Anthem - Literary Analysis Essay

Introduction

The world described in the novel Anthem by Ayn is the opposite of the expectations. Always people anticipate for fairness when dealing with others. Contrary to the peoples' hope, there is no ideal life as described by Anthem. Ayn, in her novel Anthem, was trying to explain man's ego. The story tells about a man's will against totalitarian and collectivist society. The man is Equality 7-2521, who was describing how used to live under a tunnel and might face any trouble for what he was writing. This was a good reflection of how the government of North Korea controls the lives of people, currently. The society that forms North Korea has really been exempted from the outside world. For example, most people will only read books from their leaders (Ahn). Also, there are no cellphones, meaning communication is limited. Equality 7-2521 insists that no one in their society was allowed to think on their own, signifying the presence of totalitarianism. This was a good example of slavery, where leaders took charge of everything to the extent of brainwashing their citizens from the time they were born. Despite the predicament, Equality 7-2521 gave hope to the people by saying, "Theirs is the banner in my hand. And I wish I had the power to tell them that the despair of their hearts was not to be final, and their night was not without hope. For the battle they lost can never be lost. For that which they died to save can never perish. Through all the darkness, through all the shame of which men are capable, the spirit of man will remain alive on this earth. It may sleep, but it will awaken. It may wear chains, but it will break through. And man will go on. Man, not men. Equality 7-2521 (as Prometheus), (Magill 103)."

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An example of a totalitarian leader is Adolf Hitler, whose words were final. The novel by Ayn explains the pull between individualism and collectivism inside a man's thoughts. Thus, the central theme of the book is self-realization. Ayn was much interested in the loss of oneself in the 20th century.

Objectivism was the dominant philosophy in the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand. There are four primary principles found in objectivism, which are the objective reality, reason, objective realism, and capital in laissez fare form. Objective reality gives objective its name, making it tricky to comprehend, accordingly. Actual people execute reality to understand how life is, precisely. In objective reason, both emotions and faith are not present (Rand). Also, individualism connects the chain of the principles of objectivism by people being given power above everything. Finally, the three principles of objectivism gather to contribute details about free-market capitalism.

Though objectivism is the philosophy in the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, I oppose the philosophy by various instances from the story that does not support objectivism. Such a scenario surfaces the conflicting reasoning of the target group after going through the book.

Despite Randy's style of rising to fame through objectivism, I oppose her for the imposter nature she imposed. Human life is not well represented in the novel, alongside the inclusion of logical fantasies. In her book, Ayn stresses the importance of collectivism. She claimed that when a man lives for that sake of others, they will be damaged to produce. Though there is collective power, the aspect of selfishness in projected in that, man would not provide. Thus, the element of objectivism is covered by individualism, hence opposing her philosophy in the novel (Rand). Individualism was proved by Ayn saying that "I am. I think I will."

Ayn exposes how selfishness is good, though there is a total denial of power. There was the aspect of self-centeredness that made people make justifications on actions depending on their perceptions. The hidden reality about Ayn regarding nature is related to the rising of Nazism (Biddle). Adolf Hitler pretended to have the will of people at hand only to depress them after he clinched power. Hitler rose to control due to his rigid trait.

There was also an analysis of objectivism in terms of capitalism. Capitalism consists of egoism, which impacts more on individualism. From the novel, Ayn claimed that,

"And here, over the portals of my fort, I shall cut in the stone the word which is to be my beacon and my banner. The word which will not die should we all perish in battle. The word which can never die on this earth, for it is the heart of it and the meaning and the glory. The sacred word: EGO"(Magill 21).

In capitalism, each man must work by themselves. The gap between the rich and the poor widens in the presence of capital. Hence there is no objectivism reflected. Thus, the reader of Ayn's novel would understand that the rich would retain their wealth. The investors and creators Ayn were explaining in her book differ from the people outside. The outside novel people are not in a capacity to be self-reliant. Thus, collectivism is required (Ahn). There are self-interested people portrayed in the novel who end up having monopoly power. Capitalism is entirely changed in its meaning in the United States, due to the presence of amended Federal regulations and the anti-trust rules. Thus, Ayn stands to confuse the philosophy of objectivism with collectivism in the real world: hence opposing her stance.

Another instance to oppose Ayn's philosophy in her novel Anthem was the difference between what she said in her novel and her life in reality. How Ayn treated objectivism made her weak outside the book. Ayn was very sure that she had the traits of objectivism and went ahead to gather her followers, naming them collectivists. These disciples led the outside groups in the twentieth century. The issue of objectivism colliding with collectivism was a principal contradiction, thus opposing her instincts over the philosophical measure (Heflin). Also, Ayn used rational thought in making her justifications: this is not Objectivism, which she advocated for in her novel. The reasonable judgment was accompanied by jealousy, one of her characters that stands against objectivism. Ensued, the bodily movements have fully contributed to criticizing Ayn's objective claims.

Ayn was claimed that we are conscious of the world outside, and everything in it existed was real. Therefore, the principal idea behind her claim was that the things in nature would correspond to the environment, accordingly. In her philosophy, Ayn added that there is only one reality, which we live in. From Ayn's ideology of "existence exists," the subjective people are denied the thought that truth is a fantasy, created in one's opinions (Heflin). Thus, individuals who claim that reality is unreal would not accept the philosophy, which claims fact is real.

The other problem with Ayn's philosophy is that one reality exists. The issue of the existence of one fact stands against the presence of another event, thus doing away with the ability of God: the supernatural realm (Heflin). Also, when Ayn claimed that things are what they are, she did not include the fact that some items are not what they are, accordingly. Ayn's notion was all about freedom for humanity as she said that, "To be free, a man must be free of his brothers. That is freedom. This and nothing else" (Chapter 12 paragraph 2)

One of the possibilities the philosophy excludes and we are aware of is there is life after death: a dead person can be alive. The notion of miracles, like the conception of Jesus Christ, is excluded in this philosophy too. Therefore, people who believe in aspects like life after death would not agree with Ayn's perspectives.

Ayn was also wrong when she said that, main acquires knowledge through identification and integration of events with the help of their senses. Ayn understands that man can acquire knowledge when he ins consistent on his conclusions over observation of reality through his feelings. Ayn's thoughts are a reflection of why human beings earned a lot of knowledge and advanced too (Biddle). Skeptics stand against the idea of a man gaining experience of reality. Skeptics argue that a man does not live with truth, what is found in the world outside: he has an internal modification. Ayn always claimed a hypothetical life.

Man's primary way of gaining knowledge is through reasoning: something that Ayn held tight on, altogether. Ayn's consideration of thinking as the aspect of gaining experience did not consider that standard facets like faith and feelings. Ayn proved the aspect of reasoning when she claimed that, "I understood that centuries of chains and lashes would not kill the spirit of man or the sense of truth within him." (Chapter 12 paragraph 2).

Ayn meant that ideas presented by man should have evidence for support. Thus, claims that have no basis of knowledge are viewed as arbitrary by Ayn. Usually, religious people and physicists will not side with Ayn's thoughts because they believe in having concepts without rational support. Thus, Ayn reveals how she fantasies in her dreams when she does not consider other factors that involve life.

The free will conception made Ayn's claims before abnormal. Ayn thinks that people are prone to either believe or not to believe or can either use facts or feelings. The free will concept by Ayn was wrong because people with free will are accountable for the results that come later: this applies to the beginners. A good example is people who think of a business and money: such a person is accountable for the results and money after the market turns lucrative. Communists and sociologists would not accept the concept of free will, ultimately (Biddle). Also, the religious people who are serious about religion, would not consider Ayn's claim of free will. The religious individuals, sociologists, and communists believe in a society that holds on personal responsibility, thus differing from Ayn's philosophy. Ayn does not consider the fact that God exists and the concept of all-knowing. On her claim of free will, Ayn insists that "The secrets of this earth are not for all men to see, but only for those who will seek them" (Magill 52).

The last but not least bit that uproars the need to oppose Ayn is the fact that she values individualism. Ayn sticks to the notion that each individual must own their lives and work towards achieving their personal goals without being aided by close friends or people who matter (Biddle). Ayn puts it that "Man-every man-is an end in himself, not the means to the ends of others. He must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. The pursuit of his rational self-interest and his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of his life."

The traditional conservative move of people sacrificing their lives for others will not match with Ayn's perspective of individualism. These are some of the ideologies that make Ayn Rand irrelevant in her philosophy of Objectivism in her novel Anthem.

Works Cited

Ahn, Esther. "Away from the Default Setting: The Question of 'We'in Ayn Rand's Anthem and Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter." 90 (2017): 155-183.

Biddle, Craige. "Here's What's Wrong with Ayn Rand's Philosophy." 28 February 2018. the objective standard. <https://www.theobjectivestandard.com/2018/02/heres-whats-wrong-ayn-rands-philosophy/>.

Heflin, Renee Marie, and Barbara Weaver. "The Philosophy of Objectivism: A Personal Interpretation based on Ayn Rand's Novels Anthem and Atlas Shrugged." (1989).

Magill, Derek. "28 quote from anthem by Ayn Rand that matter." 22 march 2018. derek Magill. <https://derekmagill.com/2018/03/22/28-quotes-from-anthem/>.

Rand, Ayn. Anthem. Penguin, 2005.