The Search for The Search for IdentityIdentity

““I am. I think. I will.”I am. I think. I will.”

Questions to PonderQuestions to Ponder

►What is really important to me?What is really important to me?►Who and what influences me?Who and what influences me?►What role does society play in crafting What role does society play in crafting

identity?identity?►How would we define a utopian How would we define a utopian

society?society?► Is Utopia attainable? At what cost Is Utopia attainable? At what cost

would it be worth attaining?would it be worth attaining?

AnthemAnthem by Ayn Rand by Ayn Rand

► Born in St. Petersburg, Russia in Born in St. Petersburg, Russia in 19051905

► As a nine-year old she already As a nine-year old she already hated the restrictions of the hated the restrictions of the Russian culture…and as a high Russian culture…and as a high school student witnessed two school student witnessed two revolutionsrevolutions

► ““My feeling toward Russia…was so My feeling toward Russia…was so mystical, depraved, rotten a mystical, depraved, rotten a country that I wasn’t surprised that country that I wasn’t surprised that they got a Communist ideology – they got a Communist ideology – and I felt that one has to get out and I felt that one has to get out and find the civilized world.”and find the civilized world.”

Russian RevoltsRussian Revolts

► In 1905, a depression was sweeping In 1905, a depression was sweeping through Russiathrough Russia

►Members of the lower class were forced Members of the lower class were forced to work overtime for no extra pay and to work overtime for no extra pay and in poor working conditionsin poor working conditions

►Workers attempted to protest the Workers attempted to protest the conditions by striking, which led to conditions by striking, which led to many areas in Russia having no many areas in Russia having no electricity or newspapers. electricity or newspapers.

Increasing TensionsIncreasing Tensions

► On Sunday, January On Sunday, January 2222ndnd, 1905, 200,000 , 1905, 200,000 striking workers and striking workers and their families gathered their families gathered in St. Petersburg in St. Petersburg peacefully to take a peacefully to take a petition to the Tsar in petition to the Tsar in hopes of bringing about hopes of bringing about workplace reform. workplace reform. Instead, the event Instead, the event turned into what is now turned into what is now known as “Bloody known as “Bloody Sunday”Sunday”

► Although this occurred Although this occurred the year Rand was the year Rand was born, she grew up born, she grew up feeling fear towards feeling fear towards the Czar’s the Czar’s government. government.

►When Russia went to When Russia went to war with Germany war with Germany during WWI, the during WWI, the people of Russia people of Russia began to revolt again. began to revolt again.

Communist RussiaCommunist Russia

►When Lenin took power, he began to When Lenin took power, he began to implement a Communist form of implement a Communist form of government.government.

►His government would have complete His government would have complete power and the people would not have power and the people would not have any opportunity to decide if they any opportunity to decide if they wished to be controlled by other wished to be controlled by other parties.parties.

► The Bolsheviks had a secret police The Bolsheviks had a secret police known as the Cheka. Their job was to known as the Cheka. Their job was to hunt down opponents and critics of the hunt down opponents and critics of the Bolsheviks. These people were Bolsheviks. These people were arrested, jailed, tortured and killed. arrested, jailed, tortured and killed.

Ayn Rand’s ResponseAyn Rand’s Response

“ “The Communists’ chief The Communists’ chief purpose is to destroy purpose is to destroy every form of every form of independence—independence—independent work, independent work, independent action, independent action, independent property, independent property, independent thought, independent thought, an independent mind, an independent mind, or an independent man. or an independent man. Conformity, alikeness, Conformity, alikeness, servility, submission servility, submission and obedience are and obedience are necessary to establish a necessary to establish a Communist slave-Communist slave-state.” –Ayn Randstate.” –Ayn Rand

► She received permission She received permission from the Russian from the Russian government in 1926, at government in 1926, at the age of 21, to visit the age of 21, to visit relatives in Chicago, IL.relatives in Chicago, IL.

► She reported that her She reported that her visit would be short, but visit would be short, but she had no intention of she had no intention of returning. returning.

► She went to Hollywood She went to Hollywood to pursue a career as a to pursue a career as a screenwriter; she screenwriter; she achieved some success, achieved some success, but she later became an but she later became an author.author.

Ayn Rand believes…Ayn Rand believes…

► All man’s distinctive All man’s distinctive attributes are derived from attributes are derived from his ego. his ego.

► Ego is the “I” or self of any Ego is the “I” or self of any person; a person as person; a person as thinking, feeling, and willing, thinking, feeling, and willing, and distinguishing itself and distinguishing itself from the selves of others from the selves of others Reason (man’s value Reason (man’s value judgments) lead to man’s judgments) lead to man’s emotionsemotions

► Reason possesses the ability Reason possesses the ability to make choices.to make choices.

Rand’s Philosophy: Rand’s Philosophy: ObjectivismObjectivism

►““My philosophy, in essence, is the My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with the productive purpose of his life, with the productive achievement as his noblest activity, achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute” and reason as his only absolute” (Rand). (Rand).

On the other hand…On the other hand…Ayn Rand’s antagonist characters Ayn Rand’s antagonist characters

possess none of these qualities. possess none of these qualities. Instead, Instead,

► They do not think for They do not think for themselves.themselves.

►They do not judge for They do not judge for themselves.themselves.

►They do not will themselves to They do not will themselves to do. as they would like to do.do. as they would like to do.

►They are literally self-less, having They are literally self-less, having no sense of self. no sense of self.

AnthemAnthem

► This story takes place in the dark This story takes place in the dark ages of the future when man is a ages of the future when man is a part of a mindless, human herd.part of a mindless, human herd.

► The society is set up as a utopia, The society is set up as a utopia, but the reality is it is an “anti-but the reality is it is an “anti-utopia.”utopia.”

The Fatal FlawThe Fatal Flaw

► In this society, the fatal flaw is In this society, the fatal flaw is “collectivism”.“collectivism”.

►The individual exists only as part of The individual exists only as part of the group. He has no right to lead his the group. He has no right to lead his own life, pursue his own happiness, or own life, pursue his own happiness, or use his own property.use his own property.

►The individual’s worth is determined The individual’s worth is determined by his service to the group.by his service to the group.

Pronouns?Pronouns?

► A pronoun is a word that takes the place of A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun. Ex. Sally and Mary = a noun. Ex. Sally and Mary = theythey

a dog = a dog = itit

Mrs. Sweat = Mrs. Sweat = II► Yes, grammar does have relevance in Yes, grammar does have relevance in

studying the novel! studying the novel! ► In In Anthem, Anthem, the pronoun “I” is forbidden. the pronoun “I” is forbidden.

Therefore, even when a person refers to him Therefore, even when a person refers to him or herself, he or she uses the pronoun “we.”or herself, he or she uses the pronoun “we.”

What is an Anthem?What is an Anthem?

► a song of praise, devotion, or patriotism a song of praise, devotion, or patriotism ► a celebration with or in an anthem a celebration with or in an anthem