Preview

Obedience In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
723 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Obedience In Ayn Rand's Anthem
To live in a world with no opposition, no opposing opinions, perfect obedience among citizens must exist. Creating laws that grant permission and forbid all other opinions can help lessen opposition. Also to avoid the problem of opposition one can provoke fear. The leaders in Anthem create a world that works as a single unit to completely cut out any chance of rebellion. The leaders set up a system that forces the brothers to work as a single unit. The work system works in a way where the Council of Vocations assigns each person a specific job. This keeps society running smoothly so nothing will remain undone. This also equals out the job opportunities, eliminating competition and qualifications. People obey the idea of existing as a single unit because they learn this method during their youth and strongly believe in it: “We are one in a all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, one, indivisible and forever” (19). The leaders use the saying to describe how no man can stand alone. The community works as a single unit, almost like parts of a machine where each man works a gear, completing the specific task assigned to it. …show more content…
They take it to the extreme and put fear everywhere: “There is fear hanging in the air of the sleeping halls, and in the air of the streets. Fear walks through the city, fear without name, without shape. All men feel it and non dare to speak it” (46). The citizens can feel the fear but they seem to not know exactly what they fear. People may not know what they fear because they leaders keep so many things secret (mainly about life and the ancient times) that fear just comes from natural instinct. The leaders lack the ability to remove this instinct so they create fear to take over the instinct; the leaders own a corrective detention where citizens go if they do something not permitted. The citizens adapted to the sense of fear and hardly remember its

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    What is egoism? Something that Prometheus seems so interested in. Egoism is a doctrine that individual self worth is the motive behind all conscious action. In this day in age being an egoist is wrong, but in Prometheus society being an egoist wasn’t even heard of. Why is it that Prometheus writes down “ego” at the very end of the book on page 105 of Anthem.…

    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ayn Rand perfectly captured the idea of a collectivist society in her book, Anthem, by creating a vivid image of the dangers of losing one’s sense of self. This concept can be applied to modern times, much like Equality does when proclaiming his anthem: “I understood that centuries of chains and lashes will not kill the spirit of man nor the sense of truth within him” (98). His statement personifies a man’s spirit,the perseverance of man, and implies that there are no restraints strong enough to thwart human nature.…

    • 325 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the world of Anthem, Ayn Rand, creatively establishes a world that is technologically primitive. In Rand’s imaginative world she primarily focuses on the found of technology that has established her democracy of dictatorship known as the Council. Furthermore this creates a bondage of political power that drives the world of Anthem to insanity.…

    • 113 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    What is the meaning of the word “ego”? The literal meaning of ego is “the concern about one’s own interests”. It implies that one is more important than the collective, and that one is the proper beneficiary of one’s actions. Ayn Rand’s Anthem, tells the story of one man’s rebellion against a collective, totalitarian society. The story is set in the future dark age where the evils of collectivism and irrationality have destroyed the concept of achievement and individuality.…

    • 610 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The concept of egoism is presented in Anthem, authored by Ayn Rand, using the principle that every man’s primary obligation should be toward his own well-being. Once Equality realizes what the sacred word to his society is, he begins to write about how the concept of altruism should not be placed at the root of a man’s heart, rather the concept of egoism. As Equality sits with his journal he writes, “For the word ‘We’ must never be spoken, save by one’s choice and as a second thought” (Rand 96). Equality believes that man shall not serve others, rather service themselves in an almost ‘selfish’ manner, with the exception of a man’s choice to work alongside other people. In summary, Equality believes that egoism should be the primary obligation…

    • 142 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Ayn Rand’s Anthem, the main character is brought up into a society where individualism is never an option. In secret, this character broke these laws and constantly made what was called “transgressions” to the book’s authority figures. Near the books closing he states “Why the best in me had been my sins and my transgressions; and why I had never felt guilt in my sins.” Prometheus has came to understand that he was different and that his sins gave him his happy ending. For being different it made those around him believe that It was indeed sinful.…

    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Equality feels his heart rate quicken as he rushes to the Uncharted Forest. Trees of amazing magnitude stand like statues above Equality. In response to his leave, Equality realizes he may never return to the life he led before. Anthem, authored by Ayn Rand, follows a man living in a futuristic society where individualism and independence are obliterated; instead replaced with collectivism and altruism, which both state a man’s primary obligation should be for others rather than for himself. In Anthem, Equality wants to secede from his society and become an individual; however, Equality’s thought process aligns with the betterment of himself in an unjustifiable way, and, in relation to the whole world thinking likewise, individualism would…

    • 179 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Anthem, Ayn Rand reveals the idea that words can give someone the freedom to choose their own path. Equality, after having suffered from being forced to conform and hide his true self from the oppressive eyes of the society, is now relieved to finally have the missing pieces to his knowledge. He exclaims, “Many words have been granted me, and some are wise, and some are false, but only three are holy: “I will it!” (Rand 94). When Equality discovers the “Unspeakable Word,” he no longer feels restricted to the ties that bind him to the society, despite already having left. He now feels liberated and has finally completed his quest to truly embrace his own individuality. Equality knows that his knowledge of these words will lead him on…

    • 135 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Ego. A word shamed upon in western society, because of negative implications. Men who have become wealthy through their hard works and sacrifices are depicted as “self-centered”. Since, society is angry toward people with huge amounts of wealth. Although egoism is portrayed as a bad thing, it should be a reward and gift. In our world today and language, the word “I” is significant, because it presents individualism. Everyone has knowledge that no one is the same, everyone has unique characteristics. However, to live in a collectivist society, individuality is impossible, as everyone is oppressed under a leader or government. Sadly, a person cannot challenge authority or meet goals, because of the limit to one’s thoughts. Moreover, a collectivist…

    • 1109 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    It’s like they let depression hit them right in the butt. If people would just be more motivated I feel like the world would be a happier place. In Anthem, they weren’t allowed to have feelings. They weren’t allowed to be motivated. And that is one boring, depressing life. “We are one in all and all in one. There are no men, but one the great WE, One, indivisible and forever.” (Chapter one left side, paragraph #8) This is stating that they can’t have any feelings by themselves. As in they have to feel what their brothers fell. Which is nothing because the teachers frown upon them when they are different from their brothers. “It is not good to be different from our brothers, but it is evil to be superior to them. The Teachers told us so, and they frowned when they looked upon us.” (Chapter one right side, paragraph…

    • 534 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Collectivism is primarily the foundation of people who cannot survive as independent individuals. Since said people obviously aren’t individualists, no one is brave enough to go against their society’s norms, therefore retaining the collectivist society. A perfect example of this is in the novella Anthem by Ayn Rand. From the start of this brilliant novel, Equality 7-2521, later Prometheus, the main character and protagonist is trying to find himself, along with what he was placed on this earth to do. Soon enough his journey begins making sure to rebel against the Council of Vocation, since they are the only ones holding him back from his great overtake. Throughout the short story, more than just a light box is discovered; It becomes evident how The Council of Vocations appeal to certain ideas like trying to eradicate the factor of envy in order to justify their collectivist society, as well as how identical the society in Anthem and the one we live in today are, in terms of collectivism.…

    • 625 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Anthem Equality says “For the coming of that day shall I fight, I and my sons and my chosen friends. For the freedom of Man. For his rights. For his life. For his honor.(104)” Everyone is supposed to be seen as equal to their brothers in this society, but Anthem slowly detached himself from them. He wanted something for himself. Like he says in the book. He wants freedom, rights, life, and honor. He also says “What is freedom? Freedom from what? There is nothing to take a man’s freedom away, save other men. To be free, a man must be free of his brothers. That is…

    • 711 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Is a perfect society ever going to happen in the future? Is it a good idea? Ayn Rand, the author of the novel Anthem, believes that everyone should get along and demonstrate a perfect society. Ayn Rand believes that everyone should be the same and no one should have an ego. In this dystopian novel, Rand doesn’t want anyone to be different, or see what they look like. Throughout the novel, Rand shows that each person's feelings, choices, and needs are more important than everyone else’s, when an individual does not believe that the laws of society are ethical or moral then he or she has the right to defy the laws, and also Rand believes that happiness is the purpose of life.…

    • 881 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A successful totalitarian government uses fear as a method in controlling its citizens. They do this by publicly eliminating people that oppose the government or “step out of line”. By eliminating people who don’t conform, you impose a fear of rebellion, which means that the government can prosper for a very long time. In Schindler’s List whenever one of the Jews in the concentration camp did something that didn’t sit well…

    • 711 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    An old man was dying so he summoned his sons to give them some parting advices. With him, were some chopsticks, he then said to his eldest son: “Break them”. The son strained and strained, but could not break the bundle of chopsticks. The other sons also tried, and were not successful. The father then said, “now, each of you take a stick and break it”. Then, each of the chopsticks was broken with ease. “You see my meaning, union gives strength”, said their father (1). I am sure most of us would have heard of this story and the morale is the limitation of one’s single effort and the effectiveness of unity, which in this case, TEAMWORK. Ever since many decades ago, human already knew the importance of teamwork. That is why most of the sports (e.g. soccer, basketball) require more than one person to play. Even for those single player sports (badminton, table tennis), team plays are also available. Moreover, there is never a one-man army but platoons of soldiers defending a country. All these show that teamwork has a long history in our daily life. Hence, I strongly agree that team work is an effective way of organising people to get things done. I would continue to further illustrate my stand in this essay.…

    • 1815 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays

Related Topics