...Anthem Anthem written by Ayn Rand is a novel written to show that individuality is important in life. It takes place in a dystopian like society, and everyone is nameless. The people in this society aren’t allowed to show any emotion or affection to the people outside of the “we”. The topic of this book is mostly individuality leading the theme to be that one’s individuality is stronger than any group, or one person trying to bring one down. The main character in this book Equality 7-2521 demonstrates plenty of individuality. He demonstrates it when he is described in the book as taller and smarter than everyone else. “I stand here… I wish to know the meaning of things. I am the meaning. I wish to find a warrant for my being. I need no warrant for my being, in no word or sanction upon my being, I am...
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...drugs, theft, and being involved with gangs and they are the result of peer pressure. Peer pressure is when a person follows a group of people and most of the time it is because they are forced to follow. Anthem is a perfect example for breaking free from peer pressure. Teens everywhere can learn from Anthem’s life lessons such as everyone is different and unique, you accept yourself as a unique individual, and how being different can get you far in life. Anthem has the underlying idea that everyone is a unique and different individual. Equality 7-2521 states “For we are not like our brothers”. He knows he is different from his peers (Page 20. After taking notice of that, Equality 7-2521 was ashamed that he was different and tried to fight...
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...in Little Miss Sunshine, a film directed by Jonathan Drayton and Valarie Faris and “The Anthem” a song by Good Charlotte. In the movie “Little Miss Sunshine”, the theme of being different in terms of being a non-conformist and acting according to your own beliefs is consistently shown throughout the whole movie. Individuality is an aspect that is most effectively portrayed by Richard Hoover, the father who primarily orchestrated the robbery of his father, Edwin from the hospital to go to his daughter’s beauty contest. This scene effectively depicts Richard’s difference in terms of individuality by utilising dialogue. Richard’s speech emphasises his non-conformity. He questions the whole family, “There’s two types of people in the world, winners and losers. So what are we? Are we winners, or are we losers? The dad challenges the family to reconsider not going to...
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...Equality, according to Dictionary.com, is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities; this is what societies think is the most vital part to having a great society. The societies in Anthem and "Harrison Bergeron" thought the same way as well, but later realized that it only led to their demise. Both Ayn Rand's novella, Anthem, and Kurt Vonnegut's story, "Harrison Bergeron," focus on the theme of equality, and it is apparent that the theme reveals that being different is wrong, that people are naturally different but are forced to be equal, and that equality is a barrier from individuality, which both suggests that everyone is naturally different; therefore, making the reader know that they should embrace rather than fear their differences among others....
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...The world described in Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem is technologically primitive, which Equality 7-2521 attributes to mankind’s absence of individuality. Society believes that “‘We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE,’” which displays the extent to which men have lost their individuality. Equality 7-2521 blames this “worship of the word ‘We’” as the reason that “all thought, all science, [and] all wisdom perish[ed] on earth.” When men are no longer able to pursue their ideas, but rather comply to the wishes of mankind, there is a distinct absence of science and technology. The government in Anthem strives to maintain the status quo, which is displayed during Equality 7-2521’s presentation to the Council of Scholars, where the Scholars explain their reason for a lack of new inventions: “Many men in the Homes of the Scholars have had strange new ideas in the past. . . but when the majority of their brother Scholars voted against them, they abandon their ideas, as all men must.” The Council of Scholars then describe how Equality 7-2521’s invention would “wreck...
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...vWhile some differences between Anthem by Ayn Rand and Night by Elie Weisel are evident, the similarities are striking. The literary structures are quite similar. For example, in Anthem, Equality 7-2521 watches the Transgressor of the Unspeakable Word burn alive. Equality feels like the Transgressor was trying to tell him the unspeakable word. The Transgressor symbolizes the word that no one could use. Similarly, in Night, Elie watches the child hang from the gallows while suffering because he did not weigh enough for it to kill him instantly. The boy symbolizes innocence and the childhood that was taken away from the boy and that Elie never got to experience. The first clue that the two books are similar is the way their so called leaders...
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...City Rules Anthem is a society that holds many secrets, rules, and controls. The city in Anthem has numerous rules to provide ignorance, equality, and to keep the past of their society from re-emerging. Whether it be a curfew early in the night or jobs that determine your position in their society, the council is always aware of you. The book Anthem by Ayn Rand shows us what it's like to live in a future dystopian society where everyone is “equal”. Personal pronouns such as I, me, you, etc are eradicated from the English language. Throughout the story, the book teaches what it’s like to live by these rules and how Equality 7-2521 learned about the unspeakable and sacred word. The rules of the council demoralize and stupefy the citizens in the...
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...meet the set “norm.” Ayn Rand’s Anthem expresses the alienation of the individuals who fail to be homogenous to their coexisting society. Ayn Rand’s society provides characteristics such as punishing people by making them feel as if they are alienated, subjecting individuals to segregation or accepting them, as well as providing escape routes. Such humans who are alienated are considered to be “the other” in this society. Rather than promoting differentiation and diversity… Rand’s society strongly rejects it. The character in Anthem who is especially subjected to alienation and the title of “the other” is a man named Equality 7-2521 a.k.a. Prometheus. This character feels as if he is a target of alienation due to his height, intelligence, and ability of preference. Although Prometheus as said in the novel strives to be one with his “brothers,” he is unable to overcome his “sins” of inequality. Characteristics such as being six feet tall, smarter than the average Joe in his society,...
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...In the novel, Anthem, the author Ayn Rand expresses many different thoughts relating to the central theme of individuality, the idea of how one can be independent and different from others. She allows the reader to view this idea by describing the character Equality 7-2521 as someone who believes that there is more out there for himself and reaching for the highest standards in the context of the novel. The author uses the characterization of Equality 7-2521 to support the theme of individuality. This theme affects the route of the novel by showing that the main character wants to become his own individual and will do whatever it takes to break away from the conformity, including working in tunnels from the forbidden times to sharing his personal...
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...To imagine a society without individuality is difficult. A world without the clothes, food, and activities that make us distinct and different from others, perhaps seems implausible. However, in Ayn Rand’s novelette Anthem, this peculiar world without separateness is brought to our attention through the eyes of a protagonist who feels neither equal nor one with his brothers. Equality was motivated by selfishness, which is a prime incentive in human nature. Nevertheless, with his selfishness, he held a certain care for humanity and his brothers, making it moral for him to think this way; if the world were motivated by the same feelings, such as selfishness, or even love, the individuality that is sometimes taken for granted might be lost....
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...Anglo-Algerian author, Mouloud Benzadi describes “true happiness cannot not be achieved through wealth, fame or action, but through love, modesty, and self-satisfaction.” While happiness can be achieved through materialistic things, Benzadi, along with Ray Bradbury and Ayn Rand, agrees that not all things can bring true happiness to life. Similarly to Benzadi’s idea, the novels Fahrenheit 451 and the novella Anthem, by authors Bradbury and Rand, display that to reach a high level of satisfaction, one must have a desire for knowledge, freedom to express individuality, and a desire to belong. Once these are accomplished, true happiness can be achieved. The hunger for the unknown of knowledge often creates satisfaction through. For example, in...
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...Ayn Rand writes, “Moral values are the motive power of a man’s actions.” in her short essay. Equality forming his own moral judgement proves that he is staying honest to himself and prevents his mind from irrationality and creating a false sense of reality like the people in Anthem. For example, the Scholars refuse to take in Equality’s discovery of electricity because they have been taught that everyone is equal and using their flawed logic sense, they thought Equality believed he was higher than others. Equality is shocked by their thinking and how they can be so wrong, even sacrificing his own life for the sake of his invention. When he realizes they want nothing to do with the lightbulb, he runs away which shows that he feels the same way as Ayn Rand. He realizes that the society is...
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...Wilfred Owen Poems – Notes Anthem for the doomed youth; The title ‘anthem’ is deliberately ironic for an anthem is usually an extended song of praise and it has religious connotations. However the utterance as an ‘anthem’ emphasises his point there is nothing to celebrate in his subject The assonance and adjective of the word doomed in the title adds to the negative tone of the poem. The ‘youth’ that is doomed completes the tragic implications of the title. Age is doomed by death but the youth it is tragic and brutally cut short. The rhetorical question “what passing-bells for these who die as cattle?” A passing bell is an English custom that a rings on a single note when one of the community has died. It is inhuman as men are slaughtered in war, Owen predicts the circumstances of their death and their humanity is stripped from them and they are “die like cattle” The use of onomatopoeia “the stuttering riffles rattled” and “can patter out their hasty orisons” accentuate that war is brutal and cruel The use of the noun “boy” stresses the youths’ vulnerability The alliteration of the word “s”, “sad shires” softens the tone which causes the reader to feel sympathy and remorse for the people who have died and went war. The last laugh; “the last laugh” stark irony in the title “Oh! Jesus Christ! I’m hit!” exclamation mark emphasizes the ridiculous nature of their struggle The adjective “indeed” stresses the sarcastic tone that Owen is drawing attention to ...
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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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...into choosing a child’s name. We want it to be meaningful and so we take into consideration heritage, trends, and personal characteristics, as if it will influence who they will become. This is not the case in Anthem, by Ayn Rand, where names are assigned to people randomly at birth; one word, five numbers. In Anthem, the main characters Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000’s names are an ironic contrast to their personalities. Equality 7-2521’s name is ironic in that by definition, equality means everyone is the same and there is no place for individuality. His strong belief was that all people should be recognized as individuals, and we watched him struggle with this belief throughout the novel. Equality 7-2521 demonstrated this when he was working in the tunnel under the subway. He was illegally working on a project that had the potential to significantly improve the lives of everyone in their society. His inventing made him realize “how...
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