anthem by ayn rand essay

Ayn Rand’s “Anthem” Book Analysis Essay

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Introduction

Gaining equality through the injustice of government, the motivational success of individuality and freedom, the collectivist model, government overreach and control that limits innovation, works cited.

An excellent introduction to Ayn Rand’s theory of human nature is the book Anthem . Her moral and political philosophies are fundamentally based on the topic and fundamental struggle of the novella—the individual versus the collective—which appears in all of her works. In the undetermined future, where freedom and individual rights have been eradicated, the events of Anthem take place. Despite being centered on the antiutopian model of the narration, the author strives to show the first step for the person to obtain individuality. Collectivism results in the elimination of individuality as a concept. The current paper is devoted to supporting the author’s idea regarding the negative impact of collectivism on personality formation.

Supporting the ideology of the author and the situation depicted in the novel, Maoism in China can be mentioned. The essence of Maoism is to combine classical communist ideas with Great Han chauvinism and Chinese centrism. The Chinese Communists managed to overcome the heavy legacy of Maoism, leading the country out of the impasse (Jones and Smith). The situation with Equality 7-2521 is similar when the living conditions of people are meager, and any attempts to express individuality are punished. The collectivism of all countries has always been reflected in history and consists in the fact that people have their values and traditions peculiar to the collective of each country – its people. The author writes: “We are one in all and all in one” (Rand 3). The enslavement of the individual to the collective, regardless of the group’s race, class, or state affiliation, is what Ayn Rand refers to as “collectivism.” In such circumstances, a person is not seen as an independent being with an existence of their own but rather as a member of a group whose primary function is to meet that group’s requirements.

The ruling class in Equality 7-2521 tries to instill an “ant colony” attitude where people replicate the self-sacrificing lives of insects for the greater welfare of the collective. The goal of the government is to eradicate all notions of uniqueness from human nature and, with it, all aspects of active personal existence. Each individual is identified by a broad collectivist principle, such as equality, internationalism, or solidarity, rather than by their own unique name. The reason that each person has a number associated with their collectivist identity is also explained by this endeavor to eradicate all aspects of individuality. No one is exceptional or distinctive because the state believes that individuality is illusory; instead, people are interchangeable components of a larger whole.

In her writings, Ayn Rand presents people who must weigh crucial options and occasionally decide between life and death situations. The most prominent example is Equality 7-2521; however, she is not the only character in the story to undertake questionable decisions. He could opt not to ponder the Unspeakable Word, but he does. He does not want to submit to the Council’s demands; therefore, he wants to keep the tunnel’s existence and his experiments a secret. Out of all the people in society, he chooses International 4-8818 and the Golden One for his close friends. Instead of surrendering his brightness and life to the Councils, he decides to flee into the woods.

To morally criticize the people for failing to maintain their own minds and spirits would be a disaster. They are not wicked, but the authoritarianism of the government has made them timid. Councils that demand slavish submission are wicked. The heroic characters instead pose the fascinating question of how they are able to maintain their own ideas in the face of such tremendous pressure to comply. The author states: “No… We are one…alone…and only… and we love you who are one… alone.. and only” (Rand 76). The aim of Ayn Rand is to extol the rare people who, against all conventional norms and teachings, are aware that their thoughts are precious and should not be ceded to authority.

One person cannot go against the whole system existing in the novel. Despite understanding how distrustful the system is for the people, the only thing such generous people can do is find others who share their position and escape, as shown in the novel. History has various examples of such an escapement of genius people being tortured by totalitarian governments. For example, many world-famous writers and poets, such as Brodsky and Nabokov, left Russia due to the USSR government’s persecution (Guzeva, 2019). As a result, the cultural heritage of the country is depleted. These people found the strength to escape being led by their identity as well as the main characters of the novel.

This society’s leaders are not concerned with science or the truth. They must exert control over citizens’ thoughts in order to keep control over society. The repression of free thought is necessary for the conquest and maintenance of authoritarian authority. Therefore, freedom of speech, which includes freedom of thinking and expression, is outlawed forever by real-world tyrants, whether they be fascists, National Socialist, or communists. Although the dictators themselves are not particularly intelligent, they instinctively know that the mind is their adversary. In order to block any potential mind development, the government limits the freedom of speech: “… we must never speak of the times before the Great Rebirth, else we are sentenced to three years in the Palace of Corrective Detention” (Rand 4). Dictators understand that the rational mind is their most formidable enemy since intellectuals are only interested in the truth and not the arbitrary orders of power-hungry tyrants.

The intellect can find no refuge, no example like the United States to which one may travel in order to acquire an independent existence, if the entire planet is a worldwide dictatorship, as in Anthem, and if freedom does not exist anywhere on earth. The author demonstrates how the mind will be suppressed everywhere in such a situation. There will not be any innovative or creative thinking, scientific research, technical advancements, or industrial growth.

The currently existing example of such a situation is in North Korea. Due to the totalitarian regime established on the country’s territory, the government controls all the income and outcome informational flows. In 2019 Kim Jong Un expressed regret regarding the technological situation in the country (Williams, 2020). The innovative developments are entirely controlled, limiting the multicultural information exchange bounding the research and production. Such limitations allow the government to make the nation easily controllable because people have no other option for how free life can be.

The ability of illicit passion for enlightening and elevating is seen in Rand’s Anthem . In an undetermined future time and place when freedom and individual rights have been eradicated, the plot of Anthem is set. Equality 7-2521, the protagonist, is a bright young man who aspires to be a scientist but is forced to work as a street sweeper by a dictatorship that is afraid of his intellectual independence. The core of the anthem is the battle of Equality 7-2521 to think, live, and love on his terms and in opposition to the cruel regime. Ayn Rand uses her character’s struggle to defend people’s freedom to live their own lives and issues a warning about modern society’s unrelenting shift toward collectivism.

Guzeva, Alexandra. “ 7 Most Famous Russian Writers Who Migrated Abroad .” Russia Beyond, Web.

Rand, Ayn. Anthem . Signet, 1961.

Smith, Lamar and Jones, Martin. “ The Strategy of the Mind: Maoism and Culture War in the West .” Military Strategy Magazine, Web.

Williams, Martin. “ Technology Be a Silver Bullet for the North Korean Economy? ” 38North, Web.

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Available Essay Topics

Ayn Rand once said that chapters XI and XII of Anthem contain the real anthem of the story. Consider several different definitions of the word “anthem” and then explain why you think Ayn Rand called the book “Anthem.” In what sense do you think chapters XI and XII (or the book as a whole) is an anthem? How does the book’s title relate to the themes and message of the story? Explain your answer.

For the following statement from Anthem , explain its role in the story, its relation to the themes and message of the story, and its relevance to your own life: “Indeed you are happy,” they answered. “How else can men be when they live for their brothers?”

Equality 7-2521 has committed some of the worst crimes there are in his society. If those crimes are discovered, he faces the risk of terrible punishment. Yet in the face of this danger, and despite how much Equality has suffered at the hands of his society, he resolves to bring his invention (and admit his crimes) to the World Council of Scholars. What motivates him to come forward? What does he hope to achieve? If you were Equality’s friend (like International 4-8818) or the person who loves him (like Liberty 5-3000), what would you want him to do, and why? What do you think would be right for him to do, and why?

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illustration of a person flanked by candles and holding his arms in the air where a letter "I" floats

by Ayn Rand

Anthem Summary

A nthem is a 1938 novel by Ayn Rand about a young man called Equality 7-2521 who lives in a dystopian collectivist state, where individuality is a sin.

Equality 7-2521 works as a street sweeper but secretly conducts scientific experiments. Faced with harsh punishment after inventing the light bulb, he escapes into the forest.
The woman Equality 7-2521 loves, Liberty 5-3000, finds him, and the two live together in an abandoned house, where Equality 7-2521 reads old manuscripts.
Equality 7-2521 renames himself Prometheus and his partner Gaea. When Gaea becomes pregnant, Prometheus vows to raise their child to be an individualist.

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The narrator, Equality 7-2521, begins by remarking that it is a sin to write as he is doing, thinking for oneself and setting down words on paper for oneself alone. The society in which he lives is dystopian, totalitarian, and collectivist, though he believes that he is the one at fault for failing to espouse its values completely. Any kind of individuality is regarded as sinful in this society, and Equality 7-2521 refers to himself in the plural, as “we,” since there is no first-person singular in the language. He tells the reader that he was born with the “curse” of a questioning mind, which has always driven him to think for himself, though he tries to be like other men.

The society in which Equality 7-2521 lives was formed in an event called the Great Rebirth. It is a crime to speak of the times before the Great Rebirth, and knowledge of that time is swiftly passing out of human consciousness. Equality 7-2521 describes his childhood and youth in the Home of the Infants, then in the Home of the Students. He had hoped to finish his education in the Home of the Scholars, but instead the Council of Vocations decreed that he should become a street sweeper. This upset him, and he regards the assignment as a punishment for being unable to control his thoughts.

While sweeping the streets, Equality 7-2521 finds a tunnel dating back to the time before the Great Rebirth. Instead of reporting this discovery, as he is supposed to do, he uses the tunnel as a secret hideaway, studying and conducting scientific experiments there. Another sign of his unorthodox nature is that he has fallen in love, an emotional state which is forbidden and must be kept secret. The woman he loves is called Liberty 5-3000, though Equality 7-2521 thinks of her as “the Golden One,” another transgression. One day, he tells her that he thinks she is beautiful, and she confesses that she is also attracted to him. The encounter makes Equality 7-2521 conspicuously happy, and he is reprimanded for singing at the dinner table.

In the course of his experiments with electricity, Equality 7-2521 invents the light bulb. He decides to present this to the World Council of Scholars, certain that they will reward him for conferring such a benefit upon humanity. However, when he shows the light bulb to the scholars, he finds that they are more concerned with the sins of individualism he committed in developing it than in the utility of the invention itself. When he sees that they intend to punish him harshly, Equality 7-2521 escapes through a window and runs away to the Uncharted Forest. The solitude and peace he experiences in the forest are very attractive to him, and his greatest regret is that he will not be able to see Liberty 5-3000, the Golden One, again.

However, Equality 7-2521 sees the Golden One the next day. She has come to the forest to find him. They kiss, have sex, and wander through the forest together, experiencing a joy which they do not have the vocabulary to express. They have been taught only ever to use the plural, but the phrase “we love you” is clearly awkward when the Golden One uses it. They find a house in the mountains which has clearly been abandoned since the Great Rebirth and contains numerous objects from earlier times. As Equality 7-2521 reads the old manuscripts, he discovers the forbidden word I . He reflects that the happiest moments he has ever known—reading, making scientific discoveries, and being with the Golden One—have all been individual, rather than collective.

Equality 7-2521 concludes that individualism, far from being a sin, is the basis of being and that everything he has been taught is wrong. He chooses a new name which he has learned from his reading: Prometheus, who gave the gift of fire to mankind (paralleling his own attempt to give mankind the light bulb). He decides that the Golden One should be called Gaea. They live together in the old house, learning about the times before the Great Rebirth. Prometheus intends to replicate the achievements of those times, including powering the house with electricity. When Gaea becomes pregnant, Prometheus vows that he will bring his son up to be an individualist and live as men used to live.

Prometheus concludes by reflecting on collectivism as one of the forms of slavery that has plagued humanity throughout history. People have been enslaved by gods and kings and by family and tribal loyalties and, most recently, by a sense of duty to society as a collective whole. He intends to fight against all forms of slavery and champion the rights of the individual, building a new society based on the supreme value of personal freedom. The sacred word which he says will always be his beacon and his banner in this struggle is ego .

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Chapter Summaries

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Ayn Rand — “Anthem”: Individualism and Freedom as the Dynamic Pillars of True Communities

"Anthem": Individualism and Freedom as The Dynamic Pillars of True Communities

Categories: Ayn Rand Dystopia Novel

About this sample

Words: 867 |

Published: Mar 18, 2021

Words: 867 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Bergelson, Mira. 'Collectivism And Individualism In Russian Culture - Communication In Organizational Contexts | Coursera.' Coursera. N.p., 2019. https://www.coursera.org/lecture/ intercultural-communication-russians/5-6-collectivism-and-individualism-in-russian-culture- NXZMJWeb.
Rand, Ayn. Anthem Notes. IDG Books Worldwide, 2000.
Wilczewski, Michał; Gut, Arkadiusz; and Gorbaniuk, Oleg. 'The Impact Of Individualism- Collectivism Orientation And Communal Orientation On Employees’ Attitudes Toward Intercultural Communication.' Journal of Intercultural Communication 45 (2017): 1404- 1634.
Younkins, Edward. 'Individualism And Freedom: Vital Pillars Of True Communities | Edward Younkins.' Fee.org. N.p., 1998. https://fee.org/articles/individualism-and-freedom- vital-pillars-of-true-communities

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by Ayn Rand

Anthem essay questions.

How does the manipulation of language enforce collectivist doctrine in the society of Anthem ?

One of the main motifs in the novel is the omission of the word "I" from human knowledge, as it enforces the association of the self with the group and the state in the unconscious. Over the course of the novella, Equality 7-2521 begins to recognize the need for this Unspeakable Word, but his society has not equipped him with the mental machinery necessary to work out the exact nature of what he is missing. Although he breaks away from the collective at a relatively early point, he does not understand how to offer an alternative philosophy until this block in his thinking is removed, and his search for the Unspeakable Word is a central struggle in Anthem .

How does Rand connect Equality 7-2521's mental development to the ideals of the Enlightenment?

As Equality 7-2521 rediscovers electricity, he replicates the experiments of Galvani, Volta, and Franklin, all of whom lived and conducted their research during the eighteenth-century Enlightenment. Franklin was particularly involved with the founding of the United States of America and borrowed heavily from the ideas of contemporaries such as John Locke; Equality 7-2521 comes to appreciate the value of these ideals as he increasingly emphasizes an adaptation the Declaration of Independence's emphasis on "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," which in turn stems from Locke's protection of "life, health, liberty, or possessions." Finally, as Prometheus, the protagonist obliquely cites Enlightenment thinkers as he discusses the history of man, who "declared to all his brothers that a man has rights which neither god nor king nor other men can take away from him."

How do Equality 7-2521's experiments with electricity and the invention of the glass box influence his understanding of self?

Prior to discovering the tunnel and commencing his scientific experiments, Equality 7-2521 believes that the Council of Scholars is omniscient in its understanding of nature, and that he is at fault for exceeding others in a society that worships forced equality. However, after he discovers electricity, he realizes that the Council of Scholars does not know everything and that he as an individual can achieve more than any group. He also discovers that he can find happiness in experimentation because, for once, he is free to do as he wishes, and he thereby learns an appreciation for the strength of his own body. After inventing the glass box, he at first believes that he values the box because he sees its potential for humanity, but eventually, he learns that he actually loves the box because it is his creation and thus an extension of his self.

Explain the connection between mind, body, and self in Anthem .

At the beginning of the novella, Equality 7-2521 has a very incomplete understanding of self, so he ironically views the superiority of his mind and body as a crutch that prevents him from assimilating into his society and living morally. However, when he invents the glass box, he finally appreciates the strength of his own body and mind, and when he meets the Golden One, he learns that the connection between mind and body is particularly strong. His and the Golden One's fearless, strong bodies represent their similarly worthy minds, and, on the night of his invention of the box, Equality 7-2521 finally realizes that to take pride in one's body and accomplishments is akin to taking pride in oneself. By the end of the story, he has learned that mind, body, and self are inextricably interwoven -- and that the result is an ideal whole.

In what ways does Rand reverse our usual expectations about morality in Anthem ?

At the heart of Anthem is a polemical argument that reverses our assumptions about selfishness and altruism. Collectivism operates on the expectation that if every man unselfishly works for others, all will be happier, but in Rand's extreme collectivist society, this philosophy leads inevitably to the repression of the able individual, while an egoist man will by contrast benefit society by working solely for himself. Rand also represents this apparently counter-intuitive argument through the visual association of snow white -- traditionally the hue of innocence and purity -- with the evil indoctrination of the Home of the Students, while placing Equality 7-2521's positive scientific experiments in the dark tunnel. Correspondingly, Equality 7-2521 develops the philosophy of egoism and comes to believe the opposite of what the Home of the Students taught him.

What is the significance of the Uncharted Forest for Equality 7-2521?

The Uncharted Forest serves two major functions for Equality 7-2521: it is a foreshadowing of his future, and it is an affirmation of his doubts regarding collectivism. At first, Equality 7-2521's thoughts are drawn to the Uncharted Forest because he senses that it separates the flawed collectivist society of the City from possible remnants of the Unmentionable Times with which he is obsessed. Later, his body recognizes unconsciously that the solution to his break with the World Council of Scholars lies in the forest, and he runs instinctively into it. Once he enters the Uncharted Forest, he begins a mental and physical journey away from the City, triggered by the sense of happiness and independence that he now associates with the wilderness.

Explain the relationship between the Golden One and Equality 7-2521.

The Golden One is not simply Equality 7-2521's love interest; she also serves as his first disciple, who follows him into his forest and trails the path he blazes into a rejection of collectivism. Accordingly, despite the importance of the romantic subplot in Equality 7-2521's mental development, the Golden One is a secondary character who does not exhibit the full three-dimensionality of Equality 7-2521. For him, she is a symbol, and he loves her rationally and because she instinctively shares his values and character. His love for her is also an exploration of his love for himself, which he comes to celebrate because it brings him joy.

What is the significance of the house of the Unmentionable Times for Equality 7-2521?

Sensing that his literal and metaphorical journey away from the City is coming to a close, Equality 7-2521 chooses to settle with the Golden One in the new house to create a new, individualist life where he can discover the Unspeakable Word and resolve his inner dialogue on collectivism. The house is an embodiment of the values of the Unmentionable Times, and Equality 7-2521 specifically mentions that it belonged to only two people, emphasizing its rejection of collectivist values. The house also contains a mirror in which the Golden One stares fascinated for hours, allowing her to gain Equality 7-2521's understanding of the importance of the body. Moreover, it features many electrical appliances and books which give Equality 7-2521 a fuller knowledge of what humanity has forgotten in its worship of "We."

Compare the scene of the World Council of Scholars with the penultimate chapter's proclamation of "I" in terms of their respective philosophical arguments.

The words of the World Council of Scholars encapsulate the basis and problems of collectivism, just as Equality 7-2521's words about his rediscovery of "I" constitute a manifesto in favor of egoism. Whereas Collective 0-0009 tells Equality 7-2521 that "what is not thought by all men cannot be true," Equality 7-2521 chooses to search for the Objectivist truth. He says in Chapter Eleven, "I am not a sacrifice on their altars," directly refuting the council members' claim that he must submit to the will of others and serve society as the authorities see fit. While the meeting with the Council of Scholars marks the point of no return, after which Equality 7-2521 inevitably leaves and rediscovers "I," his manifesto celebrates his discovery and allows him to justify his refusal of his society.

What are some potential errors of Rand's arguments in Anthem ?

Because Rand chooses to argue against the most extreme possible manifestation of collectivism with the most extreme form of individualism, she does not adequately refute the supposition that a moderate form of collectivism or even a slightly altruistic society based mainly on individualism may have merit. Rand's declaration that man will most efficiently help society by focusing solely on his own works is an exaggerated version of capitalism, but in historical practice, a purely selfish approach has often led to a gap between the rich and the poor that has had more to do with lack of opportunity for the poor than with their weakness. Furthermore, Rand proposes a model based on a perfect human rationality that may only exist in theory, and one might consequently contend that Rand has made some false assumptions about human nature that rival her description of the errors of Marxism.

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Anthem Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Anthem is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What is a typical day like in Equality’s life?

A typical day in Equality's life consists of waking up in a communal sleeping hall, eating breakfast with his fellow street sweepers, performing his assigned job during the day, and attending government-mandated classes and leisure activities in...

You write "in" . Are you referring to a specific chapter or the book as a whole?

How does equality 7-2521 demonstrate his rejection of his society in

In what? Are you referring to a specific section of the novel?

Study Guide for Anthem

Anthem study guide contains a biography of Ayn Rand, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

About Anthem
Anthem Summary
Character List

Essays for Anthem

Anthem literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Anthem by Ayn Rand.

The Merit of Ipseity
Ayn Rand in Context
Family Sway
The Evolution of Equality: A Self-Liberated Character
A Curious Aspect of Progress: Inquiry vs. Oppression in 'Anthem'

Lesson Plan for Anthem

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Ayn Rand's Anthem Essay

Ayn Rand's Anthem Ayn Rand's Anthem shows us her view of our world united under what seems to be communist rule. For example their view of right and wrong; which Anthem portrays is a system of very strict rules which mainly make sure that everyone is involved in a collective role within the society in this system no one is considered an individual or that they can even think as an individual. From the day that Equality 7-2521 were united as one they have been considered freaks, because they were all about six feet tall and looked down upon by the other groups within the society. After their schooling, Equality 7-2521 were sent to the "Home of the Street Sweepers" and there they were assigned a certain sector of the city to keep …show more content…

One day while doing their street sweeping duties they discovered a tunnel . They thought the tunnel was from the "Unmentionable Times." Equality 7-2521 would sneak away to their secret tunnel everyday when the town citizens were at the town meetings. Equality 7-2521 would steal scrolls and supplies from the House of Scholars, they studied and learned lots of new, different, and exciting things. As a result they came up with great ideas and inventions which hadn't been thought of before. They discovered the hidden energy within metal and made light with specific metals. Equality 7-2521 soon learned to hate the society's rules and started rebelling against them. On several occasions Equality 7-2521 communicated and held conversations with Liberty 5-3000 which is forbidden under their society's rules. One day when Equality 7-2521 was studying in their tunnel they lost track of time and they didn't notice that the sand jar which they measured their time with had run out. When they returned to the House of Sweepers they were questioned of where they had been, and they wouldn't tell where they had been at the time so they were sent to the House of Detention . They escaped and brought their box to the World Council of Scholars in hopes of being forgiven of their crimes and being accepted with the scholars but the scholars rejected and with that it humiliated them. Equality

Ayn Rand's 'Equality 7-2521'

All his life he had been told that it “is a great sin, to be born with a head which is too quick. It is not good to be different from our brothers, but it is evil to be superior to them” (21). The Teachers made Equality believe that everything he did was wrong, and because they were appointed by the Councils, he believed them to be correct. The appointing of all things by the Councils relates to the Supreme Court. This situation relates to the moral sin in society. Everything is controlled. When Equality turned fifteen, the Council of Vocations appointed him the job of a “Street Sweeper”; it pleased him. This happiness did not last because he was unsatisfied. He always craved more, and one day, a gift was given. Equality 7-2521, with fellow Street Sweeper International 4-8818, uncovered an underground tunnel that was used for subways during the Unmentionable Times, which gave Equality hope. This underground tunnel became everything to Equality because it gave him peace, and it became the one of the many reasons why he was able to break free from being controlled by the leaders of his time of the Great

Truth Exposed In Ayn Rand's Anthem

At first he writes only in a tunnel, that he has stumbled into by mistake while working as a Street Sweeper, hidden from everyone. “Each night, for three hours, we are under the earth, alone” (35). He is then caught, he arrives at the Home of the Street Sweeper late one night and the Council of the Home asks him “Where have you been?” (63). But Equality refuses to tell them. He is then punished, lashed by two Judges in hopes to procure and answer from him, to no avail. Equality eventually escapes into the Uncharted Forest, a most forbidden place. “We were in the Uncharted Forest. We had not thought of coming here, but our legs had carried our wisdom, and our legs had brought us to the Uncharted Forest against our will” (75). He continues to write in secret here, under the trees, hollow openings in the roots, and eventually in an old house from the Unmentionable Times, “We are sitting at a table and we are writing this upon paper made thousands of years ago” (88). Equality 7-2521 had to travel as far as the Uncharted Forests, which no soul has searched in centuries, in order to feel safe writing once again.

Anthem -Ayn Rand

In the book Anthem, Equality 7-2521 (Equality) lived in a society where everyone was equal and treated with disrespect. The society had no tolerance for being different and having their own opinion and ideas. People couldn’t even pursue the career they dreamed of having. They were punished for disobeying any of these “rules”. Despite Equality’s strict society, his motivations in conducting his experiments are finding individuality, starting a new revolution, finding freedom, and trying to become a scholar.

Society and Technology in "The Anthem" Essay

Now-a-days, when we think of the future, we picture flying cars, and being able to transport. In the novel “The Anthem” society and technology as we know it had been driven to an entirely new direction. The characters in the society do not have the right to speak freely nor do anything that they wish. They lost all of their freedom, they couldn’t even think for themselves. The society had to think as a whole, the word “I” did not exist in their vocabulary. The society is very balanced, and everyone fears the thought of even questioning it. Up until one man known as Equality 7-25271 wants the answers to all of his questions.

What Does Equality 7-2521 Mean In The Book Anthem

During the unmentionable times, people had to follow the rules that the council has made. Of course no one wanted to follow them because they wanted to go their separate ways so they can be free. Equality 7-2521 the main character had to make some bold choices, which means he has to go down a few paths to do what he wants to do in the future. Equality wants to make some big changes in the future, he knows what he wants to do, while everyone else is following the council's rules. Equality has to get through some hard times.

Essay On Equality 7-2521 In Ayn Rand's Anthem

government. In the novel, the government assigns you your career based on how you succeed in school. Equality 7-2521 was assigned to be a street sweeper. Although Equality 7-2521 wasn’t satisfied with what he had gotten he had pretended to be pleased as everyone must accept it. It was against the rules to think on your own and for him to say in his mind, “We would accept our Life Mandate, and we would work for our brothers, gladly and

The Significance Of Equality 7-2521 In David Rand's Anthem

Throughout the course of the book Anthem, Equality 7-2521 was never afraid to disobey rules that were put in place for those in the city. In fact, just about every action he engaged in was a direct challenge to the leaders of the “irrational society”. Although he did not complete these deeds with malice in the beginning, eventually Equality 7-2521 had a revelation about what his society was doing to the human race. All members of the collective society were being “kept in the dark”, both

Theme Of Individuality In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, shows us a society where people are forced to be the same and are scared to be different. In Anthem’s society, the citizens are forced into specific lifestyles. Ayn Rand had written Anthem during World War II while some nations were trying to make their citizens the same. While this was going on, Rand decided to write about why individuality is important. In Anthem, Rand uses Equality 7-2521 to represent the individuality of one’s self.

Technology In The Book Anthem

The government and most of the city’s citizens are programmed to be fearful of new inventions and discoveries. In the book, Equality 7-2521 has discovered that he is different from all of the others. He is more attentive and more intelligent. The Teachers in the Home of the Students disapprove of his ability to be superior to others. He was sentenced to be a Street Sweeper, to try to prevent his creativity.

The Theme Of Oppression In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Anthem, by Ayn Rand has a major theme of oppression, a problem throughout human history. In the book everybody in the society are extreme followers and take the Councils rules of laws as absolute truth. (The counsel is a small group of people who oversees that the rules are enforced). All civilians seem to follow these rules with little acceptation they do this voluntarily not by force. In the book those few who brake tyrants council, who preach extreme communism, meaning that not one person matters, but only the survival of mankind matters. This means that all humans are equal in everything, and it is, actually looked down upon for trying to be anything more than the group.

Ayn Rand Anthem Analysis

After moving from soviet Russia to the United States in 1926, Ayn Rand became a well known playwright, author, and philosopher. Rand is well-known for her philosophical system, objectivism. Objectivism stresses that happiness is the most important goal one should have. All of these ideas and philosophies are present in the novel Rand composed, Anthem. In this collectivist society the people act as robots as they carry out their lives with little emotion, limited technology, and the constant threat of punishment. The atmosphere of this novel depicts a society with very rare opposition to the leadership because the people whom it is made up of have no reason to oppose it and since they are constantly threatened with punishments.

Essay On Equality 7-2521

Equality 7-2521 was smart in writing what he was doing down because now he will remember what he did year or three ago. Also it is a good idea to write important information down because if somebody finds what was written then they might learn something. This happened when Equality 7-2521 found the manuscripts in the house and he learned more from those than all of his years in school. That was another reason that Equality 7-2521 was right in writing because he may now be able to educate someone who finds his writings because if it happened to him why can it not happen with Equality’s writings. If nobody would have wrote these manuscripts how would anybody be able to remember anything that happened in the past of remember instructions. This would be almost impossible and the information would change every time it was told. If we could not write in our society it would not be as advanced as it is today and might be like it was then. Our world might even devolve like there's because we would not have directions and could not make complex inventions and would be stuck with instructions like the wax candle. Equality 7-2521 will help the society grow because once people see that it is easy to go against sins more people will do it and more people will write. This will help because then the society will be able to advance instead of being so behind in technology. Equality 7-2521 is actually helping the society because he will soon evolve the society up

Equality 7-2521 Impact On Society

However, Equality 7-2521 by the Council of Vocations was assigned to a life of sweeping streets, which he believes is his punishment for being curious growing up and asking many questions because of his curiosity. He wished to become a Scholar and be able to make discoveries and be curious freely. While working on cleaning the streets, Equality 7-2521 wondered off and discovered an underground tunnel built long ago in the Unspeakable Times. He constantly went to this tunnel for two years, and it is where he conducted experiments like the electric light bulb. Equality 7-2521 knew his discovery would benefit his brothers greatly.

A Totalitarian World Of The Future

Because of this, those in the Home of the Scholars may not have the same drive to discover new things about the world like Equality. The reader sees this in the book, where the Home of the Scholars has only invented candles and glass “only a hundred years ago” (24). However, in the span of just a few months, Equality was able to perform and create the unthinkable. His love for the Science of Things brought him to his findings, and gave him the ambition to share it as well. The discovery of candles and glass did not spark motivation in the Scholars; otherwise, it would have lead to more discoveries in the period of 100 years. In order to have technological advancement, an individual must not be forced to work on projects he does not wish to work on. Rather, it takes dedication to do so. This dedication resulted in Equality’s discovery of electricity in his time period.

Equality's Primary Motivation

When Equality found the opening to the tunnel in the ground, he couldn’t help but to go see what was down there. He wanted to learn things that school didn’t teach, be able to think new things, and ask new questions. When Equality was working as a street sweeper, he would go by the Home of the Scholars and take things from their yard they threw out if he found them useful for his experiments. He took scrolls and read them to teach himself so he could carry his experiments through. He wanted to be with the scholars, he even took his invention from the “unmentionable times” to them, but the scholars wanted his invention destroyed. He wanted to share his new-found technology with the others, but what he found interesting, the scholars wanted it gone. The scholars didn’t think was he was doing was