What happens in the first chapter of Anthem?
In Anthem, Ayn Rand shows the full reality of the ideals held by the Communists, Fascists, and their intellectual supporters. In his rejection of collectivism, he shuns the principles of the Nazis and Communists. The collectivism of this society explains why Equality 7-2521 is not permitted to think.
What happens if you say I in Anthem?
The word the Transgressor has spoken is “I,” a concept forbidden in the society because everyone must work for the good of his or her brothers and any thought that occurs in private is necessarily evil.
Why can’t we say Anthem?
The state has forbidden humans from speaking or even thinking of the word “I.” Society has mandated, under punishment of death, that all first-person references are with the plural “we,” even when the reference is to a single person.
Where is equality in the beginning of Chapter 1?
Always referring to himself as “we,” a youth named Equality 7-2521 writes in a journal from underground, where he is alone in an abandoned railroad tunnel.
How does equality feel at the end of Chapter 1?
Equality 7-2521 admits that he’s evil. He’s the only person on earth doing something just because he wishes to do it. But Equality 7-2521 has no shame or regret. Instead, he feels the first real peace in his heart he’s ever known.
How does Anthem show individualism?
There is evil in your bones, Equality 7-2521, for your body has grown beyond the bodies of your brothers. Equality 7-2521’s above-average height sets him apart from the others, both physically and metaphorically, for his height symbolizes his growing individuality. …
Is Anthem a city?
The larger portion of Anthem, its eastern counterpart, is in unincorporated Maricopa County. There’s no such thing as the city of Anthem.
What is the curse in Anthem?
Equality 7-2521 was born with a curse: he’s been thinking forbidden thoughts for most of his life. And he doesn’t resist them. This is bad, because according to the World Council, all men must strive to be completely alike. All people must form one big, happy, indivisible “WE.”
What are the rules in Anthem?
This statement sums up the legal system of society after the “Great Rebirth” in Anthem by Ayn Rand. There are rules for everything: no smiling without reason, no friendships, no crushes, and ultimately nothing done solely for one’s own benefit.
How does the LitCharts work in the book Anthem?
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Anthem, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. “It is a sin to write this,” begins an entry in Equality 7-2521’s journal.
What happens to Equality 7-2521 in the anthem?
Equality 7-2521’s career arc illustrates the insulting inefficiencies of collectivist society. Instead of being allowed to flourish and exercise his own power, Equality 7-2521 is forced to work a tedious job that insults his intelligence and wastes his potential.
What is the underlying principle of Anthem by Ayn Rand?
In Anthem, Ayn Rand shows the full reality of the ideals held by the Communists, Fascists, and their intellectual supporters. The underlying principle is collectivism: Society is paramount, and the individual must be subordinated to its dictates.
Who is International 4-8818 in the book Anthem?
International 4-8818 is an aspiring artist with a good sense of humor, but his job as a Street Sweeper forbids him from drawing. International 4-8818 is someone Equality 7-2521 considers a “friend,” which is a transgression as it is forbidden to prefer some men to others.