Anthem Essay

Anthem Essay

As one reads Ayn Rand's significant quotes from the story of anthem, there is always a main theme that is trying to escape, just as Prometheus escaped in her story. All three of the listed quotes work as a trio to sing that We; as society, works to defeat individuality. The quotes emphasize that we cannot survive without individualism and being alone brings out our unique personalities. It is true that all the quotes work as one, but at the same time they have their own individualism. Each quote holds a purpose of its own and the author wants to express the quote to each persons understanding.

Rand's quote, "The word 'We'... crushes all beneath it, and that which is white and that which is black are lost equally in the tray of it," implies that the black and white are the independent people in society. It is shown that as people are made on in society by gathering they lose their independence. As one all the minds of the people mix their black and white paint to produce a lost tray. They no longer have their own ideas, but now they have a conclusion of everyone's ideas All the unique qualities of the people are crushed and the group gets all the credit for being unique. People do not want to be put together and treated equally. People want to be treated with respect for what they have done. In the novelette, Prometheus invents electricity by using his own mind. He wants credit for this invention and would like to be treated with the respect of being an important person.

When Prometheus states he wants to make himself happy, he means he and he alone. When he makes himself happy he feels as if he has completed his mission in life. "My happiness needs no higher aim to vindicate it. My happiness is not the means to any end. It is the end." This quote is Prometheus' statement to society that he does not care about making everyone