Ayn Rand’s Anthem is a rebuttal of collectivism. The ideology of collectivism is heavily criticized in Rand’s novella where the oppression of an individual is summarized in the following statement, “What is not done collectively cannot be good” (Rand 73).
Collectivity robs the people of their individuality and uniqueness, attributes that are disregarded in Anthem. The need for everything to be done collectively in order to be beneficial for the society is a fallacy. Reaching a full consensus greatly reduces the rate of advancement as each decision must pass an approval process. As a result, society has an active role in preventing an individual’s ability to progress. In Anthem’s dystopia, countless ideas are rejected or abandoned because they
Collectivity robs the people of their individuality and uniqueness, attributes that are disregarded in Anthem. The need for everything to be done collectively in order to be beneficial for the society is a fallacy. Reaching a full consensus greatly reduces the rate of advancement as each decision must pass an approval process. As a result, society has an active role in preventing an individual’s ability to progress. In Anthem’s dystopia, countless ideas are rejected or abandoned because they