“I am myself; you are yourself; we are two distinct persons, equal persons…provided with faculties necessary to our individual existence...” This quote -- taken from a letter written by former ex-slave Fredrick Douglas to ex- “master” Thomas Auld -- explains the overall meaning of Individuality. It is the possession of characteristics that help to set an individual apart from others and thereby make him unique. In Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem, Rand expresses the importance of individuality by showing its effect on the main character’s happiness, ability to acquire new ideas and the society’s ability to acquire new ideas. The evident lack of individuality seen in this book is also present in the novel Uglies by Scott Westerfled. At fifteen years
…show more content…
This shows how the government played a big role in eliminating everyone’s sense of individuality which makes a person unique. “We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever" (Rand 19). Rand depicts the collectivist society in shown in Anthem. The idea of Individualism is not allowed and as a result, readers were able to see the effect it caused on the society as a whole. This society is also one where science and technology had regressed to primitive levels. The lack of Individuality in the society caused lack of improvement in science and technology because those like Equality 7-2521, who had skills in those areas, where given no opportunity to share their ideas. This shows the importance of Individuality because without it, the society could be in danger of low growth level. In the novel Uglies, the surgery required for everyone’s results in everyone looking and thinking the same. “Perhaps the logical conclusion of everyone looking the same is everyone thinking the same” (Westerfled 52). As proven in Anthem, when everyone is equally intelligent, lack of growth in the society is bound to occur which further shows the importance of individuality. Both books show that a consequence of having equal talent, results in everyone thinking alike and keeps smarter people from having the freedom to explore their own talents to improve the
This shows how the government played a big role in eliminating everyone’s sense of individuality which makes a person unique. “We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever" (Rand 19). Rand depicts the collectivist society in shown in Anthem. The idea of Individualism is not allowed and as a result, readers were able to see the effect it caused on the society as a whole. This society is also one where science and technology had regressed to primitive levels. The lack of Individuality in the society caused lack of improvement in science and technology because those like Equality 7-2521, who had skills in those areas, where given no opportunity to share their ideas. This shows the importance of Individuality because without it, the society could be in danger of low growth level. In the novel Uglies, the surgery required for everyone’s results in everyone looking and thinking the same. “Perhaps the logical conclusion of everyone looking the same is everyone thinking the same” (Westerfled 52). As proven in Anthem, when everyone is equally intelligent, lack of growth in the society is bound to occur which further shows the importance of individuality. Both books show that a consequence of having equal talent, results in everyone thinking alike and keeps smarter people from having the freedom to explore their own talents to improve the