Anthem and Farenheit 451 Essay Example for Free

Anthem and Farenheit 451 Essay Fahrenheit 451 and Anthem Comparison Essay When a person is entrapped within a society that dictates their behaviour, thoughts, and opinions they are unable to grasp the realization of their societies corrupt nature. However, there is always the odd individual who willing and capable of uncovering the truth of their society. In the novels Anthem by Ayn Rand, and Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury the main characters of the novels were able to find truth by, forming friendships that are banned by their societies, rebelling against the grain of society to gain knowledge or form ideas, and finding flaws within their societies. Thus proving that, when one seeks truth within the confines of a controlling society it leads to self-discovery because they find the courage to escape. When one seeks truth within the confines of a controlling society by forming friendships that are banned it leads to self-discovery, because they find the courage to escape. For instance, Montag a character form the novel Fahrenheit 451. In the society that he lived in, any types of reading material was considered forbidden. Those who took it upon themselves to embrace the reading material were considered to be just as harmful as the material itself, because it lead people to believe â€Å"all the false promises, all the second-hand notions and time worn philosophies† that people had (Bradbury, 76). However, Montag intentially befriended an elderly man named Faber, who in his younger days, before the revolution, was an English professor. Montag know that Faber was knowledgeable in literature, but he became his friend regardless of this fact because he was curious of the forbidden treasures that his society kept from him. On the other hand Faber was aware of the glorious preachings, concepts, and ideas that literature held, and he was also aware of the error his society was making when it decided to eliminate reading material during its transformation. Although he was conscious of the valuable information that would be lost Faber did not speak out or fight against this decision, in turn he lost one of the most valuable things in his life: â€Å"I’m one of the innocents who could have spoken up and out when no would listen to the ‘guilty,’ but I did not speak and thus became guilty myself†¦ Now it’s too late† (Bradbury, 82). Faber’s misfortune friendship and his non-existent initiative to fight for literature inspired Montag to discover his true self, and his own beliefs that lead him to flee form his society in order to end up regretting the fact that he did not protest for his right to knowledge. Thus showing that by Montag forming a friendship that was not excepted by his society he found the courage to escape. A second example of one finding enough courage to escape a controlling society, because of a banned friendship is Equality 7-2521 of the novel Anthem. In the society in which Equality 7-2521 lives feelings and emotions that one may have towards another are forbidden, because it makes that individual different and unique from others within a society where everyone is to be considered equal. Although this is a main law Equality finds himself being drawn to a young girl by the name of Liberty 7-2000. With his new found attraction Equality 7-2521 reaches out to the girl in hopes of grasping a relationship, and this is exactly what he achieves. The relationship between Equaulity 7-2521 and Liberty 7-2000 helped him discover his true self. It made him realize that he was able to have love for someone else and that there was nothing wrong or improper about the feelings that he was experiencing and that this was not curse but an advantage, one that have him an individual. Equality’s self discovery, gave him the gallantry to escape form his society, because it made him recognize how corrupt and controlling his society was and it also made him realize that the only way he would ever truly be happy is if he were free. Both characters with in the novels Anthem, and Fahrenheit 451 discovered themselves by forming friendships that were not excepted in their society, an din both cases they gained enough courage to escape. Montag’s friendship with Faber inspired Montag to escape and realize his true self only because he was afraid to become what Faber was; a coward, not willing to fight for his beliefs. In contrast, the friendship that Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 7-2000 shared inspired Equality to discover his self, and escape, because he was different and enjoyed being unique from the rest of his society. This shows that although both characters were inspired by friendships, the reasons for their actions, and their self-discovery were different. Thus proving that, when one seeks truth within the confines of a controlling society it leads to self-discovery, because they find the courage to escape. A second factor that must be accounted for is the fact that when one seeks truth within the confines of a controlling by rebelling against the grain of society to form ideas or gain knowledge it leads to self revelation and it gives them the courage to escape. A good example of this is Equality 7-2521. In the novel Anthem Equality seeks and finds truth in his society by discovering a source of energy. The process of Equality’s discovery was very long and strenuous and it consisted of disobeying the rules that were set, on many given nights in order to sneak away and work in his secretive tunnel on his invention. Because of what his society preached, he instilled in his thoughts that he was, â€Å"born with a curse† (Rand, 13). Equality 7-2521 believed this because he was curious about the nature of things and broke rules to explore the world in which he lived. However, when he discovered that he was able to produce a light from a source other than a candle his thoughts and opinions towards himself and his society changed. His society did not want to recognize or accept the new energy that he discovered. The society’s ignorant towards Equality 7-2521’s discovery, that could have changed the way that the society lived and worked angered him. In result it made him discover that he was a unique individual that had thoughts that were far more indepth and surpassed the thoughts of others he was surrounded by. Equality 7-2521’s search to gain knowledge helped him build the strength to escape the controlling society that he lived in because he realized that it and the individuals that it contained were just holding him back form discovering his true self and environment further. Equality 7-2521 sought truth within his society by rebelling against it and forming a new idea and that gave him the strength to escape. In addition, Montag from the novel Fahrenheit 451 was also in search of truth and did so by rebelling against his society and gaining knowledge that resulted in courage to brake free. In the society of this novel people were restrained form reading literature, and to ensure that this law was not broken. It was the job of firefighters to burn and destroy all reading materials. Montag was a perfect example of a firefighter he ignighted books to ensure that the evil teachings that they held would never by absorbed by people of his society, until his curiosity overtook him: â€Å"there must be something in books, things we can’t imagine,†¦ there must be something there† (Bradbury, 51). This interest Montag had in hat his society withheld from it’s people soon overwhelmed him and he found himself rebelling by secretly recovering and protecting book form homes that were being destroyed because of the literature that they contained; â€Å"Montag felt the hidden book pound like a heart against his chest’’ (Bradbury, 39). Not only did Montag rebel by stealing books, but he embraced the knowledge inside. The wisdom that he acquired f rom these sources of knowledge lead him to self-discovery, because he realized the corrupt nature of his society. His society was so corrupt that he no longer wanted to take part and inhibit people form opening and expanding their minds. Montag’s self discovery is evident when â€Å"suddenly the odor of kerosene made him vomit,† although it was once such a great smell that only a true firefighter could love, and he could no longer fulfill his job as a firefighter and be happy (Bradbury, 49). Montag’s new found knowledge gave him the courage to escape because he recognized that if he stayed and continued to be controlled by his society that he would never be able to spread the knowledge and wisdom that he had gained. Both Equality 7-2521 and Montag rebelled within their society’s and in result formed ideas or captured some form of wisdom. Furthermore, both discovered themselves and recognized from their discovery that they needed to break free form their society in order to have freedom and the will to share their advanced knowledge and ideas. Montag and Equality 7-2521 both made discoveries that could have and would have changed the way their society’s functioned and thought. Although, what Montag realized had been recognized by individuals in his society before in contrast to Equality’s newly discovered light source that was unknown to his society. Therefore proving that when one seeks truth within the confines of a controlling society, it leads to self-discovery, because it gives them the courage to escape. The last factor that must be accounted for is the fact that when one presues truth within the confines of a manipulating society by finding flaws within, it leads to self-discovery, because they find the courage to escape. An example of this is Equality 7-2521. The society that he lived in is very narrow minded and believes that conformity is essential in order for all to be content. Their Motto: â€Å"We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, one, indivisible and forever,† is the basis of their ethics, and suppresses them form leading a typical lifestyle. No one within the society of the novel Anthem was permitted to have thoughts, pinions, or ideas of their own. Equality 7-2521 was silenced by the conformity that his society had. Finally he came to the realization that his society’s flaw was depriving him and others of their individuality. This realization gave Equality 7-2521 a better understanding of himself. Him recognizing his society’s flaw gave him the bravery to escape, because he realized that his society would never learn from it mistakes and frailties, and that he needed to take action in order to provide a better and more fulfilling life for himself and others. Therefore, Equality 7-2521 investigation for truth within his society led him to the realization of flaws that it contained, and gave him the courage to escape. In comparison, in the novel Fahrenheit 451 Montag uncovers imperfections within his society, that directed him to discover himself, because it gave him the courage to retreat. The society that Montag lives in confines the population by restraining them from any sort of reading material, in fear that the material will cause people to become unhappy, depressed, or angry, with the information that it consists of: â€Å"We stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought†¦ Don’t let the torrent of melancholy and drear philosophy drown our world† (Bradbury, 62). This quotation proves that this society believes that it is truly making people happy by holding back, and not allowing them to have opinions and thoughts of their own, basically controlling them. Not only does the society of the novel control people by making it known that they can not enjoy the pleasure, and benefits of reading, but they also control them with parlor walls, which are giant televisions that take up an entire living room wall. These walls â€Å"tell you what to think and blasts it in. It must be right. It seems so right. It rushes you on so quickly to its own conclusions your mind hasn’t time to protest† (Bradbury, 84). Montag realizes that this is his society’s major fault, and the reason that they are in desperate attempts of controlling everyone is because they believe and want everyone to be alike: â€Å"We must all be alike. Not everyone born free and equal, as the Constitutions says, but everyone made equal† (Bradbury, 58). Montag’s recognition of his society’s flaw leads him to self-discovery ecause he realizes exactly what his society is doing, and knows that it is not mentally healthy for any individual. Montag breaks free of his society by escaping, because he yearns for the knowledge and independency that his society refuses to provide and except. Both characters apprehend that their society’s have major obstacles that they have to overcome before it could ever become a well functioning and productive society with well functioning individuals. They also escape the societies, because they realize that nothing will ever be done about the blunders that they hold. Furthermore, both Montag, and Equality 7-2521 conceive when free from their past societies that they want to take action, and establish a society of their own. Both societies in the two novels Fahrenheit 451 and Anthem find ways of controlling the humanity that it with hold by molding them into what them want them to be. Thus and thus proving that when one seeks truth within the confines of a controlling society it leads to self-discovery, because they find the courage to escape.

Oneness in Walden, Nature and American Scholar Essay -- Thoreau Walden

Oneness in Walden, Nature and American Scholar  Ã‚   Some of the most prominent works which express a relationship between the individual and nature are undoubtedly Walden by Henry David Thoreau and the essays written by Ralph Waldo Emerson, specifically Nature and The American Scholar. In each of these works, an idea of wholeness, "oneness," with nature is expressed. Thoreau and Emerson both believe that man, in order to live a full, happy life, must live in harmony with nature. Both writers share several ideas as to how this oneness with nature can be achieved, and its significance. Emerson, in his Scholar address, states that nature is the most important influence on man and his thinking. Because in nature there is no beginning and no end, it is circular, or whole. In this, nature is like God, and like man's spirit, because there is no beginning or end to it, just a circular movement that creates a whole. We also see this idea of a whole in man. Emerson describes men as not many singular entities, but as parts of One Man. God created man as a whole, but with diverse aspects and abilities so that he may better function. As God created man as a whole, so he created nature as whole, and man as one with nature so that he may function better spiritually. In Walden, we are given Thoreau's perspective of One Man and nature. Thoreau believes he can better understand society as a whole by living outside of it, by living in the simplicity offered by nature. Thoreau and Emerson both believe that to transcend and achieve this oneness with nature, man must educate himself mentally and spiritually. While both writers recognize the importance of books and reading as a precursor to spiritual growth, they also both feel that one ca... ...nscendentalists, through their theoretical essays and literature, made a strong case for man to recognize the importance of nature in his life. Emerson felt that men who did not achieve this oneness with nature could not experience God or the Divine, and thus their lives were not fulfilling or spiritually whole. In Walden, Thoreau's main purpose is to celebrate life and to help men recognize the potential fullness and elation of life by making them aware of their own ability for spiritual growth. In order to achieve spiritual growth, or transcend, Thoreau feels that one must first evaluate his life and be willing to change it. Other artists of this time echoed Thoreau and Emerson's sentiments in their own creativity, their own journey to spiritual fulfillment, which only strengthened the premise that man and nature were one and that man without nature was not whole.

Bad Blood: The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment Essay

Between the years of 1932 and 1972, the United States Public Health Service conducted a study of untreated syphilis on black men in Macon County, Alabama. Although these men were not purposely infected with the disease, the USPH service did recruit physicians, white and black, to NOT treat those men already diagnosed. It was felt that syphilis in a white male created more neurological deficits whereas in a black male, more cardiovascular, these of course not able to be determined while either was among the living and was only to be determined after the subject died and an autopsy was completed. Doctors not giving them treatment as they deserved, certainly deemed them as subjects, similar to lab specimens versus patients that warranted compassionate, proper and timely medical care. Over 600 black men were chosen for this study with over half already carrying the diagnosis of syphilis and 200 who did not. These men were picked mainly because of their environment, education, and race, w ith race being the largest factor. Those chosen for the study were mainly sharecroppers, with a lack of education and medical care; they were told that they were being treated for ‘bad blood’, which could have meant any number of different maladies, including syphilis. â€Å"The true nature of the experiment had to be kept from the subjects to ensure their cooperation. The sharecroppers grossly disadvantaged lot in life made them easy to manipulate† (Jones) Ethical implications of this study are wide and varied. The many methods that were used throughout the course of the study, such as failure to completely inform the men of their disease, or that they had the option quit the study at any time, failure to provide proper medical treatment, or that their families as well would become affected by this disease, all under the guise of free medical treatment, meals, transportation and burial insurance. Providing inadequate dosing for their disease insured that the public would see treatment being given without disturbing the true goals of the study. The men were misled and failed to receive all of the information necessary to make any sort of informed consent, although they freely agreed to be part of the study thinking they were receiving all th ey would need. In the years that this experiment was being conducted, the black man did not, as a rule speak his mind or question what was being done. To do so, would surely mean jailing or death. With that being said the Public Health Service saw no problem to conducting this study. During the time of this study, it appears that the Public Health Service conducted this study with unwitting subjects under the umbrella of a government sanctioned medical investigation. No new drugs were tested, nor was there any effort to change the way syphilis was currently being treated. â€Å"What has become clear since the story was broken by Jean Heller in 1972 was that the Public Health Service was interested in using Macon County and its black inhabitants as a laboratory for studying the long term effects of untreated syphilis, not in treating this deadly disease.† (Reverby) The principal players were government physicians, with the subjects that were chosen, to be ones that were least able to speak fo r or to protect themselves. It appears that with the offer of free incentives, the government took full advantage of these men and was openly â€Å"performing unethical and immoral experiments on human subjects.† (Reverby) These actions show that our government at this time, held very low regard for black male or his family. Not even to consider those that came after, those that were infected by the already diagnosed men, those that were born with congenital syphilis of that union or others that may be been infected through other means. This experiment only proved to be â€Å"the longest non therapeutic experiment on human beings in medical history†. (Reverby) These men were never given the adequate treatment for their disease. When Penicillin was proved to be the drug of choice in 1947, it was never offered or given to those already suffering the effects of syphilis. This also proves that our government was not interested in these men, but only what would be found after their demise. With all of this being brought to light, how would any black man, of the day and even the present, completely trust our government or its officers? â€Å"In July 1972, under examination by the press, the PHS was not able to provide any formal protocol for the experiment, in fact, one never existed. While it was obvious to the American public as a whole, PHS officials maintained they did nothing wrong. By the time the story broke, over 100 of the infected men had died; others suffered from serious syphilis related conditions that may have contributed to their later deaths even though Penicillin, an effective treatment against syphilis, was in widespread use in 1946.† (Reverby) According to history, the physicians involved in the study never were held responsible and in fact felt betrayed by the government’s failure to defend the study they commissioned. It seemed that the physicians involved, counted on the fact that these poor, uneducated sharecroppers would not question the workings of the US government. This does not, however, answer the question of the Tuskegee Institute, a black university, and the black physic ians and nurses that also played a role in the experiment. The promise of recognition from the government may have obscured any ethical questions that arose. There was one nurse that was present throughout the study, Eunice Rivers. She provided unquestioned care and concern to the men in the study. â€Å"Her role was described as one of passive obedience: â€Å"we were taught that we never diagnosed, we never prescribed; we followed the doctor’s instructions!†. It is clear that the men in the experiment trusted her and that she sincerely cared about their well-being, but her unquestioning submission to authority eclipsed her moral judgment. Even after the experiment was exposed to public scrutiny, she genuinely felt nothing ethical had been amiss.† (Reverby) At the end of this study, the government had no proof of the difference in a disease course between the white male versus the black male. As reported by Vanessa Northington Gamble, a physician and medical historian that chaired the presidential committee on the legacy of Tuskegee that secured an apology from the government;† In the 30 years since the newspap er story broke, the syphilis study has become a powerful metaphor, symbolizing racism in medicine, misconduct in human research, the arrogance of physicians and the government abuse of black people. Efforts to improve the health status of African Americans have frequently come up against the legacy of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. Many African Americans point to the study as a reason why they won’t participate in clinical trials, donate organs and more recently in the case of postal workers at the Brentwood post office in Washington, DC, are wary of being vaccinated against anthrax.† (Gamble) The distrust of our government has been an ever present scar on the face of our society. â€Å"Who could imagine the government, all the way to the Surgeon General of the United States, deliberately allowing a group of citizens to die from a terrible disease for the sake of an ill-conceived experiment? In light of this and many other shameful episodes in our history, African Americans widespread mistrust of the government and white society in general should not be a surprise to anyone.† One would hope ( and pray) that with the advent of complete informed consent, training medical professionals in critical thinking and patient advocacy, the act of full disclosure would be utilized, and the progress of technology would keep the government from performing any other such heinous acts. Certainly, as in the case of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, which was only expected to last 6 months and went on for 40 years, I do believe it would be possible to conduct such experiments, but then with the social media as wide spread as it is, and only getting larger, I do not feel that it would go on any great length of time without someone questioning its validity and ethical value. Works Cited Gamble, Vanessa N. â€Å"Tuskegee Lessons Syphilis Study Leaves behind Legacy of Mistrust† http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2002/jul/tuskegee/commentary.html Jones, James H. Bad Blood: The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment. 1993. Infoplease.com/spot/bhmtuskegeel.html Reverby, Susan M. â€Å"America’s Nuremberg,† The Tuskegee Study. 08-30-1932 http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/americas-nuremberg-tuskegee-study

Lewis Carroll Decoded Quotes That Reveal the Creative Genius

Lewis Carroll is a master story teller. He uses expressive language to make fiction sound like reality, and in each book, Lewis Carroll leaves a philosophical message to his readers. These profound philosophies make his stories a source of great inspiration. Here are some of Carrolls most famous quotations from Alices Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass along with an explanation of the hidden meanings in the quotes. "It's a poor sort of memory that only works backward." This quote, spoken by the Queen in Through the Looking Glass has intrigued, inspired and influenced great thinkers of the world. Celebrated psychiatrist Carl Jung presented his concept of synchronicity based on this quote from Lewis Carroll. Leading professors of various academic institutes have researched the role memory plays in human life. Though at face value, this statement seems absurd, it provokes you to think about how memory is imperative to the sense of self. Without memory of who you are, you have no identity.   "Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!" Also from the Queen in Through the Looking Glass, this is another masterpiece from the cryptically talented Lewis Carroll. You have to read it twice to understand what a deep thought this is. The metaphor of running is used to express our daily routine, the activity of working hard to keep up with the fast pace of our dynamic world. If you want to get somewhere, achieve a goal or accomplish a task, you need to work twice as hard as you usually do. Thats because everyone is working as hard as you are, and thats helping you stay in the race. If you wish to achieve success, you will need to work harder than others! "It was much pleasanter at homewhen one wasn't always growing larger and smaller and being ordered about by mice and rabbits." A simple, innocent remark by Alice in Alices Adventures in Wonderland can set you thinking about your life too. Alice, who slips through the rabbit hole into a land of absurdities and wonders, finds the newness of the place unsettling. She encounters talking animals such as rabbits and mice. She also consumes food and drink that alter her shape and size. Confounded by these weird occurrences, Alice makes the remark. "You see, Kitty, it must have been either me or the Red King. He was part of my dream, of course—but then I was part of his dream, too! Was it the Red King, Kitty? You were his wife, my dear, so you ought to know—oh, Kitty, do help to settle it! I'm sure your paw can wait!" In Alices world in Through the Looking Glass, the real and the imaginary often intermingle, leaving her confused. Alice sees Kitty as the Red Queen in her dreams and as her pet in reality. But even when she sees the Red Queen, Alice imagines the cat to be a queen. Lewis Carroll uses this metaphor to show how dreams and reality often coexist as if they are a part of one another.   "Either the well was very deep, or she fell very slowly, for she had plenty of time as she went down to look about her and to wonder what was going to happen next." This quote sets the tone for the book, Alices Adventures in Wonderland, as the story unravels one absurdity after another. At first, the reader is struck by the weird mention of a rabbit wearing a waistcoat. As the next scene unfolds—Alice falling down the rabbit hole—the reader realizes that a lot of surprises are in store. You can marvel the authors vivid imagination, which is at once captivating and thought-provoking.   "Let me see: four times five is twelve, and four times six is thirteen, and four times seven is—oh, dear! I shall never get to twenty at that rate! ... London is the capital of Paris, and Paris is the capital of Rome, and Rome—no that's all wrong, I'm certain. I must have been changed for Mabel!" In this quote from Alices Adventures in Wonderland, you may actually feel Alices confusion. You can see that Alice gets all her multiplication tables wrong, and she confuses the names of capitals and countries. Her frustration reaches a point where she feels that she has metamorphosed into Mabel, a relatively unknown character in the book. All we know of Mabel  is that she is dull  and dim-witted. "Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." This quote is from the Queen in Through the Looking Glass. Imagination the seed for innovation. If it werent for the impossible dreams of the  Wright brothers, would we have invented the airplane? Would we have the electric bulb without  Thomas Alva Edisons dream? Millions of innovators dare to dream the impossible or believe in the unbelievable. This quote by the Queen is the right spark for a fertile mind that is looking for inspiration. "But it's no use going back to yesterdaybecause I was a different person then." Another cryptic metaphor from Alice in Alices Adventures in Wonderland that could keep you awake at nights. Alices thought-provoking remark reminds you that each day we grow as individuals. We are defined by our choices, experiences and our perspectives. So, every day, we wake up a new person, with new thoughts and ideas.