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Theme Of Conformity In Ayn Rand's Anthem

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“Conformity is the jailer of freedom, and the enemy of growth” (John F. Kennedy). The novella “Anthem” written by Ayn Rand expresses the battle between one's self and conformity through the character Equality 7-2521. Equality 7-2521 struggles to conform within the collectivism of his society. As he grows through life he realizes how divergent he really is from his fellow brothers. Through his actions Equality slowly discovers the importance of egoism in a society. At this early stage of life all Equality 7-2521 knows of is a life of collectivism. Ever since Equality’s childhood he has struggled to blend into the rest of his society. “We strive to be like all our brother men, for all men must be alike.... We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and …show more content…

He has finally discovered the key to a successful society. “ Through all the darkness, through all the shame of which men are capable, the spirit of man will remain alive on this earth. It may sleep, but it will awaken. It may wear chains, but it will break through. And man will go on. Man, not men....And here over the portals of my fort, I shall cut in the stone the word which is to be my beacon and my banner. The word which will not die, should we all perish in battle. The word which can never die on this earth, for it is the heart of it and the meaning and the glory.....The sacred word: EGO” (104-105). Now, finally, Prometheus has discovered the word and truth to what will truly make a society thrive and beat. There are times in history when ego has been taken away, but Prometheus assures that it will truly never leave. Ego will always be there beating under the surface waiting for its opportunity to thrive again. No longer will Prometheus live for the “Great WE” but he will now live for himself and only

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Summary Of Ayn Rand's Anthem

1043 Words | 5 Pages

Ayn Rands novella, Anthem, displays the influence a collective society has on an individual while bringing attention to the flaws of a system where individualism is forbidden. The main character, Equality, exhibits freethinking and curiosity, which is dangerous in a community that strives for uniformity and passiveness. In Anthem, Equality’s assessment of his transgression is justified because the council used his “sin” to contain his desire to learn in order to maintain a balance in their collectivist society. Equality is deeply passionate about gaining and spreading information, which goes against the status quo of conformity and one mindedness, because of this he is isolated from others in his community. Intelligence is restricted in this

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Individuality In Ayn Rand's Anthem '

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Equality’s individuality is the second step to rediscovering the lightbulb. He has his own individuality, and his individuality is what makes him

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Essay On Equality 7-2521 In Ayn Rand's Anthem

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In Anthem, a book, written by Russian author, Ayn Rand, everyone has one rule, to be the same: To be one, as a whole. If they choose to disobey that rule, they are punished, and our main character, Equality 7-2521 did just that. Throughout the book, Equality 7-2521 discovers new things, which others do not know about, such as electricity. Equality 7-2521 also works on a new invention of his that no one has ever done, because it is forbidden.

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Why Do We Need The Rules In Ayn Rand's Anthem

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In the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand explains that the way societies have their rules set up are only to make their society the way they want it. Anthem takes place in a society that is in the future where no one has their own rights. In this society there lives a very powerful man, Equality 7-2521 that wants to make a difference in the society. He starts out as a Street Sweeper chosen by on of the Council men but later on discovers something new. In Anthem they never speak of the unmentionable times.

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Social And Political System In Ayn Rand's Anthem

731 Words | 3 Pages

Ayn Rand says, “God…a being whose only definition is that he is beyond man’s power to conceive.” When one can’t think for their self, how can one be set free? The citizens of society conform to the belief that as a group they are the great WE. The word “I” is not in the vocabulary of men. Ayn Rand’s novella, Anthem portrays examples of a dystopian text because the protagonist questions the social and political systems, citizens conform to uniform expectations, and the protagonist is struggling to escape.

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Summary Of Ayn Rand's Anthem

799 Words | 4 Pages

This made Equality find out who he is and gave him the chance to be an individual. Equality’s views and mindset changes through out the book. He was born in a society where people are named by numbers. A world where people are used as machines. In this world the word “I” is out of existence.

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The Transgression Of The Unspeakable Word In Ayn Rand's Anthem

591 Words | 3 Pages

The Transgression of the Unspeakable Word in the work Anthem is a rule that states one may never refer to oneself, but only of all. “We have broken the laws”, or, “Till the beasts of the forest come to tear our body.” These quotes show how one is to refer to all, even when you are talking about yourself. In the book, Ayn Rand describes a society in which everyone is equal. There is a set of rules enforced by an elderly council, in which contains transgressions.

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Summary Of Individuality In Ayn Rand's Anthem

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In Ayn Rand’s novella, Anthem, mankind is a philanthropic machine. The brotherhood nobly works together to achieve a common goal. In doing so, each man is asked to disregard his own personal means and goals. For every decision must be a collective thought and every advancement, a joint action. However, one man in this machine malfunctions.

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Losing Individuality In Ayn Rand's Anthem

530 Words | 3 Pages

How could losing individuality affect a society? The novel Anthem by Ayn Rand is about a guy named Equality 7-2521 who is trying to find himself in a society where everything is controlled and different. Later, he finds himself even though he will have to go through many obstacles to get there. The process behind losing individuality in an Anthem’s society are in forcing strict laws, brain washing of their citizens, and removing of family. The Anthem society in forcing of strict laws made it easy for everyone to lose their individuality.

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What Are The Rules In Anthem By Ayn Rand

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All men must be one and cannot refer to themselves as anything but one body and one mind. The men and women of this society adhere to these rules in place to unify them to near-brainwashing. They cannot use the word “I” to describe themselves, only “we,” the collective word. “And [ego] is the Unspeakable Word, which no men may speak or hear... But when they speak it they are put to death.

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A Comparison Of Objectivism In Anthem And Dead Poets Society

1613 Words | 7 Pages

Anthem reveals that conformity requires all men to serve others with full acceptance. Questioning what to become when older, the teacher forewarns Prometheus, “‘Dare not choose in your minds the work you would like to do… You shall do that which the Council of Vocations shall prescribe… where you are needed by your brother men’” (Rand 22). Living in a city of conformity, Prometheus is powerless against the council. Since the council wants to have full domination over its citizens, any form of independent thought is seen as opposing authority which deprives Prometheus of his ideals.

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The Role Of Conformity In Ayn Rand's Anthem

116 Words | 1 Pages

I believe that the author of Anthem, Ayn Rand, thinks that it is important to know that conformity can be used for not only good but for evil. For example, conformity may be good if a criminal conforms to the law and changes his ways. The society in which Equality 7-2521 is an example of a bad form of conformity. People have changed everything about them to fit in with everyone else that they are no longer their own person. They are just like everyone else, they share interests, character traits, behavioral reactions, etc.

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Theme Of Collectivism In Ayn Rand's Anthem

929 Words | 4 Pages

Commonly mistaken as being an ideal way of life, Anthem, by Ayn Rand, emphasizes the negative impacts collectivism has on society. Collectivism, an oppressive concept of prioritizing a group over each individual in it, is practiced and enforced by the Council of Vocations and few citizens question it. The protagonist, Equality 7-2521, rebels against his collectivist society as he discovers individualism, the belief that “individual’s needs are more crucial than a whole society’s needs” (), and its enlightening effects. He quickly recognizes that he is different from others in terms of intelligence and that he is in fact an individual, not just a fragmented piece of a group like he was led to believe. Ayn Rand’s novella, Anthem, highlights the

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Examples Of Collectivism In Anthem

1219 Words | 5 Pages

Victory Over Collectivism “I”, one of the only one-letter words in the English language. Yet its power and meaning do not match its quantitative value. In the collectivist dictatorship found the in the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, this word has disappeared and consequently, society has fallen into a dark age, all because of the loss of a single-lettered word. However, the hero of this time, Equality 7-2521, breaks down the barrier of the collectivist society and allows him to make advances that show him the power of the word “I” and the idea of individualism in government and in society. Although the word “I” has vanished from society, Equality is able to free himself from the collectivist government through the use of science and free thought,

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Ego In Ayn Rand's Anthem

1071 Words | 5 Pages

This mistake subdued the thoughts and actions of individuals, which is what allows a society to flourish. While the city in Ayn Rand’s novella attempts to suppress ego through a complex system of laws and government controls, their endeavors ultimately fail because there is always someone whose

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