Without a doubt,
individualism
is the core theme of Anthem. The entire text is essentially a parable designed to illustrate the paramount importance of Ayn Rand’s idea of individual will.
What are some themes in Anthem?
- Philosophical Viewpoints.
- Freedom and Confinement.
- Identity.
- Society and Class.
- Happiness.
- Science.
- Love.
- Loyalty.
What is the moral of the story Anthem?
In the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand,
one system of morality was so distorted that Equality creates his own system of morals
. Throughout Anthem, Equality, the narrator, goes through a series of events that led him to change his view of morality. … Brotherhood and the collective spirit are components of the society’s morality.
What is the main conflict in Anthem?
The main conflict in Anthem is
one of man vs. society
. Equality and his friends wish to be individuals, but they are forced to be part of the collective “we.”
What is most important in the society of Anthem?
the council of scholars is a group of people who monitor what is allowed in the society. They are significant to the story because they collectively rejected Equality’s invention. … According to Equality, the most important concept and the thing that unites all is
egoism
.
What is the forbidden word in Anthem?
The
first-person pronoun ‘I’
is the unspeakable word in Anthem.
Why is ego the sacred word in Anthem?
In Equality 7-2521’s view, the ego is
what gives meaning to the world, and what gives human beings a reason for living (their own happiness)
. The “anthem” Equality 7-2521 recites to the ego is meant to make us readers feel just as awe-inspired and worshipful towards the ego as Equality 7-2521.
What is Equality’s curse?
Equality 7-2521, the character’s specific curse is
that he was born with intelligence
. This causes him great unhappiness in life as he is smart enough to see how his government is failing him, but unable to create changes to his situation.
Why is it called Anthem?
First appearing in Old English in the form antefn,
anthem derives ultimately from Greek antiphōnos
—a word meaning “responsive” that is a combination of anti-, meaning “over” or “against,” and phōnē, “sound” or “voice.” The Greek root gives a hint as to what the musical form of early anthems was like.
What is the summary of Anthem?
Lesson Summary
Her novel Anthem tells
the story of a society destroyed by collectivism, the philosophy that individuals exist only to contribute to the well-being of society
. In the novel, everyone is forced to be equal and to think the same. There is no more I, just we.
What is the climax in Anthem?
climax
Equality 7-2521’s presentation of the lightbulb to the World Council permanently severs him from society and forces him out onto his own
. falling actionEquality 7-2521 and the Golden One pursue their own lives together in the forest; they discover the meaning of individualism and the word “I.”
What happened to equality in Anthem?
When he was 15,
Equality 7-2521 was punished by the Council of Vocations for all his transgressions
. He was made a Street Sweeper. Equality 7-2521’s life as a Street Sweeper went on uneventfully for four years, until one day he stumbled upon a hole that led to an underground tunnel from the Unmentionable Times.
Who is the main character in Anthem?
Equality 7-2521
A street sweeper, the protagonist of the novella.
What does water symbolize in Anthem?
Water is
suggestive of birth and rebirth, of new beginnings and the “washing away” of the old
. Think baptism. Light and Water complement each other. You could think of Liberty 5-3000 playing water-bearer (she does literally, in Chapter 4) to Equality 7-2521’s light-bearer.
What is the punishment for speaking the unspeakable word in Anthem?
Speaking the Unspeakable Word is the only crime punishable
by death
. He recalls seeing the Transgressor of the Unspeakable Word burned alive in the town square for speaking the Unspeakable Word, and he remembers that there was no pain in his face, only joy.
What does light symbolize in Anthem?
Light represents
truth in
Anthem. … The whole society lives by candlelight, and the society’s leaders fear the light when Equality 7-2521 brings it to them. Light illuminates human dignity and human error for Rand, both of which the society in Anthem tries to sweep under the rug.
