Out of the entire novel of Anthem, my favorite line is "There is nothing that can take a man's freedom away from him, save other men. To be free a man must be free of his brothers" (Rand). In the society that both Equality and Liberty used to live in before their escape, the freedom was incredibly lacking. Those in charge of the society used their freedom to control all of the inhabitants and have zero tolerance for imagination or creativity. They abused their power and this was why Equality and "The Golden One" fled.
Prior to this quote, Equality has been reading a few of the books from the home he has discovered. He is learning about the use of "I" and a world from the past that had more freedom. The quote is describing how freedom is something that belongs to each individual. Only another individual is capable of taking that from them.
Before he went about his journey, this is exactly what had happened. Instead of allowing each person decide their paths and gain new knowledge, they stifle it greatly and inhibit it based on the rules of the authority. A person needs to do these things in their own way and not be controlled by what those in charge tell them to be.
Now, in the quote it has a statement about to have freedom, one must be without other people. This does not mean that they must live alone forever to be free. It means that one must find and use their own freedom. No one can give freedom; it would limit it. Also, no one can limit how to use their freedom; it would not be freedom this way. Simply, the quote explains how we always deserve to be free and no one besides other people can remove that right. So to remain free, one must have their own freedom and use it the way they desire to.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Anthem- Symbol
In the novel, Anthem, light is a symbol that can be found over and over again throughout the story. It represents a source of freedom and individuality from the harsh sameness of the society.
If starting from the beginning, light first appears once Equality 7-2521 is given the occupation of street sweeper. While on duty, he discovers a deep black hole that was covered in weeds. With some exploration he discovers things left from the past. Among these, he discovers the light bulb. Equality 7-2521 presents this to the House of Scholars and it brings great fear to them. The main reason for the fear of the light bulb, the one invention that could bring this society to a whole to modern level, is that they see what it can bring to light. The glow of the bulb shows the unique traits of everyone. It finally brings the truth of the differences between everyone to the surface and this horrifies those in the House of Scholars.
The sweet nickname that Equality 7-2521 gives the woman he meets while street sweeping also hints at the symbol of light; the Golden One. While light represents the freedom from this society, the Golden One represents Equality's escape from it. She symbolizes the hope for something different and not completely equal and same. The Golden One is a change from the norm that Equality is used to. And to the overall meaning of Anthem, the Golden One is his accomplice, his way out of this restrictive society. The use of this way out is demonstrated later in the novel.
Equality and the Golden One escape and the symbol of light prevails on their journey to find a new way of living. Equality renames himself Prometheus, Greek icon who gave the gift of fire, yet another source of light. In this house from the Unmentionable Times that they have stumbled upon on their journey, they find globes of glass everywhere. They later learn that these housed light bulbs in the past. They represent hope and encouragement for a new civilization filled with individuality and freedom of opinion.
If starting from the beginning, light first appears once Equality 7-2521 is given the occupation of street sweeper. While on duty, he discovers a deep black hole that was covered in weeds. With some exploration he discovers things left from the past. Among these, he discovers the light bulb. Equality 7-2521 presents this to the House of Scholars and it brings great fear to them. The main reason for the fear of the light bulb, the one invention that could bring this society to a whole to modern level, is that they see what it can bring to light. The glow of the bulb shows the unique traits of everyone. It finally brings the truth of the differences between everyone to the surface and this horrifies those in the House of Scholars.
The sweet nickname that Equality 7-2521 gives the woman he meets while street sweeping also hints at the symbol of light; the Golden One. While light represents the freedom from this society, the Golden One represents Equality's escape from it. She symbolizes the hope for something different and not completely equal and same. The Golden One is a change from the norm that Equality is used to. And to the overall meaning of Anthem, the Golden One is his accomplice, his way out of this restrictive society. The use of this way out is demonstrated later in the novel.
Equality and the Golden One escape and the symbol of light prevails on their journey to find a new way of living. Equality renames himself Prometheus, Greek icon who gave the gift of fire, yet another source of light. In this house from the Unmentionable Times that they have stumbled upon on their journey, they find globes of glass everywhere. They later learn that these housed light bulbs in the past. They represent hope and encouragement for a new civilization filled with individuality and freedom of opinion.
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