...Ayn Rand “I guard my treasures: my thought, my will, my freedom. And the greatest of these is freedom.” (Rand. 58). Ayn Rand treasured her personal beliefs, which were reflected through her writing. Rand lived in two distinct countries: Russia and the United States, during her lifetime. Ayn also lived during a time where many major global events occurred. A very unique and interesting childhood and adult life, subjective beliefs and philosophies, and major events occurring in the world around her were all factors that contributed to Ayn Rand’s perspective and style of writing in her infamous novel, Anthem. Ayn Rand, the oldest of three daughters, was born on February 2, 1906 (Gladstein. 3,4). Rand’s given birth name was Alisa Zinovievna...
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...A dystopian society from our point of view, portrayed in Ayn Rand’s Anthem, promotes collectivism, or the practice of valuing the group over the individual. To maintain this mindset, there are numerous rules and restrictions that must be enforced to prevent the people from discovering individualism. These include being prohibited from valuing yourself over others, bonding with the opposite gender, and traveling to the uncharted forest. The most severe crime is articulating the unspeakable word, which is revealed at the end of the novel: ego. The first mentioned sin is to have private thoughts, which supposedly reduces the companionship of the group. Next it is mentioned that no citizen must ever be alone, as this is the root of all evil, because...
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...(Northouse 25). This concept is critical for a leader to understand whether his or her cause is just and act accordingly; if a leader either fails to adhere to a firm set of values or is too afraid to act upon them and take responsibility, then this calls into question the validity of the cause and the quality of the leader. It is important to note that Northouse’s definition of integrity has nothing to do with popularity, or even necessarily legality. Integrity is about standing by what is right, not what is popular. For example, the main protagonist in Ayn Rand’s Anthem, Equality 7-2521, fights against a collectivist mindset, even though it is both illegal to do so and frowned upon by society. Nevertheless, Equality 7-2521 stands by his convictions, even though they land him in prison (Rand 45). The concept that leaders demonstrate integrity even if it contradicts the beliefs of the status quo is not only a recurring theme in classic literature, but also in modern television. In “Nautilus,” Claire works for the controversial superintelligence Samaritan, even though several authority figures in her life discourage her (CITE THIS SHIT). She eventually begins to question the justness of her cause, but does so not because of external influence, but because of her intuition and conscience (CITE THIS SHIT). Given that leaders are often the instruments of social change, it is essential that they demonstrate integrity and discernment to ensure that the change is just. While observation...
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...Anthem by Ayn Rand Author's Foreword |F.1 |This story was written in 1937. | |F.2 |I have edited it for this publication, but have confined the editing to its style; I have reworded some passages and cut | | |out some excessive language. No idea or incident was added or omitted; the theme, content and structure are untouched. The| | |story remains as it was. I have lifted its face, but not its spine or spirit; these did not need lifting. | |F.3 |Some of those who read the story when it was first written, told me that I was unfair to the ideals of collectivism; this | | |was not, they said, what collectivism preaches or intends; collectivists do not mean or advocate such things; nobody | | |advocates them. | |F.4 |I shall merely point out that the slogan "Production for use and not for profit" is now accepted by most men as | | |commonplace, and a commonplace stating a proper, desirable goal. If any intelligible meaning can be discerned in that | | |slogan at all, what is it, if not the idea that the motive of a man's work must be the needs of others, not his own need, | | |desire or gain? ...
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