Anthem By Ayn Rand: A Literary Analysis

Words: 569
Pages: 3
Open Document
Anthem takes place in a dystopian future where independent thinking is punishable by death. In this future everyone must work as one, and they even went as far as getting rid of the word “I,” from their dictionary as it symbolizes individualism. This all for one community has made it impossible for people to think independently and ultimately has slowed down science and technological advancement.In her 1938 novel, Anthem, Ayn Rand presents a tyrannical world far in the future, where enforced equality among humans reigns and the former technological achievements of humankind have been long forgotten. The word "I" has been disregarded and forbidden, and has been replaced by the collective "We." The modern conveniences that we now take for granted, …show more content…
At birth, children are given impersonal words as names, such as "Collective" or "Similarity," followed by a number. Children are taken from their parents before any child-parent bond can develop. This is supposedly to prevent any "Transgression of Preference," since all denizens of the city must love one another equally. Once they have been separated from their mothers, the children are first taken to the Home of the Infants, and then, at age five, they are transferred to the Home of the Students where they must complete ten years of state-sanctioned study. When the youths reach the age of fifteen, they go before the Council of Vocations, where they are told what occupation is to fill the rest of their lives. Equality 7-2521, whose intelligence reaches beyond that of the other students, loves to learn new things but finds the lessons taught him during his ten years of schooling to be too simple. He thirsts for more knowledge, and wishes to be awarded the position of Scholar by the Council of Vocations, so that he may continue his studies of science. The position given to him by the Council was instead that of a street sweeper. This is clearly a waste of a brilliant mind, and reflects how the state rejects any possible move forward that could threaten its
Show More

Related Documents: Anthem By Ayn Rand: A Literary Analysis

Anthem By Ayn Rand: Literary Analysis

Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, is a book about the character Equality. In the beginning of the story, Equality, who is scared to commit a transgression, meets a couple of friends named International and Union. In the middle of the story, he finds a tunnel that leads to a subway that he leaves the social gatherings after work to go to, and he meets a girl named Liberty, and his life mandate is to become a street sweeper. Throughout the story Equality starts committing transgressions and disrespecting…

Words 611 - Pages 3

Anthem, By Ayn Rand: A Literary Analysis

Has anyone really ever been subjected to speaking unnaturally, felt pain to be considered equal, or has been almost killed for money? This has happened in the book called Anthem, by Ayn Rand, specifically the subjugation of speaking unnaturally is represented in this book. Also, in another story, “Harrison Bergeron”, by Kurt Vonnegut, has a protagonist that experiences pain to be considered “equal”. Lastly, in the movie called The Island, by Michael Bay, the main character has been almost killed…

Words 513 - Pages 3

Ayn Rand Anthem Analysis

The Life of a Drone A literary analysis of ayn rand's Anthem In Anthem by ayn rand the topic of life for those not in power is described as like an ant colony where all must serve the colony for the good of each other but there is not a large example until Equality tries to present his invention to the council of scholars and they think it is evil because he did not work with other men and he acted as if he was not part of the colony so the invention must be evil which shows how they act as an…

Words 486 - Pages 2

Anthem Literary Analysis

Literary analysis Anthem “We wish to speak it, but we dare not speak it above a whisper” (pg 38).The book that we read as a class was the Anthem by Ayn Rand. This quote was saying how his relationship had to be a secret and no one can know Equality 7-2521 has feeling for the Golden One. And showing that their love needs to be and is so strong. When reading the story you can see how the attitude of Equality changes from loving the Golden One to just thinking of her as someone that does not mean…

Words 721 - Pages 3