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The Meaning Of Life In Ayn Rand's Anthem

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Anthem is a very interesting book about a collectivist society. Anthem takes place in the future, but the society has taken huge steps backward in technology. Equality (the main character) is different. He is 6 feet tall and incredibly smart. Anthem follows Equality's journey to discover the true meaning of life. On his path encounters hardship, love, danger and other emotions. One question remains will he find the true meaning of life?

The community depicted in Anthem is very strict. There are many reasons for this. One of the reasons that the rules are strict, and the punishments are harsh is so that people are scared of trying anything. A quote that proves this is “There is no crime punished by death in this world, save this …show more content…
A quote that proves this is “For men are forbidden to take notice of women, and women are forbidden to take notice of men.”...”The women who have been assigned to work the soil live in the Homes of the Peasants beyond the City.” They purposely Separated Men and Women because they wanted people to work effectively and not be distracted. Love is a very distracting emotion, and it can cloud people's judgment. This is proven when equality spends entire street sweeping shifts staring at and talking with Liberty 5-3000. The council does not want this as the council is all about efficiency. Another quote that proves this is “International 4-8818 and we are friends.”..."The will of the Council is above all things, for it is the will of our brothers, which is holy. But if you wish it so, we shall obey you. Rather shall we be evil with you than good with all our brothers. May the Council have mercy on both our hearts!" This quote proves that the council separates minds that could benefit each other because Equality and International help each other out and their friendship allows Equality to go behind the councils back and build things on his own which is illegal in many ways in this society. If International had told the council about this place, equality never would have been able to develop his

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