Ayn Rand and Anthem

Ayn Rand 1905-1982

Born in Russia, educated under communists

Escaped 1926 to America b/c it represented her individualist philosophy

Anthem (1938) This novelette depicts a

world of the future, a society so collectivized that even the word "I" has vanished from the language. Anthem's theme is: the meaning and glory of man's ego.

Anthem Written in 1937 as a

novelette about the essence of collectivism

Published in England in 1938, America in 1946

Theme “It is a sin to write this. It is

a sin to think words no others think and put them down upon paper no others are to see… there is no transgression blacker than to do or think alone.”

Theme This quote begins Anthem

which according to Rand expresses the meaning of man’s ego.

The story is about an individual imprisoned in the collective; how it can happen; what ideas must one accept for it to be possible.

Theme It is both depressing as it

represents people in such a society and it is hopeful in the triumph of the human spirit for those who are brave enough to reject the ethics of collectivism, no matter the cost.

Philosophical Concepts

Collectivism vs.

Individualism

Collectivism

The subjugation of the individual to a group – whether to a race, class, or state does not matter

All thought and action must be “for the common good”

The individual has no right to lead his own life The individual has no right to pursue his own

happiness, or use his own property An individual’s worth is determined by his service

to the group

Individualism Every man is an independent,

sovereign entity who possesses an inalienable right to his own life.

A civilized society can only be achieved on the basis of the recognition of individual rights.

Groups possess no right separate from the individual members.

Individualism does not mean one can do whatever he feels like doing; it means every man is an individual and has the same rights.

Altruism

Man has no right to exist for his own sake.

Service to others is the only justification of his existence.

Self-sacrifice is the highest moral duty, virtue, and value…which means: the self as a standard of evil, the selfless as a standard of good.

Selflessness Defined as “Lack of Self” No one has a name No one should prefer one person

over another It is wrong to disagree, to

question, to have independent thought

Individual has no rights

Selflessness Without self one must abstain from

thinking and simply obey the leaders When individual identity and thought

are obliterated, a society of mindless robots with no motivation, no ambition, no hope emerges.

Nothing is created because there is no room for creativity.

Egoism Defined as “being concerned

with one’s own interests” Each man’s primary moral

obligation is to achieve his own welfare, well-being, or self-interest.

Man should be “selfish” in the sense of being the beneficiary of his own moral actions.

Egoism For example:

Having Ambition Wanting things for one’s

self Wanting to learn Wanting a career that

makes you happy Thinking for one’s self Loving another person of

choice

Conformity The act or habit of bringing oneself

into harmony or agreement with others; adhering to conventional behavior.

Obedience Complying with a command;

yielding to those in authority.

Independence Acceptance of the responsibility of

forming one’s own judgments and living by the work of one’s own mind.

Free Will vs.

Determinism

Free Will Advocates that people

can make choices, can make up their own minds,

can direct their own lives by the ideas and values they adopt

Determinism

Advocates that people are by nature in the grip of forces beyond their control

For example: Race, the Stars, Instincts

ANTHEM & Free Will The story shows what it

means to have Free Will They are Robots by

CHOICE The Protagonist will

exercise his free will by making a different choice

Other Terms to Know Totalitarianism Romanticism Realism Naturalism Abdicate Objectivism

Romantic Realism The story is REALIST because these

are REAL PROBLEMS of normal people (Not monsters, superheroes, or robots)

The story is Romantic b/c it is not about every day trivia or the boy next door It is instead about the “fundamental

universal problems and values of human existence.”

Romanticism contrasts with Naturalism which holds that people are crushed by forces over which they have NO CONTROL (FATE)

Setting/Point of View

Point of View First Person Plural (Diary Entries)

Story begins in the distant future Protagonist is in the late teens or

early twenties Totalitarian Society –

Government controls every aspect of every individual’s life from cradle to grave.

Setting/Point of View

Expectation is to expend one’s life for the needs of the society, never a moment for one’s self.

If one’s usefulness is gone, he is a burden and should not live.

Because no one has personal desires, the authorities need no threats or force to rule.

Anyone who doubts his society feels guilty about doubting.

The society has no industry or technology.

The protagonist struggles to understand (man vs. society).

Sequence of the Life in Anthem Society

Each is conceived in the Palace of Mating Young years are spent in the Home of

Infants Formative years are lived in the Home of

Students After being assigned a vocation,

individuals are placed in special homes according to vocation

Old Age is spent in the Home of the Useless

Why are we reading this? Anthem explores ethical

and political questions which concern YOU! Who are you? Is it possible to stand

on your own?

Why are we reading this? It asks questions about

society such as : If you could choose the

best society to have, what would it be?

How would you describe a moral and just society?

Why are we reading this? Does your life now belong to

a group? Do you have the right to

pursue your own happiness? And to what degree?

Can a society without freedom be productive?

Next Step As YOU read, notice how these

concepts are illustrated through plot development in Anthem.

Consider how the real world connects with the philosophical issues presented in the novel.

Read Critically, agree with what is acceptable to you.

Disagree with what offends your values or beliefs.

Next Step Because you read a book does not

mean you are to accept the author’s ideas if they are offensive to you.

Do not accept blindly! Learn to justify and argue a good

case for that which you truly believe.