My thoughts after reading "Anthem", by Ayn Rand.
Ayn Rand is polarizing figure in not only literature, but in
the realm of political theatre as well. This essay will not analyze her, but
will focus on the book “Anthem”, and what thoughts it provoked out of me. Due
to the nature of the controversy surrounding the author I will simply state
that I am not a supporter or proponent of her writing or political theories. So
let us move on from that.
“Anthem” is basically about a man in a dystopian future that
has no personal identity, and no other individual does either. There is no
concept of the individual, and there is no concept of “I”. In fact, speaking
the word “I” is punishable by death. The entire society is run by the concept
that every single thought and action is strictly done with everyone else in
mind. There is no concept of self, hence no thoughts of self. In fact, there
aren’t any mirrors, and there is no concept of preferring one thing or person
over another.
Professions are regulated and given out to every member of
this society. Everyone lives together in giant bunker housing developments.
Every aspect of every day is structured and followed. All are conditioned to
believe this is the best for all, and it is never questioned.
Technology does not exist. Candles are the only allowed form
of light. This is where the first problem arises for the main character. He has
discovered an ancient underground tunnel from an ancient time, a time that is
looked upon by this society as an evil time that must not be talked about. In
this tunnel, over an extended period of time, the main character discovers how
to manufacture artificial light. In his excitement and naiveté, he believes
that his discovery will be accepted by the scholars and they will use it to
benefit everyone, forgiving him in the process for creating such a thing to
begin with.
During the story, he discovers a woman and develops feelings
for her that he does not understand. Relationships and love as we know it do
not exist either in this society.
To make a long story short, his invention is rejected and he
flees for an uncharted forest that no one has ever attempted to explore. To his
surprise, the lady he had fallen in love with followed him into the forest.
They discover the joy of sharing an intimate life together and eventually
discover an ancient house. It is there that they start their lives anew,
bearing children and reevaluating and discovering an entirely knew way of
thinking and living. Books are discovered in this house, and these books help
them see what life once was in an ancient time. Ultimately what is found inside
them is the importance of being an individual and not a tool for use by a
dictatorship society.
Now, I apologize for the rather crude and quick synopsis,
but it brings me to the point I wish to make. Does any amount of human and
social conditioning completely destroy what are our deeply driven human
instincts? Even after years and generations of complete control by government
oppressors, is it truly impossible to stamp out our primal instincts? Does a time
eventually come when some of the oppressed realize what is going on and snap
out of it?
It’s a fascinating subject. Today we have various forms of
manipulation, from television, to media, to politics, to social pressures and
there are many who think this is a trend towards an eventual breakdown of any
individual identity and replace it with obedient worker bees with no other care
in their live other than to serve the state. If this is the goal of the leaders
in this world, can they eventually succeed in doing so with various techniques
and tactics to break our will and accept their decrees? Books like “Anthem”
seem to suggest that yes, they can for a while at least, but eventually the
human spirit will find itself again and want to allow it to become something
more.
Some fear that subliminal messages in media and television
are helping break that inner spirit, to confuse it, and ultimately convince it
to give itself away to an authority that will control it. The microchip for
humans has been invented, and if a time comes where it is mandatory for all
humans to have one implanted, could that be the final piece of what the
authoritative state would use to gain control of our minds for good. Is it
possible that this chip is the key to forever overriding any primal instincts human
beings possess?
If a book like “Anthem” is correct and no amount of control
or brainwashing/conditioning can work with 100% accuracy forever, then is the
creation of the microchip the answer to that? Can a microchip be the final answer
to gaining the 100% unbreakable control over the human population forever? It’s
an interesting thought, and some would consider it paranoid, but this book
provokes these wonders in my mind.
The book clearly shows that in that world, control over society
had reached peak efficiency and nearly no one ever had one thought to ever
question it. If there are those who wish to create a system of complete
control, they have to look at a book like “Anthem” and think, “how can we keep
everyone under control and not allow an ‘Anthem’ like storyline to occur?” How
do they ensure that there are zero defectors? The microchip may not be the
answer, and in fact in today's ever growing technical world, a microchip may be
somewhat primitive. The point is really this: whether it is a microchip or some
other device, will something be put into place to forever quiet our deep human
instincts and create submissive, mindless slaves to their disposal forever? May
we as a populace never allow such a thing to occur.
