Post #2
Rotation #2- Historical Context
Formative Blog Post
Your mission is to respond deeply to one of the following open-ended blog post questions. Each response should contain analysis, text support, historical context, and an awareness of literary techniques.
Which ideas in your novel are connected to its particular setting, and which ideas are still relevant today?
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| Source This image shows that, although a mirror reflects any image in its face, when looking at a mirror and comparing it to yourself, it is not the same. Controversially, it is a quite different meaning because in the book Anthem, people try to be equal and the same, yet it really doesn't bring any meaning to the main character Equality 7-2521. |
Ideas, original ideas are an example of a common way to be a critical thinker and innovative in writing. Anthem by Ayn Rand is a novel which creates an unknown setting to the reader's narrated by a character, who awkwardly goes by the name of Equality 7-2521. One of the ideas or themes stated in the book is identity. People in the novel are called by what is written on their bracelet, with a word and a random set of numbers, such as Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000. The idea is that everyone has their own name, which is really the only factor that people are differentiated in this world. Other than that, sameness is a word to describe what the dystopia is trying to create. The main character believes that he is much distinct from his regular brothers and sisters, yet he is not allowed to share it out because doing so will get him punished or tormented in such a way. In real life, there is this sense of people trying to create a world where people have equal rights and have fairness, plus justice for everyone. This idea is still relevant today because it shows that being equal can be a good thing, but at other times, it cannot. In the modern world, the term ''equality'' serves more for rights and money because of world conflicts that make these things happen. However, the reality is that this book demonstrates a dystopia where everyone is equal and speak in the term of' ''we''. As a result, that means in real life, people are trying to promote the idea of being unique and original than other people, instead of always having the same ideas, same thinking, same everything! In conclusion, although there are ideas in the novel Anthem that are still relevant today, most of those ideas are trying to be overruled, however it some places it is trying to be enforced.
Max,
ReplyDeletewow! What a great post! I was impressed with the amount of detail and thought put into it altogether. Great job!
To begin with, I would like to say that I totally agree with you. One of the most prominent ideas that stood out here in the novel was how similar the society Equality lives in is to communism. The only twist here is that it seems that the regime ended up being successful, something that no country could accomplish until now. In the book, people have no emotions, thoughts or opinions about anything around them, making the world be the exact same. As the Karl Marx's "philosophy" states, the governmental system benefits the public only and not the individuals. However, we don't function properly as a group that doesn't have a voice for a change. The human being always wants to find a way to make their lives more comforting or pleasant, which is the main reason why this regime never worked in these countries. The population want to have their own voice and be able to express their will because it contributes to their personal happiness to do so. In other words, we don't often risk our well-being for the sake of others that don't have a strong relationship with you. As I mentioned in my post, these people who care for others more than for themselves are called heroes and devote their lives to make the people's life better. Nevertheless, not everyone is a hero, as the "selfishness", as some would call it, of the human being makes it impossible to reach a perfect communist ideal. Probably, considering the fact that in the book, the world created has no emotions, thoughts, opinions, sense of individuality, and everything belongs and is controlled by the government, it is most likely a perfect communist society and what would have been needed to be done to accomplish that. It is as if the author predicted, while her nation was adopting Marx's ideals, that communism wouldn't be successful in the future, as it is against the human nature. This is probably the biggest factor of why communism did not work: it is against nature. We have a sense of property and individuality. It comes to a point of which our minds and bodies cannot conform anymore with everyone doing the same thing, requesting a change, which is why this "philosophy" does not work. You see, the lion has its own territory in nature, of which he will protect at all costs, and when a chestnut falls from a tree, squirrels go grab it as if it was theirs and store their food, as examples of how nature and animals have this sense of property over things. Nowadays, even though the great majority of the people are in favor of democracy, there are also those who believe in the ideals of communism. In my opinion, even though I do respect those who believe in it, I have the vision that they might not be informed of how terrible the lifestyle of a person is inside such a country, or they just want to become politicians if the regime is implanted, as they are the only minority to be benefitted in all this. To this day, North Korea and Cuba are still communist countries, showing that this "philosophy" is not dead yet, even though I do think there will come a time where the people cannot resist no longer the type of life they are living in in these countries. Anyway, the ideas and themes expressed in this book, evidently are still present in humanity and in the world, and communism is still very well alive, even though it has no right to be, as it only brings suffering to the public.
Max, I was amazed by the amount of detail and content in your post. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me!
Thiago
Max,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you, especially with the theme of identity. As shown in the book people were born to be the same, as for being different would make you an enemy. They can't even choose their names, even though they differ from one another. The names are just a series of numbers and a distinct word. As stated in your post, the protagonist, Equality 7-2521 does differ from his brothers, as seen as thinking differently from his leaders and peers. He distinguishes curiosity in school, as for other characters like Union 5-3992 only have 'half-a-brain' which governors (The Elders) like. He expresses different feelings from his brothers as for feeling love for Liberty 5-3000. By using the word 'Sameness' we think about being the 'same'; nothing different to distinguish each other. This is what Ayn Rand established in Anthem.
Sophia
Max,
ReplyDeleteI agree on most of your post, except the part that equal rights would lead to the same situation as the one in the book. I think equal opportunities for all, and equal rights (that are just and fair), would lead to a much more efficient and successful future for those who really try their best. As everyone has equal rights, most squabbling and whining would die over time, leaving a calmer working and living environment for most. Since everyone has the same opportunity, only those with the hardest desire to work for what they want will become much more succesfull than those just trying to get by, and that way all the hard-working people that might normally be starving and homeless would have their chance at universities, schools, and jobs, which means that you are left with mostly hard working people at the top, and slackers towards the bottom, leaving you with a more efficient society.