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Quest For Freedom In Ayn Rand's Anthem

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Ayn Rand’s book Anthem is a story of a boy named Equality 7-2521 and his hunt for his freedom from the many harsh rules and controls that is city had. On his quest for freedom, he discovers how cruel his society actually was. If any of the laws in the city are disobeyed, the people will either be severely punished, or even worse, sentenced to death. When Equality discovers electricity, he decides to present it to the World Council of Scholars. They are furious with his discovery, so they send him away to the Palace of Corrective Detention. While he is there, he decides he has to escape. So he breaks free, and runs into the Uncharted Forest. Now Equality is on his own, independent, and free of all of the unnecessary rules and restrictions that …show more content…
No one is treated differently. Everyone is treated the same. The city is very controlling. Somehow the city managed to eliminate individualism. The sacred word is considered to be “I.” If they used the sacred word, that would express them as an individual, and their society does not believe in people being an individual. Instead of using the word “I,” they have to refer to themselves as “we.” It expresses the people of the city as a whole. The society is portrayed as one individual. Not a single person is allowed to think freely of themselves. They all have to follow the laws, and they can not disobey them. The laws in Anthem are completely and utterly absurd. In our society today, everyone has their freedom. In Anthem, no one has their freedom, and they have to follow the rules of The Council of Vocations. If they do not, a severe punishment will occur. The people of the city are not allowed to express their feelings, nor talk, or even think of the people opposite of their gender. The people can not write unless the Council of Vocations tell them to do so. They also are not allowed to have any type of relationships. The Council of Vocations choose what job everyone has, and where they will live for the rest of their lives. The Council of Vocations basically just rule everyone's life. The laws of the city are completely uncalled

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