Essay 1: Anthem & “Harrison Bergeron” The theme statement i have came up with for both Anthem and “Harrison Bergeron” is, even if you are more intelligent or feel different from others, speaking up about it will only get you into trouble in these societies. A quote from “Harrison Bergeron” that supports my theme statement is “She fired twice, and the emperor and empress were dead before they hit the floor”(Vonnegut,5). The quote from Anthem that best supports my theme statement is “We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, one indivisible and forever”(Rand, 19). The world in Anthem is ideal and it’s a sin for anyone to think that they are more or less than “WE”(Rand, 20). However, in Anthem there is a character that knows there is more to be discovered that his brothers does not know about yet. When Equality goes to the scholars, to inform them on the spectacular stuff he has recently learned, he is chased out of his community and into a forest that no one dares to enter (Rand, 75). “Harrison Bergeron” is a short story which is very similar to Anthem. In the short story “Harrison Bergeron”, a young boy is taken from his family at fourteen and is arrested. He was arrested for plotting a plan to overthrow the government (Vonnegut, 3). Harrison knew that everyone was not alike; Harrison felt that exposure was the best way for the community to find out that everyone isn’t the same. When Harrison exposed his true self, without all the ornaments
The novel of Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, contributes to controversial subjects in society that are still relevant today. Some issues addressed by Rand in her novel include: equality, social hierarchy, individuality, and government. Throughout the duration of reading Anthem the issues in which Rand makes relevant are not obvious, but more so discussed through conflicts and situations that the main character, Equality 7-2521, encounters. Although many of the altercations that present social issues are provided by either other characters singlehandedly or by a group of the characters in alliance, some of the main issues that arise in this novel are presented within the main character himself.
“We cannot resist it. It whispers to us that there are great things on this earth of ours, and that we must know them. We ask, why we must know, but it has no answer to give us.” (Rand 24) he then goes on talking about how he loves “the Science of Things” (Rand 23) and how he could ask questions in the House of Scholars, “for they do not forbid questions.” (Rand 23) However, at the near end of Anthem, Equality states that the Scholars are “blind” and are being “cowardice” (Rand 19) even though he had once looked up to these same Scholars when growing up, “We strive to be like all our brother men, for all men must be alike.” (Rand
“It is a sin to write this. It is a sin to think words no others think and to put them down upon a paper no others are to see. It is base and evil… We have broken the laws” (17). Thus begins Anthem by Ayn Rand, a novella about a future collectivist society and a man named Equality 7-2521. Though the story takes place in the future, all technology that came after candles and glass has been taken away. The word “I” has ceased to exist in anyone’s vocabulary. Every person must agree on everything and feel like everyone else. To accomplish ‘cleansing’ the evils of mankind, society lead its people to believe that nothing can be done independently. The story is told through the eyes of Equality as he purposely defies the laws
The story of Anthem takes place in dystopian future in which freedom and human rights have been obliterated. Equality 7-2521, the protagonist, is a street sweeper who finds a tunnel where he conducts his science experiments which are considered a sin. Throughout the book we see him change and discover how capable he is through a multitude of literary devices. In the novella , Anthem, Ayn Rand utilizes vivid imagery and a profusion of diction to frenetically emphasize the idea of love.
The main plot between both series “Harrison Bergeron” and “Anthem” both show how horrible it can be to make everyone equal as person, which means everyone does the same thing every day, everyone eats the same thing every day, and everyone is viewed the same, but with both stories there comes an outsider in a dystopia. In the story “Harrison Bergeron” it is Harrison Bergeron who is tall, smart, athletic, and viewed as an outcast in his society. In the story “Anthem’ it is Equality 7-2521 who is tall, smart, has a curiosity that makes him thirsty for knowledge, and as well is an outcast in his society. Harrison Bergeron has a society where they do not distinguish family love, unlike “Anthem”
In the book Anthem by Ayn Rand the main character, Equality, lives in a collectivist society, but he leaves because he does not agree with these values. Anthem is a prime example of the hero's journey because the novel is very similar to what criteria the hero's journey contains. This essay consists of how the Equality experiences the Apotheosis, Master of Two Worlds, and the Ultimate Boon.
Renowned dystopian author, George Orwell, once stated, “It is not possible for any thinking person to live in such a [corrupt] society as our own without wanting to change it." It is true that any democracy favoring individual could identify corruption in their society and strive to refine it. But what would happen to a society when one’s freedom to think and hold an opinion is revoked? How would a society transform if government issued restraints were implemented to lessen an individual's advanced qualities and make them equivalent to everyone else's? In so many works of dystopian literature, societal corruption is blatantly apparent, and becomes the driving force for any freedom seekers’ aspiration
Individuality, a thing we all take for granted, but in a collectivist society, individuality is banned in all forms and is enforced with torture and execution in the name of “brotherly love”. In the novella Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, all men are bound to the society and held captive by the government’s beliefs. The Home of Scholars is responsible for all scientific discoveries. A new act is preventing them from releasing their findings into the society. Equality also dabbles in science, and he knows that this is a transgression. Equality wishes only to study the clockwork of the world, and to be accepted into The Home of Scholars. He brings his invention of a light to the council, but is turned down because his technological advancement
The story’s settings of the novel, Anthem, greatly influences the plot. The novel’s setting takes in a Dark Age where there is no creativity, technology, progress, or optimism. The “society” is completely controlled and manipulated by a central group of leaders. The story primarily centers around a young man named Equality 7-2521 who is a street sweeper. This occupation does not offer him opportunities to expand beyond his small controlled world. Equality 7-2521 take his readers on an adventurous life journey as written in his own journal. Readers feel his oppression and personal desperation as they travel through the dark tunnel and live each day in the shoes of Equality.
Anthem is similar to “Survival Ship” because both stories control the human race by mating their people. Rand uses certain situations to let the readers become aware of the society she created. She writes how her character, Equality 7-2521 remembers, “This is the time each spring when all the men older than twenty and all the women older than eighteen are sent for one night to the City Palace of
Now-a-days, when we think of the future, we picture flying cars, and being able to transport. In the novel “The Anthem” society and technology as we know it had been driven to an entirely new direction. The characters in the society do not have the right to speak freely nor do anything that they wish. They lost all of their freedom, they couldn’t even think for themselves. The society had to think as a whole, the word “I” did not exist in their vocabulary. The society is very balanced, and everyone fears the thought of even questioning it. Up until one man known as Equality 7-25271 wants the answers to all of his questions.
Equality 7-2521, the courageous narrator of Anthem, lives in a very inhumane totalitarian society. The dictator determines every persons occupation, thoughts, living arrangements, and even their ego. This environment of people are brainwashed to believe that every human is equal. They are prohibited to refer to themselves as "I" or "me." Instead, they refer themselves as "we," because individuality is completely nonexistent. The reader perceives that there is logical reasoning behind the way the dictatorial leaders conduct this societies cruel living arrangements.
“Anthem” is an engrossing novel by Ayn Rand focusing on the character Equality 7-2521’s descent into rebellion against the new socialistic government that has taken all previous scientific advancement out of life, only to leave the ideology of collectivism. His quest to discover, learn, and invent is problematic to those that oversee the progress of the civilization, and from roughly around the age of five, he is punished for his nature. Soon enough, the twenty-one year old is on a journey to learn, not only about nature’s mysteries, but also about what sets him apart from his dead-eyed peers. Equality 7-2521 has many distinctive characteristics that others in the restricted city do not, some of which are relatable, and others that are indeed unique.
Equality 7-2521, the main character of Anthem, lives in a society where everything is controlled by the government. There is no individuality; every person refers to themself as “we.” After finding a secret tunnel, Equality 7-2521 escapes here to write about himself and his childhood stories. Although he knows that he is breaking the law, he states that he feels guilt for his actions. As Equality 7-2521 writes about his childhood, it is discovered that he never wanted to be a street sweeper; his desire in life was to be a scholar so that he could explore and learn things about life. He remembers an instance where someone was executed for using the word “I”. Equality 7-2521 believed that he was called to be the next Transgressor. During the nights, he experiments in his tunnel. One night, he discovered electricity. While Equality 7-2521 is at work, he sees a young woman whom he referred to as the “Golden One.” Although the laws forbid men and women from speaking to each other, Equality
Both protagonists from the novel Anthem and short story “Harrison Bergeron” face difficult problems within their society yet each of them know there is more going on than what they are told. In both societies they are taught that everyone is equal and they are treated as a whole but the main character in each story knows that the government is hiding things from the citizens about who they are and what’s truly going on. The protagonists from Anthem and “Harrison Bergeron” are both incredibly smart and share some of the same characteristics that would help them through the situation that they are in, but overall the protagonist Equality 7-2521 is a more inspiring and developed character rather than Harrison Bergeron because of his desire to