Creating Free Will and Individuality in an Oppressive Society
In the excerpt titled “The Soul of an Individualist” from Ayn Rand’s novel The
Fountainhead she writes, “Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own vision. The great creators — the thinkers, the artists, the scientists, the inventors — stood alone against the men of their time.” She also mentions these individual creators got nothing but hate in response for their miraculous inventions. The same is true for the protagonist, Equality 7-2521, in Rand’s novella Anthem; he struggles to show his individuality in his society’s collectivist government. In the dystopia, the collectivism is at an extreme level. The public is …show more content…
We brought it forth from the night of the ages. We alone. Our hands. Our mind.
Ours alone and only” (59). This reiterates the idea that he did this as an individual. From the beginning of time, outshining members of society have had the courage to set themselves apart from others in order to strive for greatness and devote themselves to their work. Without this, we would not have any of the technology that is available to us today.
The second step of Equality’s individualist advancement is when he shows emotions and affection for the girl, Liberty 5-3000, whom he calls the Golden One. These actions are relevant because they go against the repressive rules regarding preference. Equality makes note of this when he says, “It is our second Transgression of Preference, for we do not think of all our brothers, as we must, but only of one, and their name is Liberty 5-300. We do not know why, when we think of them, we feel of a sudden that the earth is good and that it is not a burden to live” (41). This choice of preference and Equality valuing the Golden One more than his other brothers show his individuality. It is present in others and can be recognized by other people. She is different to him, so he is drawn to her. The nonconformists in Anthem have
In the excerpt titled “The Soul of an Individualist” from Ayn Rand’s novel The
Fountainhead she writes, “Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own vision. The great creators — the thinkers, the artists, the scientists, the inventors — stood alone against the men of their time.” She also mentions these individual creators got nothing but hate in response for their miraculous inventions. The same is true for the protagonist, Equality 7-2521, in Rand’s novella Anthem; he struggles to show his individuality in his society’s collectivist government. In the dystopia, the collectivism is at an extreme level. The public is …show more content…
We brought it forth from the night of the ages. We alone. Our hands. Our mind.
Ours alone and only” (59). This reiterates the idea that he did this as an individual. From the beginning of time, outshining members of society have had the courage to set themselves apart from others in order to strive for greatness and devote themselves to their work. Without this, we would not have any of the technology that is available to us today.
The second step of Equality’s individualist advancement is when he shows emotions and affection for the girl, Liberty 5-3000, whom he calls the Golden One. These actions are relevant because they go against the repressive rules regarding preference. Equality makes note of this when he says, “It is our second Transgression of Preference, for we do not think of all our brothers, as we must, but only of one, and their name is Liberty 5-300. We do not know why, when we think of them, we feel of a sudden that the earth is good and that it is not a burden to live” (41). This choice of preference and Equality valuing the Golden One more than his other brothers show his individuality. It is present in others and can be recognized by other people. She is different to him, so he is drawn to her. The nonconformists in Anthem have