(Name) (Teacher) (Class) (Date)
"I" Before "We"
The authors of Anthem and Gattaca describe collectivism and society's loss of individuality and privacy in the future. The characters in these stories must struggle with their own wants and ideas against the chains of humanity. These chains keep Equality 7-2521 and Vincent Freeman from achieving their goals and from living a life they have always wanted. In this future society, babies are brought into the world to be perfect, a mother genetically matched with a father. Children are taught to do and to know what is told to them, curiosity is out of the question. Confidentially is interrogated around every corner. This intern wards off independence, creating the perfect society
or so it seems.
In Anthem, the story centres around Equality 7-2521. In this futuristic society, knowing ones identity is forbidden, "all men must be alike" (18, Rand). Everyone uses "we" as a pronoun
there is no "I". Equality 7-2321 was separated at birth from his parents. He grew up being quicker then his peers; he was even smarter then the teachers. People pointed out his "body has grown beyond the bodies of his brothers"(16, Rand), which is a burden. He was discriminated against because he was different. Being different could ruin their perfect society. Equality 7-2521was inquisitive and he felt it was his destiny to become a philosopher. Yet, on the day his group was rationed out jobs, he was chosen to be a Street Sweeper. The movie Gattaca is set in the "not too distant future". In this society, they've got people down to a science. They can map how they will look, rid them of diseases, and other things that are planned by our genetics in a laboratory. Vincent is the main character and he was created how God intended. This made him an invalid. His brother, Anton, was genetically engineered with the perfect traits from his mother and father. This showed. Vincent had heart conditions that made him the loser during...