“I worship individuals for their highest possibilities as individuals, and I loathe humanity, for its failure to live up to these possibilities.” This quote from Ayn Rand, the author of Anthem, displays her philosophy of Objectivism; one must live for their own benefit, their own happiness. Despite this philosophy, the main character in Anthem, Equality 7-2521, does not live for his own self-fulfilment. In his world, rules and controls disallow anyone to be alone with their own thoughts, or to even speak them. When reading about the structure and workings of the City, Equality’s birthplace, questions begin to surface. For example, one may ask why these rules and controls exist, what their purpose is, and if they will be included in the society
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In this society where people are bred and taught to serve mankind rather than oneself, Equality develops notions that contradict the ideals of the councils and his brothers. While being “different,” Equality must abide by the rules and controls established by the City’s World Council of Scholars. Just like the Pledge of Allegiance that American students recite every morning, Equality and his brothers must say, “‘We are nothing. Mankind is all. By the grace of our brothers are we allowed our lives. We exist through, by and for our brothers who are the State. Amen’” (Rand 21). This heavily-based pledge on collectivism (the philosophy that is present in the City) shows how the City’s rules and controls exist to maintain authority and conformity among …show more content…
It is here, accompanied by his love, Liberty 5-3000, that Equality is truly alone with his thoughts. Free to let his thoughts be expressed without fear of being discovered, Equality envisions a society of his own. As he builds this ideal society, Equality writes, “Then here, on this mountain top, with the world below me and nothing above me but the sun, I shall live my own truth” (Rand 100). Now that Equality has created an idea of the society he wishes to build, a question arises: will Equality’s society include any of the rules and controls that existed in his past “brotherhood”? One’s immediate response might be no. However, Equality also writes, “When men accepted that worship, the structure of centuries collapsed about them . . .” (Rand 102). Equality is referencing the worship of the word “We.” Building his society on the worship of the word “I,” Equality has implemented a certain characteristic derived from the collectivist philosophy in the City; that characteristic being the worship of one
In this society where people are bred and taught to serve mankind rather than oneself, Equality develops notions that contradict the ideals of the councils and his brothers. While being “different,” Equality must abide by the rules and controls established by the City’s World Council of Scholars. Just like the Pledge of Allegiance that American students recite every morning, Equality and his brothers must say, “‘We are nothing. Mankind is all. By the grace of our brothers are we allowed our lives. We exist through, by and for our brothers who are the State. Amen’” (Rand 21). This heavily-based pledge on collectivism (the philosophy that is present in the City) shows how the City’s rules and controls exist to maintain authority and conformity among …show more content…
It is here, accompanied by his love, Liberty 5-3000, that Equality is truly alone with his thoughts. Free to let his thoughts be expressed without fear of being discovered, Equality envisions a society of his own. As he builds this ideal society, Equality writes, “Then here, on this mountain top, with the world below me and nothing above me but the sun, I shall live my own truth” (Rand 100). Now that Equality has created an idea of the society he wishes to build, a question arises: will Equality’s society include any of the rules and controls that existed in his past “brotherhood”? One’s immediate response might be no. However, Equality also writes, “When men accepted that worship, the structure of centuries collapsed about them . . .” (Rand 102). Equality is referencing the worship of the word “We.” Building his society on the worship of the word “I,” Equality has implemented a certain characteristic derived from the collectivist philosophy in the City; that characteristic being the worship of one