Had Equality 7-2521 continued to follow his given path in life he would have retired from his Life Mandate of cleaning the streets at the age of 40 only to move to the Home of the Useless until his death.Įquality 7-2521 ends up breaking all the rules, he continues his scientific interest alone in a tunnel and eventually discovers the light bulb. Although Equality 7-2521 wanted to become a Scholar so he could discover how things worked, he was chosen as a Street Sweeper–the profession that both the extremely bright and the dull are sent too. Like all children Equality 7-2521 lived in the Home of Infants until he was 5, then studied in the Home of the Students until he was given the career of Street Sweeper at age 15. The main character in Anthem is Equality 7-2521. There is no I in Rand’s futuristic dystopia, only we. Without a first person singular everyone must speak in the plural. This is concretely seen in the vocabulary of the citizens as the word “I” has been banned as any who rediscover the word are killed as heretics. The society that Rand sets up is one so completely focused on the cooperate good that freedom, choice, and individualism no longer exist. While Rand’s typical depth of character is minimized, the novella, in around 100 pages, begins to explore Rand’s philosophical notions from the stage of a future dystopia. Rand fills her novels with villains who are lazy philanthropists and heroes who are completly willing to break all social norms for what they believe to be correct.Īnthem, written in 1938 for Europe but adapted for America in 1946, is quite different when compared to Rand’s other novels. The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged are both stories where the protagonist struggles to be the best at his or her profession even though the world continues to encourage mediocrity. Without having to espouse to her philosophy, Rand’s novels can and should be enjoyed.
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This new interest, particularly for her novel Atlas Shrugged, is likely due to her unwavering belief in Capitalism, which today seems to be dying.
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Ayn Rand is known for her philosophy of Objectivism which holds both selfishness and Capitalism as pillars. Certainly her books were something of discussion 50 years ago while she is still alive and writing, but America, of late, has begun a new interest in Rand.
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There has been a resurgence in popularity for Ayn Rand in the last few years.