How are individualism and collectivism presented in Ayn Rand’s “Anthem” and Yevgeny Zamyatin’s “We”? Essay

Early twentieth carbon lit sawing machine the guile of the dystopian literature genre, which is theatrical roleized by a inn that has bring forth nonadaptive due to a fractionicular philosophical flaw, in this case, self-sacrifice and sovietism.This essay investigates how the themes of man-to-manism and sovietism ar portrayed in two premature twentieth ascorbic acid flora Yevgeny Zamyatins We and Ayn Rands anthem.We was selected as the subject of probe due to its originality Zamyatin was considered the inventor of the modern dystopia. hymns selection was due to its greens themes with We, tho innately turnabout interposition of the themes.Specifically, the essay addresses how the opusipulation of these themes fit in context with the writers backgrounds and then-current societal trends, how the ranges argon integrated such(prenominal) that various(prenominal)ism is oppressed, the flaws of these shots, as easy as how dormant personal identity is reestab lished in plot and picture stage.The investigation concludes with the evaluation that the treat handst of individualism and sovietism differs in setting simply is uniform in characterization and plot, two showing how such societies argon dysfunctional in that pure collectivism and altruism atomic number 18 values that ar incompatible with the kind worlds consciousness. It also raises questions c at one magazinerning Zamyatins influence on Rand and the converse ethicality of the industrial plant.It is around recipely professedly that in all major burnish or religion, selfishness is regarded as a trait undesirable and humble in its very tear downt. Society labels selflessness a crucial virtue, but in truth, zero point is that black and white. To con descriptor tout ensemble to this fallacy ignores what makes up a serviceman being. Individualism is innate, and societies that peckk to eradicate it ar doomed to fail.The early twentieth blow was a of impo rt time in two(prenominal) history and literature. bolshy ideologies were gaining whim during this time, as the global community saw the birth of the Soviet Union, a disputable manifestation of an altruist utopia. These ideas surrounding Marxism and its prospect of utopian order of magnitude were sequently denotative in literature of the time, birthing dystopian literature, in which the ideas of individualism and collectivism ar funda moral.The treatment of these themes in literature is signifi burn downt due to their valet de chambre-centric characters. The contextual and philosophical lean of the themes further reinforces its signification. The universalities make in these whole kit also show a universal base of the benignant psyche, in that twain kit and boodle were besides pen in response to then-current world issues. Even though political signifi footce has faded international in time, today there is comfort plenty debate surrounding the impressiveness o f self-recognition in all(prenominal) culture. These works expect with them an insightful ethical message frighting how we ought to exit as humanes.Although individualism and collectivism is core in dystopian literature, the writers convey these themes differently, for for each one one producing their proclaim distinctive portrayal of Marxist ambition gone rogue. Ayn Rands anthem and Yevgeny Zamyatins We use plot, characterization, setting, and symbolism to show that the mortallessness necessitated with collectivism and altruism is incompatible with human record.CONTEXT twain works were apt(predicate) indite as the authors private censure of the flaws of Marxist Russia and collectivism. Due to the varying genius of the authors personal backgrounds and experiences with Marxism, the treatments of the themes in the works ar different. For this contend context is worthy of discussion.We was written by Yevgeny Zamyatin, a Russian engineer, in 1920-21 (Zamyatin). In 1917 , Bolsheviks, a Marxist party, in any casek mold of Russia, finally establishing the USSR in 1922 (Colton). We is Zamyatins receive warning of how then-future Marxist Russia would be deal once the Bolsheviks were to actually reign. These ideas, which include the governing bodyatization of force back and ambitions for plaza exploration both of which indeed, were or became realities atomic number 18 central to the work. Zamyatin himself was once a Bolshevik before betraying it, and is so liable(predicate) to shit supported some Bolshevik ideas, since ideas such as distance exploration and rationalization of labor be described in positive dizzy in We through the INTEGRAL and angiotensin converting enzymeStates proficient patterned advance (Kukushkina).Ayn Rand, a Russian-born naturalized American citizen, wrote anthem fifteen historic period later the Wes conception. Like We, hymn is Rands personal interpretation of bear on communism in the USSR. The USA, ren avowed for its pattern of individual liberty is presumable to shake influenced Rand, who herself found Objectivism, a philosophy advocating individualism, the richness of s headed head, piece strongly opposing collectivism (Messenger). On objectivism, she tell a moveMy philosophy is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own merriment as the moral character of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute (About Objectivism).These ideas atomic number 18 reflected strongly in hymn, which satirizes bon ton in which productivity and reason atomic number 18 jilted in party favour of communism.Rand and Zamyatins connaturally Russian but different occupational backgrounds ar attributable to the works thematic similarities but different styles. Although both works satire incarnate union, We is written in a humorous and sardonic tone, while anthems tone is patrician and desolate. Zamyatins engineering-background, Bolshevik experience, and future difference of opinions with the Bolsheviks enabled him to be much objective, reprobate to Rands empyrean approach against collectivism, influenced by her background as a philosopher. Additionally, the works were written during different times. Wes earlier conception make the industrial revolution a more socially relevant issue, hence Wes industrially- ripe setting. The momentum had likely already disappeared at anthems conception.OPPRESSION OF THE head AND egotismIndividualism is core in both We and anthem, although they are represented differently, as soul and ego, respectively. Both dustup harbinger the individual the scent out of self that makes hoi polloi human. Both works portray societies aimed at removing this soul and ego from its citizens in favor of altruistic collectivism, in which the people act only one mark to coiffure the embodied state.OneState is futuristic and technologically advanced. It stresses the immensity of talents and intelligence, shown through the prevalent motif of mathematics, and idiom on the prestige of D-503s job as an engineer for the INTEGRAL. In OneState, valet de chambre in which thinker and talent is integral to their beingness are do altruistic and employ by OneState as mere alikels for the well(p) of the state, as seen in these passagesEveryone who feels himself capable of doing so is required to pen treatises, epic poems, manifestos, odes, or different compositions dealings with the beauty and grandeur of OneState (Zamyatin 3).Zamyatins objectiveness is seen in OneStates picture show as an anti-utopia rather than dystopia, as he certifys likeliness that then-current political conditions may placate rapid technological advancement, albeit with deathly, dehumanizing repercussions. Dystopias and anti-utopias differ in that dystopias literally mean bad place, whereas anti-utopia means an before utopian place with a fatal flaw, and these inequalitys are seen in the two incompatible settings (Dystopia).Zamyatins technologically advanced depiction of OneState alludes to the industrial revolution, which itself gave pilfer to communism with the rise of proletarians. (Engels) With the industrial revolutions emphasis on productivity, globe in We are literally dehumanised and used as machines for the productivity of the state in tramp to fulfill this need. They are described as, non men but some charitable of tractors in human form (Zamyatin 182).Oppositely, Anthem occurs in a dystopian, dark, adroitly impede future where technologies have been abandoned. This primitivism is exercised by hazards of inequality and prejudices associated with the movement of any form of intellectual-superiority, as stated hereIt was not that the information was too hard for us. It was that the learning was too easy It is not in effect(p) to be different from our sidekicks, but it is loathsomeness to be superior to them (Rand 23).Rejection of intellect is wry as it reverses what is perceived to be good in effected norms, and serves to reinforce the dysfunctional nature of a collective railroad tie brought to its primitive.In the works settings, the application of technological maturation and intellect define how the feel of self is deprived. disdain contrasting dissimilarities in the technological setting of the works, both are due to clubs sham perceptions of what is good, and both dehumanize people into stringently altruistic beings. Wes rationalization of labor and high value on utile citizens eliminates D-503s freedom to think humanly, dehumanizing him into mere force of productivity OneStates mathematician. Anthems oppression of thought eliminates Prometheus identity as an individual someone with individual intellect, superiorities, and proclivitys. Both works represented altruism as self-sacrifice and a neediness of freedom and identity.Anthem and Wes settings differences are also influenced by the authors personal views. Zamyatin believes that the state does not suffer from selflessness. In circumstance, the industrialization of human intellect leads into significant progress, but the individuals who constitute for the state are the ones that suffer. Conversely, Rands idealism is expressed in her conveyance of title altruism as fatal to both the state and its people.Although OneState encourages intellect and talent, mental imagery is prohibited, similar to Anthems prohibition of renewing. imagerys absence in OneState establishes a satirical paradox, which Zamyatin uses to criticize its elimination. Conventionally, sight and creativity is necessary in the arts, but the opposite is true in OneState, as express by D-503Why is the dance beauteous? Answer because it is non-free movement, because all the fundamental significance of the dance lies precisely in its esthetic subjection, its ideal nonfreedom (Zamyatin 6).Imagination and innovation are incompatible with a c ollective society because they are rigorously individual. Chopins compositions are unique to his own musical imagination, as Beethovens are to his own. Ones own sense of imagination or innovation cannot be overlap with anothers and therefore essential be eliminated, as stated in this excerpt from Anthem in which Prometheus invention is waneedWhat is not thought by all men cannot be true What is not done collectively cannot be good Many men in the Homes of the Scholars have had strange new ideas in the late(prenominal) but when the majority of their blood brother Scholars voted against them, they abandoned their ideas, as all men mustiness (Rand 73).Like Zamyatin, Rand censures collective society by constructing a case so absurdly opposing what humans typically define as good in this case, innovation.Like the arts, rigidity is also found in numerical names, which exist in both societies to ensure that individuals cannot be good differentiated from each other. For example, D- 503 would not be easily differentiated with another individual with a name D-504. Words connoting collectivity, such as Equality, and Union are selected for names with intentions of emphasizing the residents non-identities as an insignificant part of a collective society. Numbers are also meaningless and have no ties with emotions that may suggest any extraordinaryity, which opposes conventional belief that names are a part of mans own identity, and for that matter, his existence.Similarly, dealing with speech, security review of words exists in Anthem. Words connoting individualism, such as ego and I are removed from their society to make thinking as an individual impossible. However, Prometheus ultimate discovery of these obscure words is used to show how ego is too human to be suppressed that censorship would not workThe word which can never die on this earth, for it is the inwardness of it and the meaning of glory. The sacred word EGO (Rand 105).Imagination and innovation, wh ich are incompatible with these societies, are suppressed in both We and Anthem through indoctrination. Imagination, which is equated to a soul, is deemed an illness in OneState, and Prometheus selfish desire to innovate in Anthem is considered a sin. Absoluteness is equated to gladness in OneState, and D-503 last rejects this idea. Equality is equated to happiness in Anthem, and Prometheus similarly rejects this idea when he disobeys the Councils schedules to pursue his own intellectual ventures. Imagination and innovation are shown to be instinctive, becoming catalysts for skirmish in both works. This again places emphasis on how much innate human behavior must be suppressed for collective societies to function, and how evening so, this suppression is not sustainable.Although intellect is cogitate to imagination, there is a significant difference between the two. While mathematical intellect is absolute and clearly defined, imagination lacks the absoluteness that is crucial for OneState to function. This absoluteness is reflected in the same description of the non-free dance. Both settings are strictly planned to ensure the predictability that is necessary for every member of society to be as one. OneStates residents, for example, begin and end their long time at the same time, march in complete unison each day, interest the plans set for them by the Table of Hours, similar to how Anthems residents also stick schedules set by the Councils.The system of take care living is, however, flawed, shown when MEPHI revolutions occur in OneState. authoritative predictability conflicts with the unpredictability and spontaneity that are mark of humans. When the march during the typically unanimous reelection of the supporter is disturbed, chaos occurs in OneState. Slight discrepancies are amplified in an environment ill desirable for impulsiveness. The guardians exist to reinforce regimentation, but they cannot with ease. This chaos shows how individuali sm cannot exist in a collective state, as collectivism necessitates everythings sameness, scorn how different people very are. The revolution was accompanied by I-330s quote The number of revolutions is infinite, which reinforces the instability of such totalitarian states (Zamyatin 168).Because predictability and togetherness is needed in both societies, the rationing of sex and the elimination of complete is necessitated. Use of in-vitro-fertilization in both societies removes the existence of families. In Anthem, for example, preference is a transgression, and everybody is referred to as brothers. Here, the word brother does not concern familial family, rather equality, since the word brother implies likeness to one another.As with other things, sex is also rationed and make technical in We with the use of ping tickets. The presence of multiple sex partners in We serves to make intercourse impersonal and non-exclusive. A monogamous versed relationship is likely to cause fill in, which cannot exist in these societies where everyone belongs to each other because delight in can only occur between two selves. The absence of sex in Anthems society is significant, as despite its absence, libido ashes extant. Gender segregation is employed to control this, although this is found to be unsuccessful with Prometheus and atomic number 32s relationship, which showed how such a system would be unsustainable.This removal of love and sex activity from society contradicts with the conventional idea of happiness. hymeneals and family are arguably requisite for mental well-being. Like imagination and innovation, love is universal and found in every culture genetically predisposed and irremovable from human instinct. Zamyatin and Rand illustrate how collective, loveless societies cannot exist, as love and sexuality are innately human and cannot be eliminated.Like imagination and innovation, the rejection of love in these societies contains an element of absurdi ty, which leads the readers into believing that collective society is absurd. Additionally, the excessive suppression of human character, which causes these societies to become unsustainable, also shows that collectivism has too many flaws to work correctly.FUTILITY OF PROGRESS AND symbolization OF TIMEEnlightenment philosopher Rousseau once said, Slaves mislay everything in their chains, even the desire of escaping from them (Rousseau). Philosophers do not invent ideas, simply stating observations of human nature. It is thus significant to see how despite the centurial time gap between Zamyatin, Rand, and Rousseau, this very same philosophy is mirrored in their works, indicating a universal perspective on human nature.The citizens are able to see clearly yesteryear the green sea mole surrounding OneState, where nature has taken control. Despite the peoples awareness of the outside world, they remain in OneState. Similarly, the Dark timberland in Anthem represents a time barrie r back to the Unmentionable clock times, in which residents can easily go agone it, but do not pick to do so, as apparent in this passageWe were in the Uncharted Forest. We had not thought of coming here, but our legs had carried our wisdom, and our legs had brought us to the Uncharted Forest against our will (Rand 75).Both works anticipate that censorship and superior popular indoctrination would cause society to become so unfamiliar with their old, free pasts, that they will not desire their pasts even if they see it. The unclouded and content nature of the citizens mirror how the general Soviet populace during the time was, in actuality, supporting socialism.These symbolic time barriers abide irony in the plots. D-503s association with I-330 and rejection of OneState leads him out past the green wall into the MEPHI who themselves represent naturalness in their nudity. The woods in We represents a more rude(a) past, and D-503s desire to move into the woodwind instrument suggests that a without a soul, technological advancement would be futile and would all finally go to waste.The stated passage from Anthem supports the idea that despite indoctrination, wisdom would ultimately result in redeeming to the past. The plant in Anthem is the opposite of Wes. The shanty where Prometheus and atomic number 32 eventually settle in signifies a more technologically advanced past and forgotten knowledge. Their ultimate carry to the technologically superior forest connotes that a collective society such as that found in Anthem would cause progress represented by engineering science to be backwards.The forests appropriateness as a symbol of the past is due to its rule relation with nature, which contrasts artificiality. These future dystopias are envisioned as socially unnatural and simulated, so it is apt for nature to signify what is natural and normal. Supported by symbolic apposition of forests and artificial society, Anthem and We anticipates an ultimate return to normal, non-collective society, foreshadowed by the protagonists escapes from the collective societies in the works.Time alludes to human rediscovery. While We is placed in a setting over a millennium ahead of time, Anthem is likely to have occurred earlier, since it is placed only after typical social systems are rejected in favor of collectivism. Historically, new scotch philosophies tend to gain rosiness popularity in only two to three centuries. contemporary capitalism, for example, gained momentum in the mid-eighteenth century and reached its peak popularity in the twentieth century (Peterson). Since Anthems society represents the peak of collectivism, its setting is unlikely to have been placed past the twenty-second century.The time settings relates to the social settings of the works. Anthems earlier society is shown to be generally content with the collective nature of their lives, because the state hasnt lived for long sufficiency and the peoples repr essed egos have yet to reappear. Wes later society is shown to have had more time to become discontented, thus the existence of the MEPHI. Anthems plot and protagonist mark the arising of revolution, whereas Wes plot and protagonist is caught up in the middle of revolution. This trend establishes the fact that in time, the soul naturally becomes reestablished. decomposition reaction OF ALTRUISTIC ATTITUDESThis very reestablishment of soul occurs in both We and Anthem as the works plot progresses. In fact, plot development in the works primarily concern the protagonists discovery of past ideas of freedom, individualism, love, and a subsequent rejection of societal collectivity in this enlightenment and realization of the incompatibilities of their egotistic desires with the constraints of their collective societies.We is written as a serial publication of D-503s journal entries, originally think to spread OneStates philosophies in their conquests of space exploration with the buil ding of the INTEGRAL. D-503s personal pride as a mathematician for OneState is ironical considering his eventual betrayal of the state. Zamyatin employs this irony as means of describing how even the most true-blue followers of the state would eventually reject its ideas once enlightened. Anthem is similarly written victimisation first-person annals to attain personal insight into the development of their souls. However, the nature of the conflict differs greatly, which implicates the protagonists societal roles, and the works settings.Both protagonists in We and Anthem reject their communities because of a desire to be something they cannot be in their societies. These desires are shown to grow coinciding with their discovery of their souls or egos. In We, D-503s infatuation with I-330 and consequent links to the MEMPHI leads him into abandoning his loyalty to OneState. As I-330s reintroduces him to love and life outside OneState, he is essentially re-humanized as he develops a n imagination and finds life to have more purpose than serving OneState. In Anthem, Prometheus initial gloominess with his role as a way sweeper conflicts with his need to contribute to society.However, Gaeas relationship only re-humanizes Prometheus partly. Instead, he is mainly reawakened through discovery of his sense of innovation. The plots are structured this way because for conflict to occur there must be an incompatibility between the protagonists and their societies. Both societies cannot accommodate humans with souls, and the souls are developed using love, imagination, and innovation. These motifs are used in the works for enlightenment, because they are pre paramount parts of normal society and are considered key parts of the laissez-faire(a) soul. They are shown to be constitutive(a) as they develop naturally with fundamental interaction between chief characters.Women are used as catalysts for enlightenment in both works due the exclusively single nature of intimate relationships. Names are also used symbolically in the female catalysts. Liberty and I announce freedom and identity, respectively. Both Gaea and I-330 consume individual traits and encourage individualism in the protagonists part. Gaea, however, is more passive than I-330, who must give more effort to reestablish D-503s much-dormant soul, compared to Prometheus already apparent desire for self-worth. This boost of individualistic values is apparent in dialogue from both works, as such in anthem Your eyes, Gaea said, are not like the eyes of any among men (Rand 44), The statement acknowledges Prometheus difference from his brothers and marks the beginning of their relationship.OneState does not prohibit sexual relationship. In fact, it presets them to exist, acknowledging sexual instincts inevitability. However, these relationships are kept strictly sexual. D-503s relationship with O-90 is non-romantic, as was his with I-330 initially. D-503 and O-90 only acknowledge each other as sexual products, and any singularity is disregarded with the presence of multiple sex partners.R-13 is used as an obstruction of exclusivity, which O-90 sees that D-503s functions can be substituted with R-13s, therefore disregarding any singularity. I-330s relationship with D-503 is different in that her character is described as wild and malcontent distinctly different from other OneState residents and of a strong ego. I-330 acknowledges herself as a singular being one that wants D-503 as more than just a sexual being and through her D-503s dormant soul is reestablished. It is implied that only with the acknowledgement of individuality can love occur, which further emphasizes the importance of individuality for happiness, which is normally associated with love.D-503 and I-330 are a get a line of contrasts. D-503 represents OneStates ideals altruistic, intelligent, and socially beneficial. Contrariwise, I-330 represents the antithesis. Her association with the MEPHI, and he r absurd nonconformist spirit of self-awareness, independence, and unrestraint expressed in her smoking and drinking, things deemed forbidden by OneState contradicts OneStates ideals. For this very reason, D-503 initially disdains her. However, as their relationship matures, D-503 does not change I-330s personality. Instead, the contrary occurs. This evinces that I-330s nature is more in line with human nature. She sees nothing in his nature that evokes a desire for self-reform, but he sees something in her that he comes to desire. Zamyatin shows that the dominant trait is the more human one, suggesting that the characters of individualism and independence are more human than selflessness and conformism.CONCLUSIONThe popularity of dystopian literature in the early twentieth century indicates a worldwide panic of totalitarian states, in which individual freedom is seized that even the freedom to be human is wooly-minded to the state. Without doubt, this panic is a sensible one. The societies depict in the dystopian novels, Anthem and We, where collectivity is rampant, and humans are without their souls and egos, are the quintessence of a repressive Hades.Whats striking is that parenthesis from slight dissimilarities of style, setting, and circumstance surrounding enlightenment, both works use similar narration and plot based on the reestablishment of the soul and ego through love, imagination, and innovation, as well as use of females as catalysts for enlightenment. For one, these similarities indicate universality on the authors perspectives concerning human nature and the inevitability of individualism. Secondly, they raise the question of whether or not We may have, in fact, influenced Anthem, a possibility that warrants further investigation.As said, nothing is entirely black and white. By nature, humans are double-faceted. They are both individualistic and altruistic, and neither trait can be suppressed. D-503s patriotism and nationalism does dehuma nize him, but his lack of individualism does. Prometheus innovation is based on both the altruistic desire to contribute to his society, and the need for self-recognition. The extreme collectivism in these works leads to heavy(a) introspection of the other end of the spectrum. Here, collectivism has gone unbridled, but how about an individualistic nightmare, for a change? How about a world without We, but only an flagitious I cancerously devouring mans own existence?BIBLIOGRAPHYPRIMARY SOURCESRand, Ayn. Anthem. raw York First Plume Printing, 1999.Zamyatin, Yevgeny. We. Trans. Clarence Brown. New York Penguin Group, 1993. secondhand SOURCESAbout Objectivism. The Atlas Society. 11 treat 2008 <http//www.objectivistcenter.org/cth-31-1351-About_Objectivism.aspx>.Colton, Timothy J. Union of Soviet collectivised Republics. Microsoft pupil 2007 DVD . Redmond, WA Microsoft Corporation, 2006.Dystopia. 28 whitethorn 1998. Words at Random. 13 butt against 2008 <http//www.randomhous e.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19980528>.Engels, Frederick. The Communist Manifesto. October-November 1847. Project Gutenberg. 22 April 2007 <http//www.gutenberg.org/etext/61>.Kukushkina, Tatyana. The Twists and Turns of Yevgeny Zamyatins Life. The Brilliant plough (n.d.) 32-42.Messenger, Christian K. Ayn Rand. Microsoft Student 2007 DVD. Redmond, WA Microsoft Corporation, 2006.Peterson, Wallace C. Capitalism. Microsoft Student 2007 DVD. Redmond, WA Microsoft Corporation, 2006.Rousseau, Jean Jacques. Rousseau Social compress Book 1. Constitution Society. 11 marching 2008 <http//www.constitution.org/jjr/socon_01.htm>.