The Role Of Life Tendency In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Anthem Essay Contest
There are several unique factors that affect life expectancy of every human being alive. The margin between those with high life expectancies and those with low life expectancies is indeed a large one, and it is steadily increasing. In Anthem, we are introduced to a society that considers the age of 45 to be “ancient”. While they are a futuristic society, they chose to live in a society that resembles the past. For instance, the light bulb invention is considered an insurmountable feat- beyond anyone’s imagination. This exhibits the lack of technology in such a society, thus raising the question as to it’s affect on how long people in this society live.
In the book, everyone is treated as equals-as one. They are not
cognizant of their surroundings, their identities, or even their own physical characteristics, because they dwell in a society that is bent on maintaining the status quo. They are taken away from their parents immediately following birth, put into a house with all the other children, and when they turn 15 years of age, they are given their life’s work- with no room for choice. Life is pre- arranged; no thought put into it, only to follow out with the orders one is given. This type of environment is conducive to depression, uncertainty, and low self-esteem- all factors in one’s well being and therefore, life expectancy. By domination of the minds in society, the people are suppressed from free will and lack of any type of creativity.
As stated earlier, the lack of technology is also a huge factor in the dismal life expectancy of the society in Anthem.
Because of the lack of technology, they are incapable of extending the life span, nor do they provide proper treatment and medication that would drastically prolong one’s life. This society cannot advance technology for medical purposes because it is too buys attempting at every chance it receives to suppress thought, and chastise those who try to act independently. Because they are not allowed to use their ingenuity, they lack the ability to transform the status quo and extend life expectancy. This is yet another pitfall present in a collectivist society such as the one in Anthem- the lack of ingenuity and
individuality.
Furthermore, considering that everything in this society is done collectively, it would be a sin to focus on just one person and making them live longer. After one had worked and procreated, they would become obsolete, so why would they be assisted with medical care to extend their life if it was not on the behalf of everyone? No one, because it does not satisfy everyone.
In addition to the various aspects regarding technology and mental suppression, there is also the fact that no one is allowed to have companionship or prefer any person to another. This loneliness drives people into a very bad emotional state for the lack of contact with another human and lack of emotion. People also fall ill due to emotional sickness, which is very prevalent in this society. That is yet another pitfall associated with a society that embraces and endorses collectivism.
In a world without free will and without the means by which humans thrive- emotion, feeling, and companionship, coupled with the technological advances needed, one cannot extend what one has suppressed.
Through the suppression of thought and individuality, the society really contributes to its own lack of the ability to affect life expectancy. One cannot live long without those necessities and to go back to the starting point and build a society based on collectivism is not good for the people as a whole. As the old adage goes:” You can’t please everyone.” This novel exhibits the need to please everyone as a whole, and even Equality 7-251 realizes at the end that he olds his brothers nothing and vice versa. That they have to gain his respect rather that just be given it because the merely exist. This is when Equality turns from one of many to an individual. Life expectancy in this society is caused by the factors discussed above, there is no doubt that the way people live has a toll on how long they
live.