English
Ideology
Ayn Rand’s ‘Anthem’ is the story of an individual’s struggle against collectivism and against the idea that society has the right to direct each person’s life for the benefit of all. Thus, Anthem is Ayn Rand’s critique of the collectivist program that existed in Russia from where she escaped at the same age as the protagonist of ‘Anthem’, Equality 7-2521 (Rand). In the context of America, however, the focus of Rand and Vonnegut is in contrast. While Ayn Rand focuses on the positive power of individuality in America, Vonnegut’s ‘Harrison Bergeron’ is a political and social critique of America in the 1960s, where communism was rapidly making inroads. Further, Vonnegut targets the American political objective of egalitarianism with his assertion that the concept could be dangerous if taken too far in the literal sense (Vonnegut). Thus, Ayn Rand and Vonnegut are anti-communist and anti-egalitarian in equal measure, though their lens of viewing life in America differs.
Protagonists
The protagonist of Ayn Rand’s Anthem is Equality 7-2521, who is tall and well built. Similarly, Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron is also an appreciably well-built human being who epitomizes all that a human being is capable of. Both Equality 7-2521 and Harrison Bergeron were intelligent thinkers who wanted a choice in their future, which resulted in rebellion.
Plot
Both the stories belong to dystopian worlds set in the future, where the concept of equality has been taken to its literal extreme. In ‘Anthem’, equality is enforced by instilling handicaps in terms of the nature of jobs. In the world of Harrison Bergeron, equality is created by way of physical impediments to the greatness that man could achieve, whether by way of weights attached to the neck or by way of sounds pinging in the ears to dispel thoughts that could be subversive of the system. The locations of the two stories differ. While Harrison Bergeron is set in the United States of 2081, the location of ‘Anthem’ is indeterminate. The rebellion in both the settings differs by way of the dominant emotion shown. Harrison Bergeron is violent in his evocation of individuality, while Equality 7-2521’s moment of epiphany comes in a spell of knowledge about the Ego. The antagonists in both stories differ. The Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers, ties down Harrison Bergeron’s world while a World Council rules over the world of Equality 7-2521 and ensures equality and the absence of rebellious thoughts. The endings in the stories differ. While the Handicapper General kills Harrison Bergeron, Equality 7-2521 escapes the dystopian society to form his own world.
Treatment of Hope
Harrison Bergeron is, in many ways, the darker tale of the two. Harrison discovers himself only for a brief moment before the establishment snuffs his life out of him. In contrast, Equality 7-2521 manages to escape the dystopian society. While Ayn Rand does not indicate how Equality 7-2521 could possibly survive on his own, the indication is that a human being, with his ego and intelligence, would be able to survive the raw forces of nature. In Vonnegut’s world, the viewers of the television episode, the common citizens burdened by the yoke of equality, continue to live their uncommonly common lives after the brief rebellion by Harrison Bergeron. The fact that Harrison’s end evokes only a fleeting moment of sadness to the couple watching the television depicts the overarching control of the dystopian world on its citizens. In contrast, Equality 7-2521’s foray outside the system reflects the victory of thought and courage against the dystopian world.
Works Cited
Rand, Ayn. Anthem. New York: Dutton, 1995. Print.
Vonnegut, Jr. “Harrison Bergeron.” Welcome to the Monkey House. New York: Dell, 1968. 7-14. Print.
