My shiny wall by Kaitlyn Jensen

Anthem: Plot & Characters

maddieproctorr — 2017-12-05 21:30:04 UTC

Plot:
In Anthem, the reader follows Equality-7521 (or Prometheus) as he struggles to find individuality in a minimalistic, dystopian society where everyone is the same. It is set in the future with limited technology and understanding. Harsh and cruel punishments are enacted on anyone who dares disobey. Equality discovers an invention and plots to present it to the Council of Scholars.

Characters:

Equality 7-521 (protagonist, tall, bright, curious, straight, thin, strong, non-conforming)
Liberty 5-3000 (female, attractive, Gaea, The Golden One, 17 years old, falls in love with Equality, dark glowing eyes, working in field, rebellious)
World Council (control over everyone)
Council of Scholars (do all research, experiments, unquestioning or often slow, only people with access to literature, rule followers)

Harrison B: Plot and characters

jensenka — 2017-12-05 21:32:17 UTC

In the year 2081, there is a society where no differences are tolerated. Those who are superior, physically or mentally, are handicapped in an effort to make everyone equal.

Characters:

Harrison (Physically strong, 7 feet tall, genius, considered a government trader, 14 years old, escaped from prison)
George (Physically strong, very intelligent, father of Harrison)
Hazel (Average, slow thinking, mother of Harrison)
Ballerina (Physically strong, beautiful, talented)
Diana Moon Glampers (Handicapper general)

Universal Ideas

rapids926 — 2017-12-05 21:32:35 UTC

The universal ideas are individuality, fear, and equality.

Themes

maddieproctorr — 2017-12-07 18:53:20 UTC

1. Fear thrives in oblivion.
2. Be courageous enough to be your own person.

Anthem quote #1 Theme 1

jensenka — 2017-12-07 19:17:58 UTC

“There is fear hanging in the air of the sleeping halls, and in the air of the streets. Fear walks through the City, fear without name, without shape. All men feel it and none dare to speak.” (Ch. 2)

This quote explains that the people in the society described in Anthem are brainwashed to an extent of blind obedience.

Harrison B Quote #1 Theme 1

maddieproctorr — 2017-12-07 19:21:11 UTC

"'Two years in prison and two thousand dollars fine for every ball I took out,' said George."

George is afraid because he is oblivious and only knows what the society has conditioned him to think.

Anthem Quote #2 Theme 2

rapids926 — 2017-12-07 19:23:04 UTC

“Our face was not like the faces of our brothers, for we felt no pity when looking upon it.”

In Anthem Equality, learns to embrace his individuality and his differences between him and his brothers.

Harrison B Quote #2 Theme 1

rapids926 — 2017-12-12 21:10:55 UTC

“There were tears on Hazel's cheeks, but she'd forgotten for the moment what they were about.”

This quote demonstrates that in people’s forgetfulness, there is fear.

Anthem quote #1 Theme 2

rapids926 — 2017-12-12 21:15:39 UTC

“We felt the cords of our neck grow tight as our head rose higher to look upon the faces of the Council, and we were happy. We knew we had been guilty, but now we had a way to atone for it.”

Equality is happy to be unique. He proud to have made this invention, and is proud of his individuality.

Harrison B Quote #1 Theme 2

maddieproctorr — 2017-12-12 21:16:06 UTC

"She must have been extraordinarily beautiful, because the mask she wore was hideous. And it was easy to see that she was the strongest and most graceful of all the dancers, for her handicap bags were as big as those worn by two-hundred
pound men."

The ballerina was more beautiful, strong, and graceful than the others. Thus, the society handicapped her and covered her features with a mask. Despite the society's efforts to make her equal to everyone else, her differences were still evident, and she stood out.

Harrison B Quote #2 Theme 2

maddieproctorr — 2017-12-12 21:18:46 UTC

"The rest of Harrison's appearance was Halloween and hardware. Nobody had ever born heavier handicaps. He had outgrown hindrances faster than the H-G men could think them up. Instead of a little ear radio for a mental handicap, he
wore a tremendous pair of earphones, and spectacles with thick wavy lenses.The spectacles were intended to make him not only half blind, but to give him whanging headaches besides."
Harrison was different from his brothers in an extraordinary fashion. He was stronger, taller, faster, and more capable in every way than the others in the Society. He harnesses his differences and uses them to overcome everyone else and his handicaps.

Anthem Quote #2 Theme 1

jensenka — 2017-12-12 21:19:28 UTC

“We are alone here under the earth.”

This illustrates the loneliness that has been planted in the heads of those living in this society. They are conditioned to think that they are alone and oblivious to outside influences, so they are obedient and fearful.