The Formation of a Collective Society “Totalitarianism begins with using the word “we” without every I’s permission” (Wiśhiewski). In Anthem, Ayn Rand gives a glimpse of what it is like to live in a collective society. Equality 7-2521 is unlike his brothers and is “cursed” because of those differences. Throughout the story, Equality goes on various adventures such as finding light and leaving his society along with its collective nature. The process behind creating a collective society in Anthem requires the burning of the past, the regression of technology, and the removal of choice. After the war in the Unmentionable Times, the World Council wanted to limit intelligence in order to have more control and power over the people. The burning
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The regression of technology helps form a collective society because it limited any of the civilization’s advancements. Equality found light and electricity. He tried to present his discovery to the Council of Scholars who, in turn, responded with, “It took fifty years to secure the approval of all the Councils for the Candle … We cannot alter the Plans again so soon” (Rand 74). The Council of Scholars rejects Equality’s new discovery of electricity because getting new plans approved would take an incredible amount of time. Going back in time with technology and making it so difficult to advance gave the World Council more control over citizens’ knowledge. Regressing technology was not the only part involved in the process of forming a collective …show more content…
Removing an individual’s choice allowed the civilization to focus on the group, making the community a collective population. Equality 7-2521 wished to be of the Home of the Scholars but the Council of Vocations chooses his job for him. “And we were punished when the Council of Vocations came to give us our life Mandates which tell those who reach their fifteenth year what their work is to be for the rest of their days” (Rand 24). By having citizens’ jobs chosen for them the society removes an individual’s choice of what occupation they want. The society is able to regulate choice so no independent person can make a decision for themselves, only for the group, because the society’s main focus is how to benefit the group rather than an individual. Replacing independent choice with group choice is an important factor in creating a collective
The regression of technology helps form a collective society because it limited any of the civilization’s advancements. Equality found light and electricity. He tried to present his discovery to the Council of Scholars who, in turn, responded with, “It took fifty years to secure the approval of all the Councils for the Candle … We cannot alter the Plans again so soon” (Rand 74). The Council of Scholars rejects Equality’s new discovery of electricity because getting new plans approved would take an incredible amount of time. Going back in time with technology and making it so difficult to advance gave the World Council more control over citizens’ knowledge. Regressing technology was not the only part involved in the process of forming a collective …show more content…
Removing an individual’s choice allowed the civilization to focus on the group, making the community a collective population. Equality 7-2521 wished to be of the Home of the Scholars but the Council of Vocations chooses his job for him. “And we were punished when the Council of Vocations came to give us our life Mandates which tell those who reach their fifteenth year what their work is to be for the rest of their days” (Rand 24). By having citizens’ jobs chosen for them the society removes an individual’s choice of what occupation they want. The society is able to regulate choice so no independent person can make a decision for themselves, only for the group, because the society’s main focus is how to benefit the group rather than an individual. Replacing independent choice with group choice is an important factor in creating a collective