Anthem by Ayn Rand is set in the heart in a dystopian world of the future, and in stark contrast to other dystopian novels, the world of Anthem is technologically undeveloped instead of advanced, is quite primitive, and devolved from modern-day technology, but with the conditions for technological processes, it is no wonder that society is as primitive and ancient as it is. For one, technology and new ideas are considered not to be real, if not all men approve of a certain concept or invention. The more academically advanced are discouraged to use their wisdom, as they try to make everyone equal.
Also, with the transgression of preference, it is hard for one to truly feel interested and dedicated to their jobs, making society near to impossible to progress. In the heart of a devolved totalitarian world, the pace of advancement is slow, and a near to impossible process, due to restrictment towards its citizens, and the elimination of all individuality in a person, in aspects of ideas, smarts, and thoughts pace of advancement is slow, and nearly impossible process, due to the unacceptance for new technology and development.
Even when a good idea or invention is proposed by one, which an help civilization for the better, they would still reject the idea, claiming that unless a invention or idea is approved by all men, it could not be true, “The Candle is a great boon to mankind, as approved by all men. Therefore it cannot be destroyed by the whim of one” (Rand, Chapter 7). The rate of advancement is stagnant, as it takes much time to gain approval of an invention or idea of all of society. This In this dystopian society, the would wreck the Plans of the World Council,” said Unanimity 2-9913,’and without the Plans of the World Council the sun annot rise. It took fifty years to secure the approval of all the Councils for the Candle,” (Rand, Chapter 7).
Also, as a core belief of the society within Anthem is that if an idea or invention is not accepted by all men, it could not be real or true, “So you think that you have found a new power,’ said Collective 0-0009. ‘Do all your brothers think that? “No,’ we answered. What is not thought by all men cannot be true,” said Collective 0-0009″ (Rand, Chapter 7). The world of Anthem is technically primitive, as when a new invention or idea is proposed, unless it s approved by all, it will not be seen as acceptable to the society. for the advancement of society, it is even harder to find a mind that can help develop the technologically slow civilization, as all independent thoughts are erased, and the ones born smarter are taught and constantly told that it was a sin to be smarter than everyone else, ” It was not that the learning was too hard for us.
It was that the learning was too easy. This is a great sin, to be born with a head which is too quick. It is not good to be different from our brothers, but it is evil to be superior to them. (Rand, Chapter 1). All individual thoughts are also weeded out, and citizens are constantly told that all men are the same, and must stay that way, “WE ARE ONE IN ALL AND Besides the difficulty of having a new idea approved ALL IN ONE. THERE ARE NO MEN BUT ONLY THE GREAT_WE_ ONE, INDIVISIBLE AND FOREVER” (Rand, Chapter 1).
People are also told from a young age to never listen to themselves, and do whatever the councils dictate them to do, ” ‘Dare not choose in your minds the work you would like to do when you leave the Home of the Students. You shall do that which the Council of Vocations shall prescribe for you. For the Council of Vocations knows in its great wisdom where you are needed by your brother men, better than you can know it in your unworthy little minds “(Rand, Chapter 1).
The society is technologically unadvanced as citizens are taught from an young age to never have any individual thoughts, and that being smart was a sin to be shunned upon, and in order to fit in and be accepted, an individual must be equal to the totalitarian society’s standards. The society is also slow in advancement, as people do not get specialized based n skill, abilities and interests, and instead of having the more intelligent leading society, they put the less academically skilled and advanced in charge, and the wise in less desirable jobs, not fulfilling their full abilities.
The transgression of preference is a good example, as having preference was considered sinful, but if one does not take an interest to a certain topic or subject, they cannot dedicate their time fulfillingly. When someone takes preference of something, we were guilty of the great Transgression of Preference. We preferred some work and ome lessons to the others. We did not listen well to the history of all the Councils elected since the Great Rebirth. But we loved the Science of Things. We wished to know.
We wished to know about all the things which make the earth around us. ” (Rand, Chapter 1). Favoring people was also considered a sin, as people were expected to like and love all their brothers, but it is truly impossible, as one cannot like all equally, favoring some to others, ” International 4-8818 and we are friends. This is an evil thing to say, for it is a transgression, the great Transgression of Preference, to love any among men better than the others, since we must love all men and all men are our friends”(Rand, Chapter 1).
Men were also expected to not have any preference towards a specific women, for they were expected to treat them all as equals as well, “We do not think of them as Liberty 5-3000 any longer. We have given them a name in our thoughts. We call them the Golden One. But it is a sin to give men names which distinguish them from other men. “(Rand, Chapter 1). A example the society is not advancing is that people are not llowed to choose a field of study they enjoy and like, making people less motivated, as as people having to get along with everyone, which is a nearly impossible feat.
In the heart of a devolved totalitarian world, the pace of advancement is slow, and a near to impossible process, due to restrictment towards its citizens and the elimination of all individuality in a person, in aspects of ideas, smarts and thoughts. Technology is primitive, as new technology and ideas must be accepted by all in order to be true, slowing the pace, as it is difficult for all to accept and agree one concept.
Another example of why advancement is difficult for this dystopian society is that from a young age, the smart are taught to try to be equal to other less academically superior people, and to be smart is a sin. Also, with the transgression of preference, if no one prefers something, or feels passionate about a certain topic or subject, it is hard for one to fulfillingly learn as much as about a certain subject or topic as possible. In the world of Anthem, it is near to impossible for advancement, due to its many rules and beliefs which forbid new ideas and individual thoughts.
