Life Experience Shapes Personal Philosophy William Shakespeare William Shakespeare –lived during a time of corruption, after King Henry VIII split from the Catholic Church (Sir Thomas More incident), had thousands of people executed, not to mention his trouble with women (Catherine of Aragon- annulled, Anne Boleyn- beheaded, Jane Seymour- died in childbirth, Anne of Cleves- annulled, Catherine Howard- annulled and beheaded, Catherine Par) No wonder Macbeth posits a message of how greed leads to corruption No wonder Macbeth posits a message of how greed leads to corruption

Lord of the Flies William Golding fought in WWII and experienced the horror of bloodshed first- hand. William Golding fought in WWII and experienced the horror of bloodshed first- hand. No wonder his novel shows that mankind is inherently evil No wonder his novel shows that mankind is inherently evil

Anthem Ayn Rand

Meet Ayn Rand  Ayn Rand ( )  Born in St. Petersburg Russia and educated under the Communists  Experienced the horrors of totalitarianism  Escaped from Russia and came to U.S. in

Ayn Rand Timeline Born in St. Petersburg Born in St. Petersburg Witnesses first shots of Russian Revolution Witnesses first shots of Russian Revolution Becomes a U.S. citizen Becomes a U.S. citizen Anthem is published in England Anthem is published in England The Fountainhead is published The Fountainhead is published Atlas Shrugged is published Atlas Shrugged is published Makes first appearance on the “Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson Makes first appearance on the “Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson Attends White House dinner for Alan Greenspan’s swearing-in (apparently they were dating) Attends White House dinner for Alan Greenspan’s swearing-in (apparently they were dating) dies in New York City dies in New York City

Ayn Rand’s Philosophy: Objectivism Objective Reality: “Nature, to be commanded must be obeyed” Objective Reality: “Nature, to be commanded must be obeyed” –Reality exists as an objective absolute- facts are facts, independent of man’s feelings, wishes, hopes, or fears. Reason: “You can’t eat your cake and have it, too” Reason: “You can’t eat your cake and have it, too” –Reason is man’s only means of perceiving reality, his only source of knowledge, and his basic means of survival. Self-interest: “Man is an end in himself” Self-interest: “Man is an end in himself” –Man must exist for his own sake, either sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself; the pursuit of rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of his life. Capitalism: “Give me liberty or give me death” Capitalism: “Give me liberty or give me death” –The ideal political-economic system is laissez-faire capitalism.

Anthem Romantic realist approach to literature. Romantic realist approach to literature. Romantic realism as defined by Ayn Rand: Romantic realism as defined by Ayn Rand: –portrays things and people "as they might and ought to be" –deals with the problems and values of human existence or the problems of real people

The Hero According to Rand Her novels were based upon the projection of the Randian hero who is: Her novels were based upon the projection of the Randian hero who is: –a man whose ability and independence causes conflict with the masses – perseverant to achieve his values. Rand viewed this hero as the ideal, and the main goal of her fiction was to showcase such heroes. Rand viewed this hero as the ideal, and the main goal of her fiction was to showcase such heroes.

Theme of Anthem This novelette depicts a world of the future, a society so collectivized that even the word “I” has vanished from the language. This novelette depicts a world of the future, a society so collectivized that even the word “I” has vanished from the language. Anthem’s theme: the meaning and glory of man’s ego. Anthem’s theme: the meaning and glory of man’s ego.

Dystopian Literature Anthem fits into the “dystopian" genre Anthem fits into the “dystopian" genre The world presented in dystopian novels is the world as it “should not be” The world presented in dystopian novels is the world as it “should not be” Other well-known dystopian novels: Other well-known dystopian novels: –Brave New World by Aldous Huxley –1984 by George Orwell Differences Differences –In Brave New World and 1984, society is depicted as tyrannical with a highly technological society –Anthem’s society is stagnant and primitive  Rand believed that economic progress depended upon freedom of the mind.

Before you read… The transition from adolescence to adulthood involves developing a personal identity, a sense of self. Write a paragraph that describes you, and explains what makes you uniquely you. Consider life experiences that have shaped your life philosophy up to this point in your life.