Blog 4

1.) In a well-organized paragraph, describe the society in which Anthem is set. Some areas to consider are the political structure, degree of technology, social relationships, quality of life, and education. Would you want to live in this society? Explain why or why not.

The society in Anthem is an extremely different type of society then we are used to now. First, there is no technology that is described in Anthem. There are machines that the workers use, but there are really no computers, cellphones, or other electronics. Secondly, the social relationships are greatly separated. There are different social relationships for every job, and you aren’t allowed to communicate with any other job type. Lastly, the quality of life and education aren’t ideal. The quality of life is basically to just get by. There is food, water, and sleeping places, and that’s really all. And the education is really bad. If you are a street sweeper, you don’t get the same education of a Scholar. This isn’t really fair, but neither is anything in Anthem.

2.) When does this novel take place—in the past, the present, or the future? How do you know? Please provide specific clues from the text.

I feel that the novel takes place in the future. For some reason, I feel that the tunnel Equality finds is something created by our generation. Plus, Anthem is a good example of how society could become.

3.) What does Equality discover in this Chapter III? How important is this discovery? Describe 4–5 ways in which it would help society, and make life easier or more enjoyable.

Equality finds light. It is an extremely important discovery because it is the first time he has experienced something like this. It would help society to see better, some of the workers stay out latter, buildings would be lit, and it would be less of a fire risk using lights instead of burning candles.

6.) What is Equality experiencing for the first time in Chapter VIII, and what does he feel as a result? Also, explain why Equality laughs when he remembers that he is “the Damned.”

Equality is experiencing freedom. He has always be used to someone telling him what to do. And now that he is the only one, all along in the forest, he feels free. He can sleep in, eat what and when he wants, and do whatever he pleases. He laughs when he remembers he is “the Damned” because this was the first time this has happened to him or the society, and he feels glad to have gotten away, in my opinion.