Freedom As Prometheus example essay topic
483 words
Prometheus says that "to be free, a man must be free of his brothers". By reference to the story, explain what Prometheus means by freedom and why he values it. In what significant ways is freedom non-existent in the society from which he escapes - and what are the consequences of that lack of freedom? In Ayn Rand's Anthem, Prometheus says that "to be free, a man must be free of his brothers". Freedom is a concept totally forbidden in the society in Anthem. Prometheus is given consequences for acting free. The society sees anything different as being a transgression. Maybe, since Prometheus was taller than normal, He thought of things differently. What does Prometheus mean by the word "freedom?" He means being an individual, and relying on oneself to think and do. He sees freedom as a great thing but knows it is a transgression. He asks himself and wonders why, even though it is a transgression to think by ones self.
Freedom as Prometheus sees it, is like when he creates his invention by himself, or when he talks to the "Golden One" and they exchange names for eachother. When he runs away to the unchartered forest he feels happy and doesn't know what to do when he wakes up that first day. In Ayn Rand's Anthem freedom is non existent. People's actions must involve the society. People are not allowed to think for themselves. To act on your own would be a great transgression.
Equality, secretly, works on his invention, knowing, of course, that if caught he and his invention would be destroyed. Freedom in this society is, although forbidden, is like being an individual. This is what Prometheus likes about the "Golden One", the fact that she is like an individual. The lack of freedom in this society causes Prometheus to do what he does. It gives Prometheus problems, for example, throughout his life he was treated differently b / c he was tall. In this society being tall was a transgression b / c it was different and they didn't like that.
The consequences of being different were great. He is punished for working on his invention, not b / c it was a bad idea, but b / c the members of the Council of Scholars thought that he had "dared... to think that his mind held greater wisdom than the minds of his brothers". People of this society thought that "what is not though by all men cannot be true". And "what is done collectively cannot be good". In the end, freedom is discovered by Prometheus and Gaea when they find the house, and he starts to talk about what he will do for the rest of his life..
