Several people have their own idea of what a “perfect” society would be like. Since everyone’s perspective on the topic is different, when one person makes their “ideal” society a reality, it can backfire. In the novels Anthem by Ayn Rand and Divergent by Veronica Roth, this is exactly what happened. The lead characters in both stories were faced with someone’s idea of a perfect society and they were both rebels against what the person saw as perfect, this caused both societies in the end to backfire, or at least get a little whacky.The protagonists in Anthem and Divergent have similar reactions to the various dystopian elements such as restriction, illusion of a perfect utopia, and dehumanization, which helps them develop their characters …show more content…
Both Anthem and Divergent’s societies try to make the world “perfect,” which is impossible because there will always be rebels like Tris and Equality, that go against the system. In Divergent, all of the different factions have their own idea on how to make the world better. Dauntless’ idea for making the world “better” is by being in control of your fears ,which is stated as, “ ‘but becoming fearless isn't the point. That's impossible. It's learning how to control your fear, and how to be free from it, that’s the point’ ”(Roth 239). In contrast the Abnegation faction believes that the world would be better if people were less selfish and more selfless. As a result to these different perspectives, Tris’ outlook on life starts to change as she gets older, because she was raised in the Abnegation faction, but as she grew up she became more selfish(which goes against the Abnegation values), so she did not belong with them anymore, which caused her to transfer to Dauntless when she was 16. In Anthem, the government decided how the world would be best. The government decides on who mates with who and many other aspects of life. When the children are born, society takes them into their own hands and the children grow up in different places(Home of the Infants and Home of the Students), where they get limited education and live in rooms that are totally blank, so a personality cannot be formed. Then, when they become old enough to work, jobs are chosen for them, so life is completely controlled. As Equality went through this “perfect” society, he used to sneak away from his home, which is a sin, and he would go out and try to learn more for himself(which is illegal because they are not allowed to be smarter than their brothers), everyone must be united as one. Equality was always curious and eager for knowledge, which he states as, “ but we
In addition, the main characters are both very similar, from characteristics to actions. The two tales that were told both have main characters Ivy from The village and Equality from Anthem. The two of them have determination, because they both do what must be done no matter what they have to go through. Ivy, struggled with a disability of being bling, but she knew that there was more to her world than what was just there. So, Ivy does what no one in her village has done, and goes into the woods to try to find a cure for Lucious(Ivy’s significant other).
Wes Moore’s A Utopian society is a world that is considered perfect. Unfortunately , a society that is seeking perfection usually becomes a dystopian society . A dystopian society that is dehumanizing and as unpleasing a possible. Harrison Bergeron ‘ s world and N. korea both shared these traits.
He defies his society just by having a personality and opinion. Equality knows what he is doing is wrong but he can’t help but wanting to be someone, not a brother in the community. He compares himself to the scholars and knows that he shouldn't have gotten the job of a street sweeper. “No single one can possess greater wisdom than the many Scholars who are elected by all men for their wisdom. Yet we can” (3.7).
The book “Anthem” written by Ayn Rand is a book that deals with many topics within the main idea of the perfect world. The only problem is the word “I” is forbidden. “We” is the only acceptable word, there is no distinguishing yourself. The book takes place in the future, when all human rights are taken away and you live to your government's standards. No one has any individual rights anymore.
Have adults ever tried to hint something at you, but you don’t even realize it? Well in Elijah of Buxton, Elijah finds out that an adult slave that he finds is trying to hint toward him to take her baby back to Buxton with him. Also in I Pledge Allegiance, Morris and his three best friends all go to The Vietnam War because one of them got drafted. I will question why the slave wanted her baby to go to Buxton, connect with Morris about war and his friends, and evaluate the difference in point of views of Morris and his mother. Why did the slave want her Baby to go to Buxton with Elijah?
Robert Frost once said, “If society fits you comfortably enough, you can call it freedom”. Most people can relate to this quote, but what if an individual does not agree or feel comfortable in his or her social system? In the novella Anthem, Ayn Rand shows her willingness to leave an unjust society through Equality leaving his community, purposefully breaking laws, and pursuing his discoveries. The first way Rand proves that she does not agree with her society, is through the main character of the book, Equality, running away from his society. Rand states that Equality’s actions that she will do what it takes to leave her society.
Equality talks about the struggle to be average because he knows there is more and wants to wander in it, but he has been grown to know that everyone must be exactly the same in every way to be equal. Both of these examples are different than the true meaning of
Many people around the world today wonder what it would be like to have a utopian society where everyone is equal and judgment isn’t existent. Though people have wondered this, it clearly is not possible because somebody has to create something to equal things out and as humans, we have a nature to want to be better, or more efficient than others. In recent films such as Harrison Bergeron, a utopian society is attempted to be created and seem successful in the beginning, but like before, there is always one who knows, or has more power and control than the others. Eventually utopian societies will fail and become dystopian where government controls or a supreme being will be a ruler, this is why we have to keep our society as modern as
People like to think that a society with no crime, equality, and no wrong choices would be a perfect society; however, what is the price people pay for this “perfect” society? Most people think they know what 's right and what 's not, when they are given the choice. Nevertheless, when they are given the choice a wrong choice could greatly affect the society. The novel The Giver shows us this with a boy named Jonas who lives in a society where there are no choices, no individuality, ands lots of rules. Although this may seem like a utopia, it could very easily turn into a dystopia .
The ideas surrounding utopian and dystopian societies are popular now because our society is getting very advanced in technology and futuristic ideas. They’re showing us possible outcomes of what our world could look like in 20, 50, or even 100 years from now. They also show us the positivity and negativity that can come from the future. Some ideas may seem unrealistic now, but life is a rollercoaster, and you never know what could happen next. For example, in the short story, it portrays a society in which everything and everyone is set equal.
Typically, there would be something original (a place), that would look dull, futuristic and the natural world be banished. Dystopian settings are usually more electronic than usual because it is occurring in real life, which gives ideas to the creators. In the world that Divergent is set in, they are too, shut from the outside world. This pattern also occurs in Hunger Games. They have electric fences to prevent anyone from exiting their district.
“IT IS A SIN TO WRITE THIS”(17), as Equality 7-2521 said when he was in the dark damp cave of blackness where he went to be alone so he could concentrate on his ideas that he wasn’t allowed to have. Anthem, by Ayn Rand, portrays a primitive way of life that describes a depressing future only consisting of rule and the unknown. Throughout the book there is one main thought made by all the characters and they all wonder what had happened before “The Great Rebirth” and why the Council wanted to hide it from them. It is like all their minds were wiped from the face of the earth and the clock of all time had started from zero. They had forgotten science and everything invented by it.
For someone to be themselves they must be free from others. In the story all men are to be the same. Equality tries to be the same as his brothers since all men must be equal it's against the law if you are different. “The laws say that none among men may be alone,ever and at any time, for this is the great transgression and the root of all evil.
Collectivism and Selfishness in Anthem Imagine living in a world where everybody's lives are completely mapped out by the government. Where every decision is made without the input of the citizens it affects. In the novella Anthem, Ayn Rand depicts a completely collectivist society, where every idea, action, and invention is purely for the benefit of society as a whole. Everything is done with the entire population in mind, and individuality is extremely frowned upon.
Where the Wild Things are by Maurice Sendak is an interesting children’s picture book. The main character is a little boy named Max, who has a wild imagination. He uses all five senses as well as thought and his actions to express his personality as well as how he reacts and interacts with his surroundings. Max’s id, ego and super-ego are greatly shown in this book through the way that the author has portrayed him. Not only is this book a children’s story, but it can also be perceived as a life lesson.