Just as every person has unique fingerprints, they also have a different personality. However, in today's society, everyone is expected to look and act a certain way. If someone does not conform to these criteria, they are mocked and criticized. Although currently, our society is becoming more accepting to diversity, the society in Anthem was extremely close-minded. Any differences between individuals in their community was seen as unacceptable. Anthem shows what society would be like if everyone was required to be practically identical. By portraying a civilization with excessively strict regulations, Ayn Rand puts into perspective how bleak the world would be if everyone's personality was confined. Through objectivism and individualism, Ayn Rand conveys the concept of individuality, which is important to encourage original thoughts and help society have a better understanding of themselves.
…show more content…
However, the citizens in this society were forced to be so alike that it “is evil to be superior” to anyone else (Rand 21). Everyone in this community had to be so equal to one another that it was frowned upon to learn differently than the others. As well as not being able to think or act differently than others, they also couldn’t contribute to society in a helpful way unless it was a collaboration with others. When Equality presented his invention to the scholars, they found it unnecessary and useless. Instead of welcoming change, the scholars thought that because it was a project that was “not done collectively,” the box would “wreck the Plans of the World Council,”(Rand 73-74). In this totalitarian society, everyone must be similar in every way and cannot even have individual thoughts and ideas. Living in an extremely objectivist world makes everyone living in it alike and strips away any trace of
However, the citizens in this society were forced to be so alike that it “is evil to be superior” to anyone else (Rand 21). Everyone in this community had to be so equal to one another that it was frowned upon to learn differently than the others. As well as not being able to think or act differently than others, they also couldn’t contribute to society in a helpful way unless it was a collaboration with others. When Equality presented his invention to the scholars, they found it unnecessary and useless. Instead of welcoming change, the scholars thought that because it was a project that was “not done collectively,” the box would “wreck the Plans of the World Council,”(Rand 73-74). In this totalitarian society, everyone must be similar in every way and cannot even have individual thoughts and ideas. Living in an extremely objectivist world makes everyone living in it alike and strips away any trace of