Why is ego such a terrible word, and why do so many people despise this simple three letter word? Based on both the connotative and denotative meanings of ego and egoist, many would assume they are horrible words, and they would guess that Prometheus is an egoist because he wants to be his own human being, not controlled by others. One doesn’t want people to be all about themselves, but at the same time do one really want someone all up in his or her business? There is a happy medium that can be obtained, but only if one truly knows the real meanings of the words, and that the surface level meanings don’t always accurately depict the words. By its denotative meaning, ego’s definition is simply “the “I” or self of any person; a person as thinking,
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He is a prisoner of “we.” The society he lives in has brainwashed everyone into thinking that everyone must act as a whole, but eventually Prometheus escapes this jail and learns about the word “I.” “I am done with the monster of “We,” the word of serfdom, of plunder, of misery, falsehood and shame” (Rand 97). Prometheus would be considered an egoist, but he was a good egoist. He thought for himself and about himself. He thought about what would be best for him, but in an unselfish way. He questioned what was taking place in his society, and he questioned whether or not it was correct. “What is my joy if all hands, even the unclean, can reach into it? What is my wisdom, if even the fools can dictate to me? What is my freedom, if all creatures, even the botched and the impotent, are my masters? What is my life, if I am but to bow, to agree and to obey” (Rand 97)? In a mythological aspect, Prometheus would not be considered an egoist. He helped other out of the goodness of his heart. “Prometheus raided the workshop...and stole fire...he gave the valuable gift to man which would help him in life’s struggle. The Titan also taught man how to use their gift” (Cartwright). In Anthem Prometheus would be considered an egoist, and in mythology he would not be considered an egoist. Neither were bad. In Anthem Prometheus had the right type of ego which was good, and in mythology Prometheus didn’t really have an ego which was also good. This proves that having an ego can be good as long as it is accurate, and not having an ego can also be
He is a prisoner of “we.” The society he lives in has brainwashed everyone into thinking that everyone must act as a whole, but eventually Prometheus escapes this jail and learns about the word “I.” “I am done with the monster of “We,” the word of serfdom, of plunder, of misery, falsehood and shame” (Rand 97). Prometheus would be considered an egoist, but he was a good egoist. He thought for himself and about himself. He thought about what would be best for him, but in an unselfish way. He questioned what was taking place in his society, and he questioned whether or not it was correct. “What is my joy if all hands, even the unclean, can reach into it? What is my wisdom, if even the fools can dictate to me? What is my freedom, if all creatures, even the botched and the impotent, are my masters? What is my life, if I am but to bow, to agree and to obey” (Rand 97)? In a mythological aspect, Prometheus would not be considered an egoist. He helped other out of the goodness of his heart. “Prometheus raided the workshop...and stole fire...he gave the valuable gift to man which would help him in life’s struggle. The Titan also taught man how to use their gift” (Cartwright). In Anthem Prometheus would be considered an egoist, and in mythology he would not be considered an egoist. Neither were bad. In Anthem Prometheus had the right type of ego which was good, and in mythology Prometheus didn’t really have an ego which was also good. This proves that having an ego can be good as long as it is accurate, and not having an ego can also be