Misjudgments and Misinterpretations Destinee Crismon Branson High School #3 Theses 10th Miss Brown

Thesis Three: In the final chapter of Anthem Prometheus writes that he now understands why the best in me had been my sins and my transgressions; and why I had never felt guilt for my sins. What has Prometheus come to understand about himself? Why does his society regard the best in him as sinful? Sin can be characterized as something that distinctively sets oneself apart from fellow beings. In Ayn Rands utopian society it suggests otherwise and that sin is an action because guilt is caused from the understanding of a sin and even Prometheus (main character in Anthem) states, I had never felt guilt for my sins, because his sins were not an action. Prometheus was tall, intelligent, and handsome. These were sins because in the society where he resided, everyone was forced to be the same. Prometheus special qualities made him stand out in a crowd compared to his societys passive and average nature. In order for the council to maintain order and keep the emotions of envy and pride out of reach, the council had to teach that these differences were a sin. The definition of envy is a painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage. (Websters Dictionary) So envy would influence one sin to another, the sin of preference. The sin of preference is, the act, fact or principle of giving advantages to some over others. (Websters Dictionary) The sin of preference could be caused by multiple emotions in Prometheus society, the emotion of envy, desire, pride, contempt, longing, and many others. The council then makes It illegal to have emotion without purpose or cause, thus solving the causes of the sin of preference.

Being guilty is the emotion of shame and understanding that what the individual has done is morally inexcusable. Prometheus sins were not of an action, but rather a fact. Prometheus couldnt change who he was so the council of elders accused him of being sinful, even when sin is an action or thought and not of fleshly characteristics. Prometheus accepted himself as a human being that was slightly different and so was considered sinful. He also strived to be like the average less sinful beings in his society due to his obligation to be guilty because he felt everyone must object to thinking the same, eating the same, and etcetera. Nothing the council members said to be sinful was sinful. Simply because utopian societies include equality and this enforces altruistic lifestyles so others are not higher than another citizen. His natural advantages were not of a sin but of a misconception in that society due to the true equality being reached for. The council was also very misguided on their own reality, making everyone seem that they were doing wrong when in fact the ones in the wrong were the council members themselves for false accusations. The power this government had over its people could make one wonder why were these people so manipulating and controlling and how these individuals that lived this way didnt question? From their time at birth the citizens are separated from their parents and sent into the Home of the Students where they got basic education and taught to live as the word WE. Compared to this societys government and Americas government truly there are only a few differences. The original idea of collectivism is a corporation of money held together and basically can be taken out of when needed to use on important decision and etcetera. The first one to disagree with this type of society/government was the biggest rebel known to American history, and that was George Washington. His original idea was to have small businesses that fit together like a puzzle that could be replaced if one failed. A vicious cycle of the desire to gain

true equality led to what is similarly as being a democrat and this was caused by mans most despised characteristic, selfishness. We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible, and forever. Anthem (19) with Prometheus sinful nature, the council accusing him of this sin would have to not only affect Prometheus but also the entire society. In order to maintain symmetry in this utopian society the government had to associate all sinful beings as beings of themselves. Hence, proving that a utopian society is and always will be impossible to maintain. Being true and extreme altruists everyone is one. Meaning that an individual that sins or is constantly sinning, like Prometheus, makes everyone else sin due to the fact that they are one person or consider their community as only one force. How did the council make these absolute nearly impossible rules bearable? From one emotion, and that was fear. Through fear and lack of knowledge the council was able to enforce these ambiguous laws. Lack of knowledge was surprisingly the harder objective through the average education of only the basics needed to survive and carry out daily tasks. Fear is of the unknown which though creating even more fear of the government. Fear ran this society, and its core was based on emotion, even when emotions were only legal with reason. ` In and throughout this society one can find double standards, lies, and misconceptions.

Proving that this equal and utopian society is not all what it seems. Prometheus, being the wiser made man who they are. Prometheus redefined himself and his society by escaping and facing his fears. Anthem examines the impossibility of a utopian society. It also exemplifies the inequality found in its corrupted ways leaving only the bitter taste in the mouth from ever saying why not? True irony is having to ask the government to fix the problems it creates.

Envy Definition and more from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Dictionary and Thesaurus Merriam-Webster Online. Merriam-Webster Incorporation, 2011. Web. 02 Oct. 2011. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary.envy.>

Preference Definition and more from the Free Merriam- Webster Dictionary. dictionary and Thesaurus Merriam-Webster Online. Merriam-Webster Incorporation, 2011. Web. 02 Oct. 2011. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preference?show=0>

Rand, Ayn. Anthem. New York, NY : Dutton, 2005. Print.