...Zarin Shurovi Professor Ms. Pino English 101 03/23/2016 Individualism (Draft) Controversy between individualism and collectivism has been one of the dominant aspects in respect to sociology and psychology. According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, individualism is the theory of maintaining political and individual's independence and stressing individual's uniqueness. Many believe that an individual's independence and self-reliance is the key to success. On the other hand, others believe that individuality is not significant and that progress only depends upon collectivism, or group's identity. However, how can a group succeed without the intelligence of an individual? Everyone has their own abilities and their own accomplishments...
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...Anthem Theme Essay In Anthem, a big theme is individualism. Because of society, you are not allowed to be yourself. It is like an ant colony; you have to do everything that makes the ruler happy even if it doesn’t fit you. Another way individuality is taken from the people is that they cannot say the word “I”, and refer to themselves as “we”. At the end of this novel, the main character, whose name is Equality 7-2521, breaks out of his “colony” and starts a new life as an individual. In this book society is based off of collectivism. In this system you never get to meet your parents. You are raised by other people until you are 5. From 5 to 15 years of age, you are in the House of Students, where you learn what you need to know. From there you are immediately put into the work force. You have no choice or say in this system. They control you. There is also no personal life because you can’t be alone because it is against the law....
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...Anthem’s society is dystopian world where all human advancements and technology are absent. Individualism is seen as a sin and is shunned by the citizens. The citizens have been stripped of any solitary rights and only live to serve their brothers around them. Equality was a City Street Sweepers that had always been told that he was different from his brothers; both mentally and physically. Nevertheless, he still worshiped the principles of his world like the people around him. He discovers and reconstructs a lightbulb, thinking that this could be a step forward in the society. So he brings it to the Council of Scholars, who reject his idea and want to destroy it. Equality leaves him home with Liberty, someone who he holds dearly, and discovers...
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...The society in Anthem represents more of a modern-day Communist-controlled country. Currently there are only a few Communist countries including: China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam. These countries lack individuality and are controlled under a dictatorship through a one-party system. In Anthem, everything is equal among the residents, on page 21, the author describes their “bedrooms” as “The sleeping walls were white and clean and bare of all things save one hundred beds.” Although Communism does not exalt to these extremities, it does take away each person’s identity and individualism. Individualism is a major theme in this novel, as it is illegal to be represented in any way, even as far as referring to yourself as “I”. Individualistic...
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...During World War II, the Berlin Wall blockaded Berlin’s citizens from both the outside world and restricted people's access to information. Very similarly, Ayn Rand describes this culture in Anthem. Rand purpose to write Anthem is to represent the effects of society if people's basic rights are taken away and no one can innovate on anything. Rand uses symbolism to illustrate the ideas between happiness, curiosity, and exploration which all represent light in the new land discovered by Prometheus offered through individualism compared to the dark, dreary, dismal environment where majority of the population is being controlled by a higher power called the World Council. Rand carefully uses diction to outline the framework of the society being...
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...The first way that individualism affects Equality’s choices and decisions is Equality chose to steal the manuscripts because he wanted to know and learn more than he was originally taught. Equality knows that stealing these manuscripts is very wrong to do according to the house of scholars but he wants to learn as much as he can and that is the only way. Equality thinks it is worth it and his brother’s will forgive him but he does not as much care if they do. A part in Anthem by Ayn Rand that really shows individualism affecting his choices is when Equality talks about how he stole many manuscripts and does not feel bad about these actions, “We have stolen manuscripts. This is a great offence. Manuscripts are precious...And yet there is no...
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...In the book Anthem by Ayn Rand, you meet a character named “Equality 7-2521” and throughout the story the author does not use pronouns for the character, instead she uses the word “we” whenever Equality wants to say “I”. It shows individualism, which the it’s a sin and makes the reader think of how people can attribute to the society and take orders without knowing the reason why. It shows problems that Equality is facing because he is a man with thoughts towards others, dividing them out from the rest of society. Ayn Rand wrote this amazing novel because she wants to spread a voice and make a change, even in the war era. Equality has faced problems internally and externally, for the Rand to convey her message. In the novel Equality’s...
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...Anthem, by Ayn Rand, is a novel that is very unique in its own ways. It shows a lot of individualism and makes the reader think of how people can just live as they are told to live and do as they are told without even knowing the outcome after they do what they are told. Also, it teaches the importance of self expression and the freedom that comes along with being unique and having the power to choose what path to take in life. The society in this novel, the word “I” is forbidden and humans refer to themselves as “we” instead of “I” to represent equality throughout society. Anything that might spark a thought of being a one of a kind person is forbidden. Children are born from parents that don't even know each other and are being taken away...
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...“We strive to be like our brother men, all men must be alike”(Rand 19). In Ayn Rand’s Anthem, the society lacks individualism. However in Equality’s case he constantly feels that “we were born with a curse. it has always driven us to thoughts which are forbidden”(18). Equality only feels that he is cursed because of the standards in the society. The true reason for the “sin” Equality committed was due to the pressure of collectivism from the society he lived in. Although the actions he committed were seen as a sin in his society, Equality has a correct moral assessment of these sins because of his self-individuality and egoism in his own pursuit of happiness. Equality has always stuck out among his brothers when it came to his wits. In...
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...The novel, Anthem, published in 1938 by Ayn Rand is set in the future when society is a collective dictatorship.In this society there is no “I” or “Me”, only a we. Rand wrote this novel during the great purge in Russia when everything was changing for them. Anthem tells us our individualism is an important part of our lives. Ayn Rand wanted to show us how important individualism is in society and what life can become without it. You may find yourself asking,” what exactly happens in this society?” This society basically enslaves the mind. It is illegal for them to do anything as an individual . For example Equality says “we know well that there is no transgression blacker than to do or think alone” in chapter 1 on page 11 to show it is a horrible crime to commit. Acting or even thinking as an individual is a crime punishable by death. The society believes that nothing good can come from one man, that a single man cannot think the same as several minds together. The society depicted in Anthem is not one you would want to live in, due to the lack of individualism in the community....
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...Equality’s belief of rational individualism or Objectivism is drastically different, almost opposite from the belief of the common society in Anthem because of wanting freedom, happiness, and love. He believes in making himself happy before others instead of being happy for being part of mankind. He shows that he identifies happiness individually saying that his happiness is his own purpose and goal (Rand 95). Equality 7-2521 intends to keep his happiness and shows pride in not being a servant and at the same time not treating his brothers as lesser beings (Rand 95). He treats people like Liberty 5-3000 different than anyone else. When Equality finds a house that people from the Unmentionable Times used to live in, he and his dearest one...
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...“We strive to be like all our brother men, for all men must be alike.” The quote from the Anthem by Ayn Rand sums up a society completely polar opposite to our own. The society in the Anthem is a world filled with sameness and a very rigid social structure that oppresses individuality in an extreme way. There is no bettering of one’s self, no having a family, no free will. The men and women in the anthem are taught from birth, they all work together as one unit and there is no such thing as being different. People work not for themselves, but for the great of the city. This idea is so deeply seeded within their minds, they can’t even conceive the meaning of the word “I” This word is unspeakable and for the rare few that do speak the word are put to death. Later in the book when the escape the city into the forest, they have trouble expressing...
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...Individualism, a quality that the main protagonist of “anthem” fortuitously discovers, established an eventful journey to the hero to manifest this philosophy. In the book “anthem,” tells a story of one dystopian society being the product of multiple wars and destruction. Multiple councils control this society under laws that condemn the act of individualism. Defying the will of their brothers goes on as the basis of these laws. The ultimate transgression was speaking of “the unspeakable word,” (Rand 49). In this society, citizens are assigned to their future. Equality described the process as, “and we were punished when the councils of vocation came to give us our life mandates which tells those who reach their fifteenth year what their work is to be for the rest of their days,”(Rand 24). The Council of Vocation selects Equality to be a street sweeper. Eventually, he discovers the light bulb, which he looks at as the key to his dream of becoming a scholar. Anthem becomes a novella expressing a quest because the main character has a place to go, challenges and people he meets that prevent or help him with his journey, and a life changing reason to go there. Equality and his coworker, international, discover this tunnel while sweeping the...
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...Individualism is the moral stance, political philosophy, ideology, or social outlook that emphasizes the moral worth of the individual. Individualism is something thats makes a person one, giving them the right to be an individual, the freedom to equality. In the novel Anthem By Ayn Rand individualism is a central idea explored through the story. The main character Equality 7-2521 is living in a society where the concept of individuality is non existent, he is very curious about the world he lives in and the science and nature that surrounds it. But unfortunately it's a sin to think/wonder such things and that it's not good to be different from his brothers but it is evil to be superior to them. According to the text it states (Rand 6) “We...
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...In the book Anthem by Ayn Rand the society present is a terrible system that steals any sense of individualism. Although the world they live in is opposed to anything that is separate from the group, there is almost no opposition from any of the people that live in this society. The community allows the government they have to rule over them with no resistance. The different members of this society may allow this to happen to them for different reasons. Some people in a society like this don’t want to fight the system because they are afraid of what may or may not happen. If these people fought back then they may be imprisoned, whipped, or even burned at the stake. They may be kicked out of society and sent to the uncharted forest. They have no idea how they would survive or what they would do when they were there. They would be alone for the first...
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