was burned. Equality also feels that the Transgressor tried to communicate this Unspeakable Word to him, but “the flames rose and we could not guess the word” (50,51).

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He searches for development of individual morality, but is struck dry by the restrictive society, by which he is forced to be, think, and live like everyone else, average and accepting. However, throughout, Anthem, by Ayn Rand, Equality’s view of morality

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