Anthem

12. What is Ayn Rand's purpose for Equality referring to himself as "we"? Discuss the progression to how he comes to call himself "I".

In Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem the main character, Equality, refers to himself as “we” in the beginning and throughout most of the book.  The society where he lives is much oppressed and everyone is exactly alike, it’s a curse to be different. To show that they are meant to be a single group they refer to themselves as we because they don’t understand individuality. It also shows how Equality is loyal to the Council at first.

As the story progresses Equality starts to lose loyalty to the Council and starts realizing how horribly everyone is being treated. He starts to figure out self worth and having an identity. He becomes more rebellious, though he still refers to himself as we.

Finally after he has found the home in the woods with the Golden One he starts calling himself I. He says “I am. I think. I will. My hands… my spirit… my sky… my forest… this earth of mine. What must I say besides? These are the words. This is the answer. I stand here on the summit of the mountain. I lift my head and I spread my arms. This, my body and spirit, this is the end of the quest. I am wished to know the meaning of things. I am the meaning. I wished to find a warrant for being. I need no warrant for being, and no word of sanction upon my being. I am the warrant and the sanction.” (pg.94) He is now singing an anthem to himself. He worships himself. He has broken free from society. Just this simple change from “we” to “I” shows how he has grown and realized his true identity.

Creative Writing Assignment.

6. Rewrite the meeting between Equality and Liberty from her perspective.

 The sun beat down on us and our sisters as we spread the seeds over and over. Always the same, never missing a beat. We felt a strange sensation, as though someone were watching us. Without stopping we turned to see a street sweeper standing on the other side of the hedge watching us. We were startled because this is forbidden. There was something different about them though. They were more beautiful than our brothers. They had life in their eyes and a boldness about them. For reasons we don’t understand, we were drawn to them. We communicated through our eyes.  We knew it was forbidden to communicate with a brother, but we couldn’t help ourselves. We stared blankly at them, worried that we would get caught. We heard a sister call our name, “Liberty 5-3000.” The endless lock of our eyes was broken. We turned and walked swiftly away to our beckoning sisters, and wondered if we would ever see that strange brother again.

Advanced Research Topic
2. In Anthem Prometheus discovers the meaning of the word freedom. He states that “To be free, a man must be free of his brothers. That is freedom. This and nothing else” (p. 101). In fact, Ayn Rand defined freedom, in a political context, as “the absence of physical coercion” (Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal). This definition of freedom, however, stands in direct contrast to the one held by many modern thinkers, writers and politicians. Today, modern liberals often assert “Freedom must [entail] . . . an increased power on the part of the individual to share in the goods which society has produced and an enlarged ability to contribute to the common good” (George Sabine, A History of Political Theory).

Write an essay contrasting Ayn Rand’s definition of freedom with that of modern liberals, and consider the form of government each would necessitate.

            Ayn Rand views freedom as being singular, solitary, and working only for your own self.  She doesn’t believe in helping others and views it as a drawback. Modern liberals, on the other hand, view it as a way of life. They believe that freedom is “justice, security, and/or equality” (Weaver).

            In Ayn Rand’s ‘perfect’ world the government would “only protect the individual’s right to life, liberty, property, and pursuit of happiness” (Ayn Rand Novels). She cares about herself and only herself. It doesn’t matter to her that some people struggle to put food on the table while others basically bathe in money. If she is successful and happy then life for her is good.

            Modern liberals are the complete opposite of Ayn Rand. They believe that everyone should be equal. Modern Liberals are all about putting everyone else before themselves. They prefer a totalitarian type of government, in which the government is responsible for how happy and successful each citizen is (Weaver). They have the same view point as the Council in Rand’s novel Anthem. They want to make sure that everyone is equal; no one has a single advantage over anyone. No one can feel jealousy or sadness. The only emotion is happiness. It is basically their idea of creating world peace.

            For me I don’t really lean towards a certain viewpoint. I agree with Ayn Rand that being your own individual is extremely important, but I don’t agree with worshipping yourself and never wanting to help others unless you get something out of it. For the liberals I agree that people should be equal to an extent, like gays having the same rights as straight people, but to an extreme, like everyone having the same salary and being exactly alike. I also agree with the fact that they want to help everyone. It’s important to help people in times of trouble even if you don’t benefit.

            Ayn Rand and the Modern Liberal’s ideas of freedom are completely different. Yet at the same time they are very similar. They are both designed to benefit whomever they worship, if it’s their own self or their whole community. They are making sure that the ones they love the most are given what they want. There isn’t one idea though that’s better than the other. Ayn Rand would never be able to survive with a government run by Modern Liberals, and the same goes for Modern Liberals in a government run by Ayn Rand. Each has their own opinion with its own pros. It’s just a matter of worshipping others, or being an egoist.

                                                            Works Cited

Weaver, Sam. "The Modern Liberal Worldview." RenewAmerica. N.p., 4 Mar. 2003. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/weaver/030304>.

"What Makes Ayn Rand's Philosophy Unique." Ayn Rand Novels. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://aynrandnovels.org/ayn-rand-ideas/what-makes-ayn-rands-philosophy-unique.html>.

This I Believe Essay

                 I believe in the practice of Quakerism.

                Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, Stewardship. These are the words Quakers like me live by. I have been a Quaker as long as I can remember.  The thoughts and ideas consume my brain. It’s everything I have ever known, though I still appreciate it. I guess you could call me a typical cliché Quaker, since I enjoy taking part in protests for peace, worship organic foods, and basically just a hippie in general. We are the hippies of the 21^st century.

                There are certain things that I love about being a Quaker. I actually enjoy meeting, the Quakers way of worshiping, when many adolescents don’t. I love the peaceful serenity to it. Without even talking, everyone in the room is connected by a comforting silence. I love how free everything is. There are no rules except for “war is not the answer,” of course. I love the fact that we are called Friends. Everyone of us is connected by that, and we all know it.

                For me Quakerism has played a big role in my life. It has helped develop who I am as a person, and it has helped me create the greatest bonds with fellow “Young Friends” like me. My greatest friends are those who I would go on weekend retreats with every other month for years. Those retreats were what I was always looking forward too. They are my family.

                I am a Quaker. I believe in peace. I believe in equality. I believe in simplicity. I believe in Quakerism. 

The Catcher in the Rye Book Project

 In my drawing I have Holden wearing his red hunting hat, but his face is the Little Shirley Beans record he had bought for Phoebe and broken. I chose to draw his hunting hat because in a way it represents his identity. He says “The way I wore it, I swung the old peak way around to the back- very corny, I’ll admit, but I liked it that way.” It’s very out of place, just like him. He hasn’t really figured out where he belongs yet. He talks about how everyone is a ‘phony’ and a ‘moron’. He’s different than all the rest, like his hat.

I drew the broken record because it represents something he really loves and how he is emotionally complex. He looked for forever for that record for his beloved younger sister, Phoebe. He says “The first record store I went into had a copy of ‘Little Shirley Beans.’ They charged me five bucks for it, because it was so hard to get, but I didn’t care. Boy, it made me so happy all of the sudden.” His little sister is basically his whole life, and he will do anything for her. When he broke the record it broke him too. He states “I damn near cried, it made me feel terrible.” He hasn’t really opened up and become super sensitive a lot, and this just shows how much he cares for his sister and how he is complex deep down.

Favorite Music Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghPcYqn0p4Y

               

               The use of the Polaroid pictures to create a still shot animation was absolutely stunning. It fit the melancholy yet beautiful mood of the song, and the effect is just pleasing to the eye. It’s a simple concept used in an intricate way, kind of like the song. For me the song is a repetitive simple melody that grows more complicated with the lyrics and added percussion. I love vintage Polaroids, so the combination of that with an amazing song to make art is lovely .

                The Polaroid pictures, to me, also represent her memories in the past. She says “help I have done it again.” The changing of the pictures gives that flashback or time travel sort of feel. It makes the song even more dramatic than it already is. It’s mesmerizing to watch. It just suits the song completely.     

Philosophy of Life in Song Lyrics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSEsMpMxkg4

I backed my car into a cop car the other day
Well he just drove off sometimes life's ok
I ran my mouth off a bit too much oh what did I say
Well you just laughed it off it was all ok

And we'll all float on ok
And we'll all float on ok
And we'll all float on ok
And we'll all float on any way well

Well, a fake Jamaican took every last dime with that scam
It was worth it just to learn from sleight-of-hand
Bad news comes don't you worry even when it lands
Good news will work its way to all them plans
We both got fired on the exactly the same day
Well we'll float on good news is on the way

And we'll all float on ok
And we'll all float on ok
And we'll all float on ok
And we'll all float on alright
Already we'll all float on
Now don't you worry we'll all float on
Alright already we'll all float on
Alright don't worry we'll all float on

And we'll all float on alright
Already we'll all float on
Alright don't worry even if things end up a bit to heavy
We'll all float on alright
Already we'll all float on
Alright already we'll all float on
Ok don't worry we'll all float on
Even if things get heavy we'll all float on
Alright already we'll all float on
Don't you worry we'll all float on
All float on

 

This song represents one of my main philosophies of life. I have been through a lot in the past few years and this song has always helped me get through hard times, it just never gets old. “Alright don’t worry even if things end up a bit too heavy we’ll all float on”, just the song is motivating and easily gets stuck in your head.

                I have told myself countless times during my lifetime to just ‘float on.’ In the past couple years I have had to completely change my lifestyle from moving from Pennsylvania to here in North Carolina, to having my parents get divorced and my mom suddenly remarried. I’ve had to keep my head up and 'float on' and realize that soon everything will be back in its rightful place, and everything will be fine. It just takes time and my own positive thoughts. 

Literary Writing Prompts

            44. In a literary work, a minor character, often known as a foil, possesses traits that emphasize, by contrast or comparison, the distinctive characteristics and qualities of the main character. For example, the ideas of behavior of the minor character might be used to highlight the weaknesses or strengths of the main character. Choose a novel in which a minor character serves as a foil to a main character. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the relationship between the minor character and the major character illuminates the meaning of the work.

               In the novel The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield, an eloquent and insightful teenager, befriends Robert Ackley. Everyone at Holden’s school, Pencey Prep, seems to hate Ackley, and Ackley hates all of them too. The companionship between Holden and Ackley started the night Holden was told he had flunked out of Pencey. “All of a sudden, Ackley barged back in again, through the damn shower curtains, as usual. For once in my stupid life, I was really glad to see him. He took my mind off the other stuff.” (pg.45) Ackley is the only guy at Pencey that Holden doesn’t call a “phony”.

                Ackley shows the compassionate side of Holden. Even though Holden describes Ackley as a sort of nasty guy with a terrible personality, He still enjoys being around him. Ackley’s peculiar ways comfort him and help him forget all of the negative things in his life. When Holden and his roommate, Stradlater, get into a fight, he automatically goes to Ackley’s room to escape.

                Holden has a very complex personality. Robert Ackley, for some reason, brings out his compassionate side. As Holden is leaving Pencey to go to New York, he shook Ackley’s hand and tells him “I just want to thank you for being such a goddam prince, that’s all. You’re acres, Ackley kid, you know that?” (66) Holden could see something in Ackley’s crude personality when all everyone else saw was a pest. He took the rudeness of Ackley as a joke to help him forget everything. He realized that out of anyone Ackley was the most human, like himself. And as Holden would say, that killed him.

42.    Select a line or so of poetry, or a moment or scene in a novel, epic poem, or play that you find especially memorable. Write an essay in which you identify the line or the passage, explain its relationship to the work in which it is found, and analyze the reasons for its effectiveness.

                In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield states, “I mean he’d keep telling you to unify and simplify all the time. Some things you can’t hardly ever simplify and unify something just because somebody wants you to.” (pg. 240) Holden is definitely not a simple person. Throughout the book you find out the many traits of Holden, and that a lot of the time he isn’t who he tries to portray. He tries to seem all tough a lot, but truly he is sensitive, with a good heart, and strong intellectual mind.

                Holden’s life in general is very complex. He’s ‘gotten the ax’ from Pencey as he would say, and he really can’t go home. Going home and telling his parents what happened probably would help simplify the issue, but that’s just not Holden’s style. He likes to try and make things more complex instead of simplifying. His overdramatic ways, and how he ‘horses around’ all the time. He just doesn’t like simple.

                Holden Caulfield is a digression.  He doesn’t fit into everyone’s “simple” world. He is unable to “simplify and unify”, but that’s just how he likes it, complicated.

Revised Literary Essay

                Throughout Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front, Paul slowly loses all of this hope he had ever had and realizes how he is truly alone. He states “I am so alone, and so without hope that I can confront them without fear” (pg.295), and then he just gives up. Many actions have led up to this feeling, even though he has been trying to fight it.

                Some of the earliest signs of him losing hope was when he came back from the war. No one could understand how he felt, even though they tried to. “I imagined leave would be different from this. Indeed, it was different a year ago. It is I of course that have changed in the interval. There lies a gulf between that time and to-day. At that time I still knew nothing about the war, we had only been in quiet sectors. But now I see that I have been crushed without knowing it. I find I do not belong here any more, it is a foreign world. Some of these people ask questions, some as no questions, but one can see that the latter are proud of themselves for their silence; they often say with a wise air that these things cannot be talked about. They plume themselves on it. I prefer to be alone, so that no one troubles me. For they all come back to the same thing, how badly it goes and how well it goes; one things it is this way, another that; and yet they are always absorbed in the things that go to make up their existence. Formerly I lived in just the same way myself, but now I feel no contact here… what I mean.”(168-169) His father and all of the other men act like they know what he has been through when truthfully they don’t. He is alone and has no one to vent and open up to about everything he has seen. This causes him to draw back and wish he was back with everyone else in the war.

                As the book progresses Paul starts to lose more and more hope. “To make matters worse, we have to return almost all; of the new things and take back our old rags again. The good ones were merely for the inspection.”(207) Even the officers have given up hope. When the Kaiser comes to inspect, they give all the soldiers new uniforms to hide how raggedy and awful they are, and to give the illusion that there is hope for them to win the war. This also goes back to when Kat says, “You take it from me, we are losing the war because we can salute too well.” (40) They try to make everything look good to give everyone, including Paul, hope. Everything is just a gimmick.

                Paul finally realizes he is alone when his only friend, who is more like a brother, Kat dies. He states “Do I walk? Have I feet still? I raise my eyes, I let them move round, and turn myself with them, one circle, one circle and I stand in the midst. All is as usual. Only the Militiaman Stanislaus Katczinsky has died. Then I know nothing more.” (291) Paul has lost every bit of hope he had. That even has caused him to give up. He realized that he isn’t scared anymore to lose him life. Even though he has lost almost everything, he has gained some attributes including companionship, leadership, and compassion, and that has changed him forever. “Let the months and years come, they can take nothing from me, they can take nothing more.” (295) He is finished.

                Throughout the book Paul slowly realizes there is no hope for anyone. He had lost everything, his friends, his relationship with his family, and even small things like his enjoyment of words. He tried to fight the loss of hope but as he matured through the war, he realized there was no hope left. He has decided that since he has lost everything it is his turn to go, and he accepted the loss with open arms.