Critical Analysis of Anthem Essay

Learned helplessness is the giving-up reaction, the quitting response that follows from the belief that whatever you do doesn't matter. Spoken once by Arnold Schwarzenegger, when one finds that no matter what they do cannot possibly have an effect on anything, learned helplessness becomes increasingly revealing in that their changing personality. Helplessness is a clear characteristic displayed by all citizens subordinate to the World Council in Anthem. Anthem is a dystopian fiction novel by Ayn Rand. This novel takes place in an unspecified time when mankind enters a dark age, collectivism is most prominent, and the concept of individuality is eliminated. In Anthem, Rand uses plurality in pronoun use, religious connotation, and irony in names to emphasize the helplessness of mankind unless guided by a powerful force. This force, of course, is not limited to only political force, but also to a spiritual force which has unified societies for millennia.

Rand uses plurality in Anthem to convey conformity. Conformity, by definition, is an action in correspondence with current customs, rules, or styles. Since the concept of individuality is virtually eliminated in the city displayed in Anthem, its government can freely force its collectivist ideals on all its subjects, who now conform fully to it. Singular and possessive pronoun use (modern-day I, you, My) are avoided in this society to abstain from the idea of self-reflection. In introducing himself, Equality alleges Our [My] name is Equality 7-252; we [I] are 21 years old. This manifests the fact that he fails to truly recognize himself as one rather than a communal whole. By being vulnerable in identity, it leaves a gap for the government to fill. In Anthem, the World Council has even found a way to make its citizens be reminded every day about the importance of their conformity. Every night, all must repeat simultaneously how We are [I am] nothing. Mankind is all before going to sleep. It is critical to understand that by doing this, it only reinforces what they have been taught their whole lives: submission. The nature of their mentality has been shaped, in almost every aspect, by the status quo of their community. Though no religion is existent in the city, the only truly religious force they know is the collectivist lifestyle they regretfully sank to.

Rand uses religious connotation to depict the negative effect of collectivist societies on religion, misinterpreting the true meaning of the concept of religion. Religion can serve various purposes with two political extremes (in which neither extreme is ever successful). One extreme would be when religion is used as the only governing body of a society (theocracy); the other extreme would be misinterpreting religion, and then using it as a political tool (such as in Anthem). If examined closely, laws that govern the fictional city in Anthem are directly oriented in making its subjects fearful of committing sins or transgressions. For instance, laws declare that none among men may be alone, for it is a great transgression and later restates that law, expressing it as a great sin. It is obvious, the nature of these laws. Laws here are intended to cause reverence and fear among its subjects, clearly displayed by Equality, rather than todays laws intentions: rightful regulation. Perhaps even more revealing is when Equality, much later in the text, departs from the urbanized collectivist city and settles beyond the Uncharted Forest. During the initiation of his decision to live there permanently, he is able to understand that the centuries of chains and lashes would not kill the spirit of man nor the sense of truth within the natural behavior of men. He now understands that religion is utterly misinterpreted in all he knows of the past. He acknowledges, truly, that there is a spirit; a spirit which cannot be used as fuel to power a political tool. When religion is misinterpreted the way it was in Anthem, it is normally missing a critical element of a religion: the will of the human spirit, which is why in Anthem there was no formal religion at all.

Rand uses irony in names to portray the oblivion featured in the intelligence of the citys citizens. It is common in collectivist cultures for its subjects to be, for instance, deprived of a formal education without political bias. This, in return, when applied to Anthems case, turns education into a principal component: learning by rote rather than rule. This type of education is extremely beneficial when recognizing the communal orientation of this society (veiling individualism). When the protagonist introduces himself as his name is Equality-7252, it is understandably ironic that there is no true equality in his community. It is not his fault, however, for this mentality is likely carefully arranged by founders of his community. He, under this scenario, feels apathetic towards analyzing the meaning of his own name as it then lingers unacknowledged. Once the strategic practice of rote learning has taken place in the educational system in Anthem, paradigms remain persistent throughout. Conceivably more lucid is when Equality is nearing his first meetings with Liberty 5-3000 and Liberty introduces herself. Needless to say, the name Liberty is ironic due to the fact that the city featured in Anthem portrays the antithesis of independence due to its nature of stripping individuals from their individuality. Neither Liberty nor her fellow civilians are responsive to this biting wit. The ultimate reason for the lack of knowledge of Equality, Liberty, or any other with a satirical name is not a due they owe themselves, but a due owed to collectivism and its corruption.

Equality in the fictional city in Anthem is portrayed by an extreme form of egalitarianism, where everyone is equal socially. Social equality without any sort of hierarchical structure within civilians is a notorious characteristic of communist societies. Being equal under the law is what most traditional Americans today are most familiar with. This is a defining characteristic that parts the fraudulent chains of socialism from the emancipated nature of capitalism. In Anthem, Rand uses plurality in pronoun use, religious connotation, and irony in names to stress the vulnerability of men without headship. Never having any sort of political or spiritual guidance, mankind as most know it today would be as a lost ship in an endless ocean of confusion, revulsion, and corruption.