...instantly tells the story of Equality 7-2521. He knows what is and is not allowed in the totalitarianistic society pictured in Anthem, by Ayn Rand, and proceeds regardless. While the outright and truthful account is being given at the beginning, the reader comes to understand that Equality is unsure of what the response will be to his purposeful fracture of the law. But something more subtle is apparent following the conclusion of the book: Equality’s underlying carelessness with the law. Though acknowledging his refusal to adhere to every law set forth by the Council, he still maintains his sense of apprehension. The arc Equality undergoes throughout the course of Anthem...
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...Ayn Rand’s Anthem depicts the dystopian future in which an unnamed society has completely “forgotten” the word ‘I’. While reading Anthem, Ayn Rand introduces Equality 7-2521, the hero who breaks away from the status quo of the unnamed society. Collectivism is the immoral guide for the unnamed society, a guide that Equality challenges to the extent of its extremities. The dictatorial leadership of this society restricts even thinking about one’s self, no one person is obliged to give priority to an individual. Thereupon, we see Equality’s entrance into the society, just by his physical characteristics rebelling against the status quo, being both too tall and too smart. Equality faces his own internal conflicts, he, in his misunderstanding, struggles to understand the gravity of his actions and his true differences from the society’s collectivism....
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...Objectivism rejects this false alternative and offers an entirely different view of the world. Equality 7-2521 lives in a society where he has to follow rules and everyone has to be the same person. In the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, it shows that Equality’s views have changed when he leaves that society. In the old society he had to use “we” to refer to himself. He can never be recognized as an individual. Equality had to respect everyone and stay where he was put. If he was not a scholar then he could not learn. He is sent to be a street sweeper so that is what he had to be. Ayn Rand’s philosophy ties into Equalitiy’s life because he is in a society and it is all he has ever known for a way of life but then he goes out of that society into...
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...Equality was always different from the “norm” in Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem. Whether it be sneaking out in the middle of a play to make new discoveries or just simply defying the Council, he was always doing things no other humans dared to do. Equality laughing when he remembers he is “the Damned” is no exception of his uniqueness. Most if not all humans living in Anthem would never understand what was comical about being “the Damned” in the situation, but Equality realized that he truly was free and that “the Damned” is actually the rest of the civilization he just escaped. Equality’s reasoning for laughing was because he is different, which helped him realize he is the only one who is truly free. Equality along with Liberty are truly the...
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...The question of whether total equality is a desirable quality or the end of liberty has been a controversial topic for hundreds of thousands of years. But not only have there been discussions about this, there have been wars as capitalist countries have fought communist nations. Yet, not once has there been an example (we know of) where every single citizen was really totally equal to others. Therefore, the question of whether total equality is good or not is still accurate today. As it is easier to focus on a vision such as the one by Ayn Rand in the novel “Anthem” than to come up with a hypothetical solution, I will take Rand’s novel and “The Handmaid’s Tale” into account. In both visions there may be total equality for most citizens, but firstly, there are certain people with much more power (councils and the government), and, secondly, equality comes at the price of a major reduction of freedom....
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...Anthem written by Ayn Rand begins in the future, in a time we do not know. Equality 7-2521, the main character, is just one member of a society that values the word “we” more than anything else and forbids the use of the word “I”. In this society when you do something, you do it for your brother, not for yourself, and it is clearly dominated by what is called the Council of Vocations. Men and women like Equality are assigned by the Council what they are to do for the rest of their days until they become useless or ancient. Not only does the Council control what you do, it creates rules as to what you are to look like, learn, and understand. Considering this background, Anthem has a clear message about society’s control and finding your own individuality when it is suppressed by the government....
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...Have you ever seen a movie where the main character was looking up facts about another company and giving that information to their boss but they think they’re doing it because it’s their job and not because the boss just wants the information to run down the company and take it for himself. Well that’s” Anthem” by Ayn Rand in a nutshell. Equality 7-2521 is made a Street Sweeper by The Council Of Vocations but it’s not for the reason anyone would originally think. He lives in a society, far from our own where our time is known as ”The Unmentionable Times”, and everyone and everything has a purpose to be where it is and never tries to differ from their born path. The Council knows what Equality is capable of but are they testing him or just not smart enough to realize what he could really do? Equality goes against rule, to do what he wants and make a better society, whether the Council likes it or not. He is a defiant soul. As for the Council, that’s a different...
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...The society in Anthem can often be seen as backwards or incorrect in all shapes and forms, with the exception of Equality 7-2521, who strives to not let this society get the better of him. Equality’s prior society did not consider that humans needed liberty and freedom of expression to be truly content, so they ruled them like a Shepard would his sheep, without any consideration for their feelings or health. The society in Anthem is undeniably detrimental to human ideals and therefore irrational, and Equality was correct in denouncing the World Council and Leaders of his old society as immoral. “The word "We" … hardens to stone, and crushes all beneath it”(97), Equality expresses this opinion after having realized through various situations that he does not need his brothers to achieve happiness. By taking away the glorious word “I”, they strip their citizens of individuality and self-worth. People are no longer allowed to have their own opinions or even express their beliefs. The peoples obedience is taken for granted and the citizens don’t seem to realize that they can change their society for the better, and that they do not have to listen to this government for they have no leverage whatsoever on anyone. The way the council regards their citizens is absolutely despicable, they are housed in monotonous structures where “The sleeping...
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...In the story Anthem, it is how everyone is equal and the people with the highest power are the School of Scholars. Equality is a man that is smarter, stronger, and has full of curiosity which isn’t acceptable since he isn’t equal like his brothers. Once he is 21 years old, he was set to be a Street Sweeper and at first he wanted to be a Scholar since they can express ideas and so but he was happy and accepted being a Street Sweeper. As he works he soons finds out a tunnel from the unmentionable times and discovers the light box. He then starts thinking about how if he shows this to the people he can become one of the Scholars and change mankind. His motivation at first was to become a Scholar but later changed because once he showed the light...
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...Anthem Essay The world that Equality 7-2521 lives in is full of rules and beliefs. He is being controlled by others, that have determined his and his brothers fates. Between their jobs, how they speak, or what age they stop working at. In the book “Anthem” the rules are placed so nobody turns out to be greater than another, or so they can all live equally. As Equality is the novel's protagonist he struggles to find what he is called to be in life. Throughout the book it is always a journey or adventure for Equality to reach freedom. There could be many reasons why Equality does think differently, or why he is know as so unique from his fellow brothers. A few being on how he envisions society being like. In the book “Anthem” they are told that anything they ever need will be given to them or chosen for them. This could also be a reason behind how Equality thinks because he wants to be independent, and have his own decisions planned out. The start was when the council designated Equality to being a street sweeper. This way they could keep him from numerous of opportunities of knowing that he was very successful as far as being...
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...picked was Equality. I picked this because Equality is a major issue in the book anthem in our society now. In Anthem being different is frowned upon or considered Inhuman. It is a transgression and a evil sin. In our present society not being equal is a good thing. Being different is unique and makes your life special. It is common and a part of our everyday life. Since Anthem is based on a Dystopian society there are many things that are different or unusual to what we are used to. Anthem was also made in the future so there are key points and ideas that we would normally tend not to believe. I chose these following pictures because I think they describe the idea of equality very well. The picture of the skeletons describe how everyone is the same on the...
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...In the novel, Anthem, Equality knew that his community would benefit from his invention; however, the real motive for his rediscovery was his own selfish desire to learn more and his skepticism of his society's ideals. Evidence of this motive is apparent in the textual quote on page ninety-five, "My happiness is not the means to any end. It is the end. It is its own goal. It is its own purpose." At this point in the story, Equality came to terms with his actions and realized that there is nothing wrong with pursuing one's happiness. At the start of the book, Equality discovered an ancient tunnel that exposed him to technology unknown to his society. This was the beginning of his transition into a rebel in his society. All along, he had felt superior to his peers and thought he should have been a scholar due to his intelligence. As a kid, Equality was always clever and inquisitive. This side of him came out when he was in his tunnel with the freedom and means necessary to pursue his interests. After making several discoveries, his faith in collectivist ideals collapsed. All of his life, he was led to believe that the council of scholars had known exactly what was best for society, yet Equality had made discoveries that the council had known nothing about that would have helped advance their society....
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...In the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, everybody is perfectly equal and treated the same. But, this fact is pushed to the extreme and there is absolutely no individualism. The people of this society do not even know the words I, me, or mine. Everything is done for the good of the great “we”, all of their brothers. Speaking the word ego is punishable by burning at the stake. There are not even families because that would mean loving someone more than another. Children are raised by the state and are brainwashed since birth that everybody is equal and the same and that being your own person is evil. The crazy thing is, there is literally no opposition to the leaders in this society, save for some very rare exceptions. People have accepted ideas and have been raised this way to be completely obedient. First, the people of this society have never known any other way. Everyone was raised believing that everybody is completely equal and everything is done for the good of their brothers. They know nothing of the older times where society was like it is now in our society. They just know it as “the unmentionable times” and know that is was bad. These...
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...Prompt #1 Equality created something that would change the world immensely. He doesn’t know that it had already been created in past times however. Equality doesn’t create electricity for the world though; he creates it for self-benefit and to greaten his ego. He is right to be motivated in this way because it is ok to have self pride. Self pride is a great way to be motivated because it makes him work harder, it gives him happiness, and it inspires others. Self pride makes Equality work harder because it gives him a reason. The reason is that at the end of the hard work, comes a gift so special that nothing can compare. If he were working for a boss or some other person, than he would not be as hard working. This is because it is not for him in the long run. The work is for the person who is telling you what to do. For example, if an architect was given a job from a city planner that he did not particularly enjoy building then he wouldn’t be as excited in doing the work. The architect work as hard because he doesn’t truly enjoy his work. This can relate to Equality because it shows how you have to have a reason for what you are doing. Overall, Equality is right to be motivated for self pride because it gives him a reason to work harder....
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...to make easy money and just get by? These are the questions that the reader asks after reading about Equality in the novella Anthem. Equality The novella Anthem takes place in an unnamed Collectivist society, where everyone is forced to think the same.Equality strived to be better than the people around him . He becomes motivated to conduct experiments on his lightbulb for other reasons other than to help the society. In the novella Anthem, Equality’s main motivation for conducting his experiments was to rightfully stand out from his peers moving toward becoming an individualist and for him to possibly get a chance to make it into the Home of Scholars. Equality...
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