For the research paper, I have chosen the novel Anthem written by Ayn Rand as my primary text. Anthem was published in 1938 and serves as an outlet for Rand's unique Objectivist philosophy. One of my sources summarized objectivism by stating that it "focuses on self-interes and rising above one oppressors"(Colton Fordyce). Rand was born in communist Russia where her objectivist philosophy had reason to flourish. The novel heavily weighs on the issue of collectivism versus individualism.
Ayn Rand's novel features a dystopian society in which the members are unable to think as individuals. The people of this society don't question their way of life. There is one character, however, Equality 7-2521 who has always thought different from the others. The novel acts as his journal, as if he is writing about his own experiences after the fact. I'll go into more detail with the summary in my essay. I'll bring in aspects of Freudian criticism as well as a bit of Marxism. I'll also illustrate how Ayn Rand uses her literary canon to express her objectivist philosophy. I have found four sources so far and I'm still looking.
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