A Comparison of The Grapes of Wrath and Anthem Essay example

Comparing The Grapes of Wrath and Anthem Two great intellectuals of the early twentieth century wrote works of fiction that have become classics; they espoused polar-opposite views, however, of how society best functions. Their battle between communalism, as pictured in John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath, and individualism, as portrayed in Ayn Rands Anthem, was played out in their novels, and still continues to this day. Based on Ayn Rands book Anthem, Rand would definitely believe that there is a greater danger involved in communalism than in individualism. The book offers a vision of a distant retrograde future in which the candle is the newest invention; individualism has been completely suppressed; and one†¦show more content†¦Based on John Steinbecks book The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck believes that individualism is the main cause of most of the problems of the planet. When the Joad family lost their farm due to the money-hungry banks, they packed all of their remaining belongings and journeyed to California in search of work. They soon discover that the only way they are going to survive is by breaking down the family barriers and unite with other migrant workers towards a common goal. Throughout the book, Steinbeck discredits individualism by highlighting the adverse effects that he sees in it. Steinbeck, draws a specific line through the population - a division of the rich from the poor - and identifies the division as the primary cause for evil and suffering in the world. Much of the adversity experienced by the Joads and the other migrants stem directly from selfishness. Self-interest is what motivates the landowners and capitalists to use a system in which thousands of families sink deep into poverty. Steinbeck also promotes the idea of collectivism by asserting his belief that, basically, the only way a less-fortunate person will better his or her place in society, and better their chances for survival, is for the entire group to unite and work together. Quickly into the Joads journey to California, they come across the Wilsons, a family also on their way to California. In very little time, the two families break their biological family units and mergeShow MoreRelatedThe Sonnet Form: William Shakespeare6305 Words   |  26 PagesIn enjambment, a sentence or clause runs onto the next line without a break. Enjambment creates a sense of suspense or excitement and gives added emphasis to the word at the end of the line, as in John Keats’s â€Å"Ode to a Nightingale†: â€Å"Thy plaintive anthem fades / Past the near meadows, over the still stream.† Repetition: Words, sounds, phrases, lines, or elements of syntax may repeat within a poem. Sometimes, repetition can enhance an element of meaning, but at other times it can dilute or dissipateRead MoreRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 Pagesextraordinary situation.†40 In yet another reference, Weber postulates, â€Å"The charisma of the hero or the magician is immediately activated whenever an extraordinary event occurs: a major hunting expedition, a drought or some other danger precipitated by the wrath of the demons and especially a military threat.†41 These references reveal Webers image of charismatic ï ¬ gures as those leaders who are able to summon the will of their followers to deal with societal exigencies not amenable to the solutions proposed