The Idea Of Collectivism In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Words: 565
Pages: 3
Open Document
Anthem essay
Topic 2

Anthem is a novel written by Ayn Rand. She was a Russian women who hated the idea of collectivism. She would eventually go on to right many books one of which being Anthem. Anthem has a lot of collectivist ideas in it. Anthem is set in a dystopian world in the future. The protagonist’s name is Equality 7-2521 who is superior to everyone else in the book. Equality finds a friend named International 4-8818 they go on to find numerous things like a subway station and electricity.
In the book, some of the rules there just don’t make any sense, like for example the house of the scholars which is like the government states that a certain individual cannot be alone, at any time. That is a transgression against the home of the scholars , and also no person shall have a friend, nor love someone. The home of scholars is where only the best of the best people in their society are placed. They are the ones who decide the people’s fate, by giving them their careers for life. The home of the scholars claim to have invented glass, the window and their most recent invention the candle, even though it was made one hundred years prior to what is now known as Anthem. …show more content…
the rest of the civilization settled in their city and began a new, But for the founders they felt like as if they were to completely wipe away all the knowledge and technology of the world before them. They created rules that can make a person question what the need of that really is? One example is that the people are not allowed to fall in love, nor speak with one another. There is only one time and place where they can speak freely of each other and not receive a punishment for it. In the house of mating here is a quote from the novel “And we take no heed of the law which say men may not think of women save at time of mating” (Rand 41). So this means that some people do not care about what the law says about thinking, or loving
Show More

Related Documents: The Idea Of Collectivism In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Ayn Rand's Anthem Essay

people. In Ayn Rand’s essay, How Does One Lead a Rational Life in an Irrational Society?, she suggests that when these leaders are voted for by the people or even chosen by the existing government, most of their morals and ideas that won them the election are tossed out of their minds in favour of twisted political morals, which do not care about the people as individuals. The…

Words 796 - Pages 4

Collectivism And Communism In Ayn Rand's Anthem

first paragraph of Ayn Rand’s “Anthem”, it is difficult to not immediately draw a connection to the multiple communist regimes throughout history. Multiple connections can be drawn, and external evidence can be used as well. Ayn Rand was very opposed to collectivism, and in turn, communism. She even designed a philosophy that directly opposes it. The idea that shall be expanded on in this essay is simple. The world of “Anthem” is essentially an elegant critique of collectivism and communism. A portion…

Words 445 - Pages 2

Collectivism Vs. Individualism In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Anthem "We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever” (19). This shows the ideal case of collectivism; thinking and acting as one mind, instead of individually. Ayn Rand’s book Anthem showcases the differences between collectivism and individualism. It starts off displaying an extreme case of collectivism and shows how nobody has their own name and cannot use words such as “I” or “me”, but only “we” and “them”. Throughout the book, the main…

Words 1001 - Pages 5

Equality 7-2521 In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Ayn Rand, author of Anthem, experienced a horrible childhood during Russia’s difficult times, which scarred her and impacted her to include her personal experience in her writing. Rand’s purpose of this action is to demonstrate the feelings of Equality 7-2521, as it is very similar to her own feelings during her time in Russia. In Anthem, Rand includes an allusion by showing the feelings of Equality 7-2521 as he watches the Transgressor that spoke the Unspeakable Word being burned alive. “And…

Words 453 - Pages 2

Ayn Rand BIography Essay

and Legacy of Ayn Rand If you could live in a peaceful environment where everyone was supposed to be the same and there was no confrontation or having anyone be better or more successful than you would you choose to live here? No matter what you or anyone else says Ayn Rand’s answer would be a definite no. Ayn Rand is a famous author from Russia. She is a huge activist for individualism, the belief in the importance of being your own individual person and being self-reliant. Ayn absolutely hates…

Words 666 - Pages 3

Anthem: How Does One Lead A Rational Life In An Irrational Society

individuality is forbidden and collectivism is favored. That is the negligent society in which Equality 7-2521 is compliant to live in. “We were born with a curse. It has always driven us to thoughts which are forbidden. It has always given us wishes which men may not wish. We know that we are evil, but there is no will nor power in us to resist it. This is our wonder and our secret fear, that we know and do not resist.” (18). Throughout the story we progressively…

Words 980 - Pages 4

The Theme Of Objectivism In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Ayn Rand, who is the author of dystopian novel Anthem, uses her belief of “Objectivism” to criticize “Collectivism.” When Ayn Rand wrote the dystopian novel, she hoped to enlighten others about her philosophy about individualism, she said, “ "My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute” (Rand). In Anthem they have a society that is controlled…

Words 647 - Pages 3

Anthem Rhetorical Analysis

Anthem - Prompt Three In Ayn Rand’s Anthem, she presents Equality 7-2521 member of a primitive future’s collectivist society. Throughout the novelette Equality questions everything their government tells them is good and true. Is it really an evil to be alone? Or to be smarter than someone else? Is it so wrong to want to do something more than sweep streets for the next twenty years? Equality comes to believe that “self” is the most important thing; you should only do what will help you as san…

Words 670 - Pages 3

Summary Of The Book Review Of Anthem By Ayn Rand

book review of Anthem When reading the book, called Anthem, directed by the famous writer, Ayn Rand, I have recognized the significant ideas about the individuals and groups at the same time. Although in the book, it has told us something useful and essential about the groups, it still pays more attention to the key points of the individuals. After the knowledge of the book, we can realize that the book is just an anthem sung in praise of a man’s ego from the legendary author Ayn Rand to be honest…

Words 1316 - Pages 6

Freedom In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem envisions a future in which collectivist ideas are so integral to daily life that the characters don’t even use the word I, as it is too self-focused. In the novel Anthem, the main character Equality struggles against an oppressive, collectivist government, but eventually overcomes it and finds his individualism. Equality is fettered by collectivism in many ways, such as government suppression, physical punishment, and chastisement. However, Equality manages to overcome these…

Words 833 - Pages 4