Dystopia: An imaginary place or state in which the condition of life is extremely bad. In the novella, “Anthem” by Ayn Rand, Equality, Main character, was raised in a dystopian society. The main reason why the lifestyle was dystopian was because the World Council thought it was a good idea to destroy the old world and to start a new one, being utopian. That is what happens when people in power decide its fine to control the world and make everyone around them miserable. They don’t care what others think. Equality and everyone around him were forced to think, act, etc the same. “All men are one and that there is no will of men together”, Ayn Rand (1.10). No man had a will of his own, everyone acted together. In this novella, Equality and his brothers never knew about the word “I”. The Council replaced it with the word “we”.
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This is because nobody was an individual. “We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, one indivisible and forever”, Ayn Rand (1.8). Explaining why men only spoke in the first-person plural. This was also the motto everyone had to follow. If you were caught saying “I”, also known as the “Unmentionable Word”, you would be burned alive with your tongue cut off in front of everybody. The Council did not care less of the impact on the family or friends of the person executed. In Anthem, the World Council and the Scholars, people in power, seemed like they had a good life being the highest in the society. On the other hand, the lower people did not have a good life. They were constantly in fear, and worried they would get punished for saying or doing anything against the society’s standards. While Equality was getting ready in the Home of the Street Sweepers, he noticed that his brothers’ eyes were dull; with hunched backs looking as if they do not want to live the life they were given. People in power often judge others based on their own personal gain, rather then what is appropriate for the person affected. Equality always wondered about what he will receive as a mandate, or job for life, when he gets older. Interested in the “Science of Things” and curious about the world, he wished to become a Scholar, known as the scientists and inventors, with all his heart. But the day everyone received their mandate from the Council of Vocations, Equality’s wish was not granted. “This was the only thing which moved, for the lips of the oldest did not move as they said: “Street Sweeper”.”, Ayn Rand (1.29). With Street Sweeper being one of the worst jobs, and Equality not receiving the mandate of a Scholar, you’d assume he was upset. Equality was actually happy and accepted the job with joy, which is strange. He would then live a pretty regular life with his assignment until he reached the age of 40 when he would be sent to the Home of the Useless. The Council of Vocations assigned Equality the job of the Street Sweeper due to a more sinister motivation. Since childhood; He has always been labeled evil and was born with a curse, according to the society. Half of why he is evil is because of his appearance
This is because nobody was an individual. “We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, one indivisible and forever”, Ayn Rand (1.8). Explaining why men only spoke in the first-person plural. This was also the motto everyone had to follow. If you were caught saying “I”, also known as the “Unmentionable Word”, you would be burned alive with your tongue cut off in front of everybody. The Council did not care less of the impact on the family or friends of the person executed. In Anthem, the World Council and the Scholars, people in power, seemed like they had a good life being the highest in the society. On the other hand, the lower people did not have a good life. They were constantly in fear, and worried they would get punished for saying or doing anything against the society’s standards. While Equality was getting ready in the Home of the Street Sweepers, he noticed that his brothers’ eyes were dull; with hunched backs looking as if they do not want to live the life they were given. People in power often judge others based on their own personal gain, rather then what is appropriate for the person affected. Equality always wondered about what he will receive as a mandate, or job for life, when he gets older. Interested in the “Science of Things” and curious about the world, he wished to become a Scholar, known as the scientists and inventors, with all his heart. But the day everyone received their mandate from the Council of Vocations, Equality’s wish was not granted. “This was the only thing which moved, for the lips of the oldest did not move as they said: “Street Sweeper”.”, Ayn Rand (1.29). With Street Sweeper being one of the worst jobs, and Equality not receiving the mandate of a Scholar, you’d assume he was upset. Equality was actually happy and accepted the job with joy, which is strange. He would then live a pretty regular life with his assignment until he reached the age of 40 when he would be sent to the Home of the Useless. The Council of Vocations assigned Equality the job of the Street Sweeper due to a more sinister motivation. Since childhood; He has always been labeled evil and was born with a curse, according to the society. Half of why he is evil is because of his appearance