English Anthem Flashcards
Self-discovery - tunnel
The tunnel becomes a secret haven for Equality as he later goes on to commit his first serious transgression against society. Through conducting countless experiments in secret, he rediscovers electricity - the lifeblood of innovation. “We made it. We created it. We brought it forth from the night of the ages. We alone. Our hands. Our mind. Ours alone and only.” The climax of the story shows the greatest emotion of all, the feeling of euphoria. This outpouring of emotion is a culmination of his tireless pursuit of knowledge. In a remarkably stifling setting, Equality reminds us of the fulfilment that arises from pushing the boundaries of what’s known and achievable. Only true greatness lies in the audacious pursuit of one’s own potential.
He still believes to some extent in his culture’s doctrine that all work should be for the purpose of serving others. In an attempt to propel society forwards and to prove his worth as an intellectual, he presents his invention to the Council of Scholars (a group of intellectual elites who dictate the rules and regulations of society).
Rebellion- disillusionment
“It is my mind which thinks, and the judgement of my mind is the only searchlight that can find the truth. It is my will which chooses, and the choice of my will is the only edict I must respect.” Equality declares his independence and it is at this point where becomes disillusioned with the values of his society. He rejects the notion that the truth can be imposed from an external authority that deems his pursuit of knowledge and endeavour of evil. This empowering evolution drives him to rebel against his society’s values to respect his scientific curiosity. He ceases to justify his protection of the glass box (lightbulb) as a benefit for humanity and accepts his true motivation; to create for the sake of creation.
Empowering- Equality uses “I”
“I am. I think. I will.” The triple parallel construction of three brief, rhythmically intense sentences reinforce how empowering the concept of individualism is. He has found the answer for his existence, not in humanity, but in himself and in each individual man.
Naming
[NAMING] Instead of traditional names, the characters are referred to by impersonal labels such as “Equality 7-2521,” “Solidarity 9-6347,” “Union 5-3992.” The names consist of abstract nouns that revolve around collectivism and are paired with random numbers. The numerical, uniform system of identification is what makes it dehumanising; each person is merely one replaceable digit out of many.
Additionally, nominative determinism is employed in the naming of characters, a concept that suggests a person’s name can influence or be related to their professions. The names “Equality,” “Solidarity,” and “Union” are used to encourage them to behave according to their label to maintain the status quo. Ironically, some of the concepts are missing in society such as “Liberty” and “Freedom.” This highlights the hypocrisy and deception of the society’s leaders and how language is distorted and used as a tool to maintain compliance.
Jobs
“Dare not choose in your minds the work you would like to do when you leave the Home of Students. You shall do that which the Council of Vocations shall prescribe for you.” People are arbitrarily assigned jobs unrelated to their skill sets. Everyone is forced to conform to a predetermined role. Equality has a thirst for knowledge, however his desire to learn clashes with the principles of his society that places a high value on conformity and selflessness. As such, he is purposely consigned to the mindless task of sweeping the streets.
Pronouns
The mantra “We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but the great WE, one indivisible and forever” is repeated by the members of the society in Anthem as a form of indoctrination, to delude them into identifying themselves as part of the collective and convince them that this collective existence is an ideal world.
Council rejects Equality
Equality innate desire to learn is deemed an endeavour of evil in the rigid confines of his society. The Council of Scholars goes on to condemn Equality for his scientific curiosity and punish him for his defiance. The Council states that “your invention is against the laws of the Council. It is against the law of nature. What is not done collectively cannot be good.” Equality breaks the most important rule by prioritising himself over his peers. His invention not only reflects a preference for mediocrity over individual excellence but also a fear of change and disruption. Those with authority will willingly sacrifice progress for compliance. The Scholar’s dismissal of his invention breaks his last emotional connection to the ideals of collectivism. The extreme depiction of the society in Anthem gets the reader to contemplate the sacrifices they undertake for the betterment of society. Rand gets us to visualise the faults in society and highlight that those built on such sacrifices are unsustainable and incapable of fostering a truly healthy society.
Uncharted Forest
We see him venture into the Uncharted Forest where he finds an old run-down house left from the “Unmentionable Times.” The house is a feat of engineering, made of concrete and glass windows that characterises much modern architecture. Inside is where he uncovers information about the past. He re-discovers the first person singular pronoun “I.” Equality’s discovery of “I” is not an isolated incident in his life. It is the outcome of a lifelong commitment. He knows he wants to be a scientist, he wonders about the Unspeakable Word and he performs secret experiments, though all are strictly forbidden. Throughout his life, he is true to his own mind, never a blind follower of the state. Rand advocates for a society that upholds individual rights and provides us a sense of hope through the empowering change that Equality experiences. The journey of Equality towards self-determinism and his rebellion against the oppressive society illustrates the resilience of the human spirit. Under such societal pressures, the strive for individualism is the only way of maintaining one’s humanity.