Conflict in Anthem by Ayn Rand

In Anthem by Ayn Rand, the conflict with Equality 7-2521 is that he does not want to realize that conformity is not part of his own true personality. He does not like to be mundane. Instead of being ordinary he wants to be marked as an individual with more talent than a street sweeper. To begin the book Equality 7-2521 states that, “IT IS A SIN TO WRITE THIS. It is a sin to think words no others think and to put them down upon a paper no others are to see. It is base and evil.” (17) This quote is quite rebellious because the author reveals to the reader that writing this journal, so to say is malignant and therefore the average person who in this society “fears to speak,” (47). When Equality 7-2521 gets his chance to be a part of the House of Scholars, by producing a box of light, he becomes unstoppable. Through his determination he is lashed and whipped until he collapses under the pain. “The first blow of the lash felt as if our spine had been cut in two…But we did not cry out.” (64) As Equality 7-2521 is a street sweeper, he is not welcome with the Scholars and so he is rejected and goes out of his way to make sure the Scholars understand that they are dense and half-witted. “You fools! You fools! You thrice-damned fools!” (75).

The conflict of Anthem by Ayn Rand is man vs. self. Equality 7-2521 is trying to figure out if standing together with a society where everyone wears the same clothes, is not allowed to speak freely and is punished harshly is more important than finding himself.

Death by Ignorance and Stupidity

• Florida Teen Allegedly Kills Younger Brother Over Loud Music – Fox News
  
• Suspect in Killing of Missouri Child Reportedly Is Teen Girl - Fox News
• 5 Suspects in Custody in Gang Rape, Beating of Girl After Homecoming Dance - Fox News

In reading these three articles it is clear that America is in a league all by itself. I have lived in five different countries and these articles are astounding to read. Granted that incidences such as these are not only faced upon in the US. Each one focuses on young adults killing or abusing younger children. In Nairobi, Kenya the only killings that were heard of regarded tribal disagreements or political views. “I, who have no sisters or brothers, look with some degree of innocent envy on those who may be said to be born to friends.” This quote by James Boswell shows the true gift of having a sibling is, yet William Gorzynski kills his brother who is only one year younger than himself, over loud music. Family is the whole of Africa is not just handed to you, family is to them a gift, they are actually thankful to have someone that loves them unconditionally whereas, the selfishness in some American citizens is overwhelming, an irrefutably benign and foreign to that of a person who cares about their family and the family of others. One who has the will to take someone’s family away from someone else is either supremely narcissistic or ignorant and untaught. “When a needle falls into a deep well, many people will look into the well, but few will be ready to go down after it. “ This quote means that few people on this earth a willing to sacrifice themselves when another person is in need. Going to the Gang Rape story where five young male adults watched a woman be raped, beaten and robbed and not one of them had the care in the world to do the right thing. Instead they watched the rights of a woman be stripped away from her leaving her naked, bleak and used. This is something seen in only some parts of the world, either way it should not, should never be tolerated in any country, state, town or city. What ever happened to civil rights or civil liberties; equal treatment of all people with respect to protection of the law and to the enjoyment of life, liberty, and property.

1st Posting ACTIONS!!!!

How do the words and actions of one influence who others become?

The most common term used by people today came from a proverb used by Arabians, "A promise is a cloud; fulfillment is rain." Essentially this means that words mean nothing without the promise or action behind them. In the 'Utterly Perfect Murder' by Ray Bradbury, Doug is insane. However when Doug tries to take revenge on his childhood murderer, Ralph, he stands at his door with a gun in his pocket, facing a quandary. Doug could not shoot him although he had been planning this murder for weeks now. When Doug left, Ralph was in a state of shock confused and conscience-stricken. Although the reader was not able to identify what Ralph would have been like after his unexpected meeting, the reader could assume that Ralph was fearful and guilty, making him a more careful, and caring person.