Imagine living in a society where individualism wasn't an acceptable concept. Picture a world where “I” wasn't a state of mind. This is the theme of Ayn Rand's Anthem, a dystopian novel set in the distant future. “We learned that the earth is flat and the sun revolves around it, which causes the day and the night. We learned the names of all the winds which blow over the seas and push the sails of our great ships. We learned how to bleed men to cure them of all ailments.” (Rand 23). This quote is what Equality learns from his teacher during the first chapter of the novel. He also speaks of telling time by using a sundial, and how the “greatest” home only has three stories. Further on in the story, Equality discovers the house from Unmentionable
…show more content…
Not being able to express individualism through writing, clothing, speech, or even pictures and decorations is allowed; men are never given time to themselves, and anything not expressly permitted by law is forbidden. Even using personal pronouns such as “I” or ¨ me” is not allowed. If any men are caught doing these things they are sent to the Palace of Corrective Detention. The purpose of these restrictions is to try and maintain order in the society and remove competition so that people did not feel either inferior or superior. They believed that peace could only come from this neutral way of living.
As the book progresses, the reader learns how Equality came about discovering a secret lair where he reads, writes, and experiments. He begins to imagine a life where he was included in the highest order of thinkers who rule over the people. Unfortunately but expectedly, he is jailed for trying to present his reinvented light bulb to them. He escapes to the Uncharted Forest and finds forbidden love with The Golden One. Equality wants to create a new order that continues to improve through competition and discovery. It seems unlikely he would include any of the boring restrictions of
Not being able to express individualism through writing, clothing, speech, or even pictures and decorations is allowed; men are never given time to themselves, and anything not expressly permitted by law is forbidden. Even using personal pronouns such as “I” or ¨ me” is not allowed. If any men are caught doing these things they are sent to the Palace of Corrective Detention. The purpose of these restrictions is to try and maintain order in the society and remove competition so that people did not feel either inferior or superior. They believed that peace could only come from this neutral way of living.
As the book progresses, the reader learns how Equality came about discovering a secret lair where he reads, writes, and experiments. He begins to imagine a life where he was included in the highest order of thinkers who rule over the people. Unfortunately but expectedly, he is jailed for trying to present his reinvented light bulb to them. He escapes to the Uncharted Forest and finds forbidden love with The Golden One. Equality wants to create a new order that continues to improve through competition and discovery. It seems unlikely he would include any of the boring restrictions of