With allegorical narration of the importance of self realisation, Anthem portrays the strength in identifying the 'Individual self' above the Collective brotherhood , having a dream of ones own and following it passionately.The novel is about a society so collectivised that even the word 'I' has vanished from it's language. It is about identifying the ego-strength in each individual.
Storyline :
'Equality 7-2521' as the central character of the novel is known, was not happy in the 'Home of Students' where all the children of the society studied till the age of fifteen.He excelled in everything he did and was taller than all his brethren but the society thought it to be a sin to be different from others.Though he wished to join the 'Home Of Scholars ' after school he was doomed by the decision of the 'Council of Vocations' to join the 'Home of Street Sweepers'. It was considered a sin to have a wish of ones own.
Amidst his work of sweeping the street , he meets Liberty 5-3000, a woman of the 'Home of Peasants' and greeting her becomes a routine though the laws of the society considered it a sin.
One day Equality finds a forbidden tunnel where he spends 3 hours alone on all days until one day he discovers a glowing wire while in the box of glass. On the day of the discovery he was condemned by the city council to be lashed in the 'Palace of Corrective Detention' for being late.
However, he manages to keep his discovery a secret, until the ' World Council of Scholars '. Against his expectations the scholars failed to acknowledge or accept his discovery and he escapes to the 'Uncharted Forest' with his box.
Liberty follows his footsteps and meets Equality in the forest.There they start a new life of their own.They discover the strength of the word I and identifies the collectivism of the society as the disaster that took the reason away from man.
Excerpts from the book :
Ayn Rand -born in Russia and having spent a large part of her life in the United states , is a champion of Individualism and individual freedom .Below are few excerpts from 'Anthem' that elucidates her ideas of Individualism :
"There is nothing to take a man's freedom away from him save other men. To be free a man must be free from his brothers . "
"My happiness is not the means to any end .It is the end.It is it's own goal.It is it's own purpose .Neither am I the means to any end others may wish to accomplish.I'm not a tool for their use.I'm not a servant for their needs.I'm not a bandage for their wounds.I'm not a sacrifice on their altars."
"I owe nothing to my brothers nor do I gather debts from them.I ask none to live for me nor do I live for any others.I covet no man's soul nor is my soul theirs to covet."
"I shall choose my friends among men, but neither slaves nor masters.And I shall choose only such as please me and them I shall love and respect, but neither command nor obey.And we shall join our hands when we wish , or walk alone when we so desire.For in the temple of his spirit, each man is alone.Let each man keep his temple untouched and undefiled.Then let him join hands with others if he wishes, but only beyond his holy threshold."
Storyline :
'Equality 7-2521' as the central character of the novel is known, was not happy in the 'Home of Students' where all the children of the society studied till the age of fifteen.He excelled in everything he did and was taller than all his brethren but the society thought it to be a sin to be different from others.Though he wished to join the 'Home Of Scholars ' after school he was doomed by the decision of the 'Council of Vocations' to join the 'Home of Street Sweepers'. It was considered a sin to have a wish of ones own.
Amidst his work of sweeping the street , he meets Liberty 5-3000, a woman of the 'Home of Peasants' and greeting her becomes a routine though the laws of the society considered it a sin.
One day Equality finds a forbidden tunnel where he spends 3 hours alone on all days until one day he discovers a glowing wire while in the box of glass. On the day of the discovery he was condemned by the city council to be lashed in the 'Palace of Corrective Detention' for being late.
However, he manages to keep his discovery a secret, until the ' World Council of Scholars '. Against his expectations the scholars failed to acknowledge or accept his discovery and he escapes to the 'Uncharted Forest' with his box.
Liberty follows his footsteps and meets Equality in the forest.There they start a new life of their own.They discover the strength of the word I and identifies the collectivism of the society as the disaster that took the reason away from man.
Excerpts from the book :
Ayn Rand -born in Russia and having spent a large part of her life in the United states , is a champion of Individualism and individual freedom .Below are few excerpts from 'Anthem' that elucidates her ideas of Individualism :
"There is nothing to take a man's freedom away from him save other men. To be free a man must be free from his brothers . "
"My happiness is not the means to any end .It is the end.It is it's own goal.It is it's own purpose .Neither am I the means to any end others may wish to accomplish.I'm not a tool for their use.I'm not a servant for their needs.I'm not a bandage for their wounds.I'm not a sacrifice on their altars."
"I owe nothing to my brothers nor do I gather debts from them.I ask none to live for me nor do I live for any others.I covet no man's soul nor is my soul theirs to covet."
"I shall choose my friends among men, but neither slaves nor masters.And I shall choose only such as please me and them I shall love and respect, but neither command nor obey.And we shall join our hands when we wish , or walk alone when we so desire.For in the temple of his spirit, each man is alone.Let each man keep his temple untouched and undefiled.Then let him join hands with others if he wishes, but only beyond his holy threshold."
1 comment:
Pencil,
From Brazil a friendly hello with my best wishes:
Geraldo
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