A Comparison of The Grapes of Wrath and Anthem Essay -- comparison com

Comparing The Grapes of Wrath and Anthem Two great intellectuals of the early twentieth century wrote works of illustration that have become classics they espoused polar-opposite views, however, of how society best functions. Their battle between communalism, as pictured in John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath, and individualism, as portrayed in Ayn Rands Anthem, was played proscribed in their novels, and still continues to this day. Based on Ayn Rands password Anthem, Rand would definitely believe that there is a greater danger involved in communalism than in individualism. The book offers a vision of a distant retrograde future in which the candle is the newest invention individualism has been completely suppressed and one of the most commonly used words today, I, is completely unheard of. The book celebrates the heroism of an individual - the main character, Equality 7-2521 - in his fight to promote individual achievement. Once banished for his laissez-faire(a) beliefs, he and his girl, Liberty 5-3000, discover the wonders of human freedom and the word I. With his newfound gift, Equality 7-2521 pledges to return to the civilization and destroy the oppression of the collective spirit, and liberate manhood into a world in which each man leave behind be free to exist for his own sake. It was mainly written as a resolution to the widening acceptance of philosophies of totalitarian governments, but also to the belief of sacrificing individual liberties for the public good, ever-present during the Red Scare. In place of these ideas, Rand developed her theory of Objectivism, which celebrates reason, capitalism, and individuality. Rand expresses these beliefs passim the entirety of the book by showi... ... has to be both. Also, it is good to commit a little bit for the greater good, but you cant sacrifice as much as you would in communalism or as little as in individualism. For example, the sacrificing of civil liberties during the now-present War on Terrorism is becoming too great of a sacrifice also, in the case of Enron, they didnt sacrifice enough, and the result was devastating to many people. Ayn Rand and John Steinbeck, from the perspective of the very early twentieth century, have set forth in their novels opposing views that continue to be debated in the twenty-first century. Based on current events, it seems highly unlikely that the argument over Individualism and Collectivism will be resolved soon, if ever. Sources Rand, Ayn Anthem New York Signet 1961. Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York Penguin Books, 1978.