Anthem by Ayn Rand
Imagine a world where the individual has been repressed to the point that the word "I" no longer exists. Now, as hellish as that sounds, imagine that you are the only one who has the capability to break free from the iron fists that are choking you and your brothers. This is the life of Equality 7-2521, the principal character and narrator of Ayn Rand's Anthem. Anthem takes place in the dark ages of the future, in a totally collectivized world. This culture has regressed to conditions reminiscent of Ancient Greece and the European Dark Ages. In the midst of fear and subordination, one man stands alone. Equality 7-2521 is not like his brothers. He is able think, create and defy. This makes him extremely dangerous. He holds the threat of change in his hands and his government will stop at nothing to take it from him. Equality's society represses him because they are afraid of those that threaten the established order. One major catalyst for change is intelligence. Equality displays evidence of genius at a young age. "We, Equality 7-2521, were not happy...in the Home of the Students. It was not that the learning was too hard for us. It was...too easy" (Rand 16). In Equality's society, it is evil to be different from ones brother
McDonald, Marci. "Fighting Over Ayn Rand: A Radical Individualist's Followers Can't Get Along." U.S. News and World Report 9 March 1998: 1-5. Creativity is a main staple needed in order for change to take place. Equality has somehow been able to escape the suppression of creativity that is so deeply ingrained in his culture. Equality is not the only person who is able to transgress in order to create. One of his brothers, International 4-8818, is a natural artist and is punished in an attempt to stifle his talents. "They were not liked because they...drew pictures... and they...made men laugh" (Rand 27). Their government strictly prohibits this sort of creativity. "...It is only our brothers in the Home of the Artists who are permitted to draw pictures..."(Rand 27). Even though both men, Equality and International, are very talented and intelligent, they are both assigned to be street sweepers among "pale boy[s] with half a brain"(Rand 17). These men were kept from sharing their gifts with their society. Their society feels that those talents need to be suppressed in order to preserve the established state of their society. They are correct in that assumption. Creativity and individualism inevitably lead to change. "Individualism was the creative power revolutionizing the world" (Branden 12). Repression of creativity and individualism are a perfect way to inhibit social change. Without creativity Equality's society will not be improved because only the self-creative can enrich society (Kavanagh 1). A collectivized society cannot benefit "...from that which only the independent mind can create..." (Branden 112). Unless a society can accept and embrace creativity, it will remain unchanged. Rand, Ayn. Anthem. New York: Signet, 1946.
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1598
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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