Why was this book controversial? Which themes or ideas were challenging to society? Controversial material in Anthem, by Ayn Rand, includes brief use of profanity, issues of morality, and exploitation of women. Also, controversy surrounding Ayn Rand’s work is the over-emphasizing of individualistic ideas she displays, as well as the adoration of egotism. Her seemingly glorification of egotism concerns many because many fear that the idea of individualism will result in too much interest in oneself, and a lack of interest and care for others. Obviously, it is necessary for a society to unite as one in order to be successful and form the peaceful environment desired, but what Rand is trying to pass is that sometimes the individual need to acknowledge its own desires and needs. The proper way to address this hullabaloo is through …show more content…
Of course, this is not to say that profanity and immorality are acceptable by any means, but that Rand must have had a very good reason to insert such details into her work. For example, in Anthem it reads, “And suddenly, for the first time this day, we remembered that we are the Damned,” (Part 8 Paragraph 7). Although, there is other options to explain that Prometheus was banished from society, Rand’s personal choice of words adds greater intensity and meaning of the fact that he was banished, and it was not that good of a thing. Concerning morality, Rand writes, “We have stolen candles…we have stolen flints and knives and paper…We have stolen glass vials and powders and acids…” (Part 1 Paragraph 65(It might be Paragraph 64, or 66)). Once again, Rand is not identifying stealing as tolerable, but by reading Anthem and understanding the actual reason for the We’s thievery, they can understand that in that specific case it was what was necessary for the character to progress in the