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
 Setting/Point of View

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.

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?
 It is 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.

Learn to cull out the wheat for the
chaff!

Do not accept blindly!

Learn to justify and argue a good
case for that which you truly believe.