Utopia vs. Dystopia

Can you have one without the other?

Can you? Really?Tammy Gillmore Pre-AP English 10 Thematic Unit Spring 2009

What are the differences between… Utopia Dystopia

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia

In Stony Creek, CT, where her husband was working in summer stock productions and where she wrote Anthem (1937).

One of a series of photos taken in 1957 by Phyllis Cerf for the dust jacket of Atlas Shrugged.

Individualism Do not make the mistake of the ignorant who

think that an individualist is a man who says: “I’ll do as I please at everybody else’s expense.” An individualist is a man who recognizes the inalienable individual rights of man—his own and those of others.

An individualist is a man who says: “I will not run anyone’s life—nor let anyone run mine. I will not rule nor be ruled. I will not be a master nor a slave. I will not sacrifice myself to anyone—nor sacrifice anyone to myself.”

“Textbook of Americanism,” The Ayn Rand Column, 84.

Individualism Individualism regards man—every man—as an

independent, sovereign entity who possesses an inalienable right to his own life, a right derived from his nature as a rational being. Individualism holds that a civilized society, or any form of association, cooperation or peaceful coexistence among men, can be achieved only on the basis of the recognition of individual rights—and that a group, as such, has no rights other than the individual rights of its members.

“Racism,” The Virtue of Selfishness, 129.

Objectivism ~ “philosophy for living on earth”

Objectivism ~ “philosophy for living on earth”

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Anthem (1938) tells the story of one man’s rebellion against a totalitarian society.

When the novel’s hero, Equality 7-2521, commits the unpardonable crime—independent thought—he sets himself in conflict with the moral strictures of his world—a world in which all expressions of individualism have been suppressed, where the very word “I” has been banished from the language—a world of joyless, selfless men permitted to exist only for the sake of serving the group.

Written in 1937, as “a kind of a rest” from work on her novel The Fountainhead, Anthem anticipates some of that novel’s themes. Anthem’s theme is meaning and glory of man’s ego. Its style is unique among Ayn Rand’s works in that it is written in the form of a prose poem—an anthem to the ego.

Initially refused publication in America (one publisher rejected it on the grounds that “the author does not understand socialism”), Anthem was first published in England. An American edition appeared in 1946 and the novel remains in print to this day, widely used in classrooms across the U.S.

Anthem—Topics Select ONE of the following three topics:

Equality 7-2521 states that it is very unusual for men to reach the age of 45 (Chapter 1). Consistent with the story and its meaning, offer several possible explanations as to why life expectancy is so short in his society.

Anthem is a heroic and inspiring story about the triumph of the individual’s independent spirit. Even though, at the end of the novel, Equality is greatly outnumbered, and modern society lies in ruins, it is a story of liberation and hope—not despair. Discuss.

In a single, unified essay, explain the meaning and wider significance of each of the following quotes in the story:

“The glass box in our arms is like a living heart that gives us strength. We have lied to ourselves. We have not built this box for the good of our brothers” (Chapter 7).

“I wished to know the meaning of things. I am the meaning” (Chapter 11).

“I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them” (Chapter 11).

Anthem—Judging Essays will be judged on both style and content.

Judges will look for writing that is clear, articulate and logically organized. Winning essays must demonstrate an outstanding grasp of the philosophic meaning of Anthem.

Essay submissions are evaluated in a fair and unbiased multi-round judging process. To ensure the anonymity of our participants, essays are graded without cover sheets. Winners’ names remain unknown to judges until after the essays have been ranked and the contest results finalized. ARI checks essays with Ithenticate plagiarism detection software.

Anthem—Rules Essay must be no fewer than 600 and

no more than 1,200 words in length and double-spaced.

One entry per student, please.

Deadline Submit online.

Eligibility: 8th, 9th and 10th Graders

Entry Deadline: March 20, 2011

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ FIRST PRIZE:  $2,000

5 SECOND PRIZES:  $500 10 THIRD PRIZES:  $200 45 FINALISTS:  $50 175 SEMIFINALISTS:  $30