Preview

Anthem Essay: Equality's Pursuit Of Equality

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
550 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Anthem Essay: Equality's Pursuit Of Equality
Equality knows that his discovery will greatly benefit mankind but he has another motivation to present this to his brothers. He lives in a time where being equal is the most important thing and every aspect of life is decided fairly.

Equality, the main character is not average by any means. He stands out in almost every way and makes a lot of decisions for himself. In chapter 1 he says ”And we know there is no transgression blacker than to do or think alone”. Equality's life is decided for him when he is placed in the home of the street sweepers. In his society men are only to do as the council says in order to all help each other. It is a sin and law to do anything other than that. ”The laws say that men may not right unless the council of vocations bid them so” this is an example of the laws and the standard everyone was held too. Equality was very different from his
…show more content…
Although this aren't the only laws he's ever broken. When he was young he recalls in chapter 1, ”we fought with our brothers...”. This was the first offense he was punished for but it wouldn't be his last. He says ,”We have stolen candles from the home of the street sweepers...”, in pursuit of his discovery and knowledge he was willing to do anything.
After discovering electricity from sneaking off to a cave everyday he wants to present it to the council. His motivation to share his discovery with his brothers is not just to benefit them, but him especially. He hopes with the new discovery he will convince to council to send him to the home of the scholars where he feels he belongs. He believes he's thought himself more than he would've learned at the home of the scholars. He learned all of this through supplies he stole, ”We have stolen glass vials and powders and acids from the home of the Scholars” he also says,”We have stolen

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Another type of sacrifice Equality displays is physical abuse. Equality refuses to give the whereabouts of his laboratory even though he gets thrashed with whips and beaten senseless, saying “The lash whistled like a singing wind. We tried to count the blows, but we lost count” (Rand,64). The knowledge that he hasn 't given away the light bulb is the only thing that keeps him alive. He even chooses to stay in the cell for days to finally get his moment which he thinks will benefit their entire race. When Equality finally presents his invention to the scholars he offers his body for the ideal to stay alive. “ Our brothers! You are right. Let the will of the Council be done upon our body. We do not care. But the light? What will you do with the light?”(Rand,72). Equality then goes out on a limb and breaks away from…

    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In this quote he emphasizes that men indeed are equal to one another. This shows that through realization of equality, men should be working towards a common…

    • 1570 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Equality 7-2521 strongly resembles the Greek mythological creature, Prometheus, in many ways. They both are very different from their people. Prometheus was a titan who was nothing like the other titans. He fought to defeat his brothers so that the gods could rule. Likewise, Equality is obviously nothing like the people of his society as he was told earlier in the book. “‘There is evil -in your bones, Equality 7-2521, for your body has grown beyond the bodies of your brothers.’”* Prometheus is especially known for introducing fire to mankind, just as Equality planned to revolutionize the world with his light bulb. But when he introduced it to the Council, they denied it. In fact they were scared of his light. Another obvious similar characteristic the two share is their will to sacrifice anything for their beliefs. Prometheus knew he would be punished for stealing the fire from Zeus, but still refused to keep it away from mankind. “…and he suffered for his deed.”* For his punishment, Zeus chained him to a rock and sent a bird to eat his liver. Every day his liver would grow back, so every day the bird returned for his meal. This punishment was meant for eternity. Equality also knew over his long term research that he would be punished severely if anyone found him, but still did not stop in his…

    • 1016 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Equality stands out among the rest, he’s different, he stands out. He’s unique. He knows more. Equality is smarter and…

    • 276 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    A young man given the name, Equality 7-2521 is living in a futuristic dark age. He is withheld from a name to prevent any form of individuality, but given a word followed by a series of numbers on an iron bracelet to be worn on his left wrist, as a form of identification by the World Council. Equality 7-2521 has made a moral discovery throughout the story Anthem by Ayn Rand, as discovering his individuality and as he has changed from one who believes that the World Council states all truth, to one who has progressed into someone with the ability to compose ideas and moral values for himself.…

    • 896 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    This one phrase shows how Equality follows his inner self, does things for the common good, how he builds friendships and is a fair individual.…

    • 189 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Equality 7-2521 knows that his invention, electricity, will greatly benefit mankind. Though this is not his primary motivation. His main motivation is to be a part of the Council.The World Council of Scholars…

    • 564 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Looking at the bigger picture it is clear to Equality was already an individual beforehand. With this in mind, according to all Equality’s Brothers “we were born with a curse [Equality 7-2521 has a different mindset than his brothers]. It has driven us to thoughts…

    • 735 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    opinions. Equality has taught him that him and his brothers are one. In his society he is…

    • 519 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    As Equality started to learn more about the world around him he starts to care about himself and his body. This is shown when he says “For the first time do we know how strong our arms are. And a strange thought came to us: we wonder for the first time what we look like.”,(Rand 61). This quote shows that Equality is caring more about himself and what he looks like. Equality is starting to think and do things for himself and not other people. As Equality starts to think more about himself he discovers his…

    • 500 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Anthem Essay Contest Paper

    • 1981 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Ayn Rand's novella, Anthem, displays a dystopian and totalitarian society that is in opposition to individualism. As shown in Anthem and many other real and fictionalized totalitarian societies, children live apart from their families. Why? Because dictatorial leaders enforce this living arrangement among the kinsfolk.…

    • 1981 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Egoism, the means by which Equality was motivated to make his discovery, is a way to end the silence. When people think of themselves, they voice their personal opinions, which promotes a progressive society. Take, for example, the United States. Part of the reason culture in this country is so innovative and forward is that people have the right to share their opinions and beliefs, no matter how offensive they are to other groups. Egoism did something similar in Equality’s life. Suddenly, without being governed by how society thought he should think, he thought for himself. As he became more enamored by scientific discovery, Equality says this: “We do not care. We forget all men, all laws and all things save our metals and our wires. So much is still to be learned! So long a road lies before us, and what care we if we must travel it alone!” (54) Because he was motivated by personal gain, Equality was able to approach science and make his discovery through different eyes than those of a man entirely devoted to his people. There is nothing wrong about thinking this way. Additionally, the discovery of electricity led later to Equality’s discovery of the word “I”. After this, he says “I shall call to me all the men and women whose spirit has not been killed within them and who suffer under the yoke of their brothers. They will follow me and I shall lead them to my fortress” (101) Because Equality was willing to…

    • 1185 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In this essay I am going to identify and describe how prejudice and discrimination impact on individuals and groups in school settings, by researching the current legislations, policies and procedures that are in place for safeguarding the welfare of children and young people. I have thought about how our own attitude and behaviour impacts on the children and young people we work with and how important it is to promote anti-discriminatory practice whilst working with children and young people.…

    • 2829 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Feminism in Anthem

    • 826 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Throughout history, women have been brushed aside as the inferiors of men. From the time of the Greeks to the modern day world, men have been the dominant beings. Mary Astell, an English feminist writer, says, “If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves?” She questions the societal norm of women in predetermined constrictive roles. This theme of a submissive and obedient female pervades many literary works, specifically those by Ayn Rand. Rand’s portrayal of women in her novel Anthem further drives the female into a position of inferiority.…

    • 826 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    We as a society have deluded ourselves into believing we have achieved equality. Of course we have. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 declared any form of racial segregation illegal, yet it seems that we can not wait to separate people with picket fences and barbed wire. In 1928 under the Representation of the People act, women finally gained the right to vote, but they are still stuck with 77 cents on the dollar. These issues originated many years ago, but they have evolved and embedded themselves into our society and they have proved very difficult to shake off. Of course there have been vast improvements over the years – we would never be silent about it otherwise – but as long as there are stereotypes, the media and a crude lack of information, the job is by no means done.…

    • 1080 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays