Ayn Rand Anthem Critical Lens Essay

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"The ultimate measure in a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." The measure of a man is what and how he stands for something at a troubling time. That is how I interpret this quote. I agree with this quote because I feel once one person stands up l, more will follow. This quote also fits in the book "Anthem" by Ayn Rand. In "Anthem" the main character Equality 7-2521 (also known as Prometheus later in the book) stands against society and the people above him to understand the past and what he believes will help humanity call back to ancient ways, that are more advanced. In the book, the more advanced technologies like the car, electricity, etc have been forgotten on purpose. One day while working Equality stumbles on an old subway tunnel. He discovers a lightbulb and re-discovers electricity. All of the actions are against the law. The light Equality restores has symbology to it. To Equality the light symbolizes knowledge that seems to have been lost. To the High Councils it is a symbol of defiance, that someone would go against society and brothers to learn from the "Unmentionable Times". The theme of "Anthem" is individualism because in this future there is no independence or values to a single person. An individual doesn't even have a name, they are recognized by numbers. This fits the quote because Equality stand up against higher power to gain knowledge, a name and puts value on his life and others. "It is a sin to write this. it is a sin to think words no others think and put them down upon paper no others are to see. It is base and evil. It is as if we were speaking alone to no ears but our own. And there is no transgression blacker than to do or think alone. We have broken the laws". I think that this paragraph at the beginning of the story is a quote that not
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