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1. Ayn Rand’s Anthem demonstrates a literary society where all representation of originality
is ostracized and suppressed. Ideas not in agreement with the collective are restricted. The
novelette oversees the journey of one man; Equality 7-2521, who questions the societal norm,
and despite attempting to merge amongst the collectivist doctrine, cannot repress his desire to
satisfy his endearing curiosity and demand for self-examination. While he uncovers Anthem’s
historical past and ultimately obtains withheld knowledge, Equality 7-2521’s recognition of the
blemishes of collectivism reflects the faults and turbulences of our present-day society. Within
the culture of Anthem, inhabitants of the world live in a remarkably regimented civilization that
strives to censor and indoctrinate the masses in preference to the collectivist philosophy. Without
knowledge or exposure to any other life, viewpoints, or ideals, denizens are manipulated not just
into believing themselves only a part of altruism, but into an agreement with their unjust
exploitation because it is all they know. Abusively shamed for any pursuance of knowledge and
explanation, the result; a passive culture, idealistic and unquestioning.
Life within the society of Anthem is dictated by the annihilation of individual thought and
judgment. From childbirth, subjects are exploited into systematic and cyclic labor justified by the
deceptive shroud of false humanitarianism. Daily life is monotonous, every event occurring at
the same time and place, leaving absolutely no vacancy for purposeful self-fulfillment. Civilians
are never granted the occasion to achieve personal preference, solitude, or even unabridged time
for original innovation or discovery. The culture Equality 7-2521 is constrained to, derives itself
within these proceedings of discriminatory censorship. Every choice must obey the instruction
of, "[existing] through, by and for our brothers". (3) Equality is scorned as a child for asking
questions and is even beaten for being intellectually superior to others. He queries the previous
presence of the "Unmentionable Times", the period when "towers which rose to the sky" (19)

2. had existed but remains censored in hopes of being forgotten. The language of his nation has also
adjusted itself to fit the status quo. The distinct absence of individual pronouns within the text is
challenging to overlook and generates a unique and delicate lens of perspective. Even uttering "I"
is such a severe transgression has been deemed punishable by death. By removing all manners of
linguistic self-identification, it becomes unthinkable to imagine oneself disassociated from the
collective. This concept is additionally sustained when Equality unavoidably gets reprimanded
for his observed portrayal of individuality disconnected from the societal norm. Anything not
explicitly permitted by law is prohibited. In reaction, most of Anthem's society has become
homogenized and submissive. Unable to think for themselves apart from the tenet of the
collective, they become ignorant and oblivious to any alternate truth. This presents Equality
7-2521’s actions as distinctive when compared to the crowd, since they are not controlled. His
display of unconstrained thought is received poorly by the World Council of Scholars because
they fear their incapability to regulate his judgment as they had with everyone else. All
knowledge not under collective authority is "voted against them, [...] as all men must." (57) If
one were to realize the truth about their society's unknown, an opportunity would emerge for
them to develop their own unique and original view approaching.
Similar to the fundamental thoughts and questions of a young child just beginning to
grasp the world around them, Equality 7-2521 is naturally curious concerning the content and
mechanisms of the environment encompassing him. He strives to understand why and how
things are, stating himself, "We wished to know. We wished to know about all the things which
make the earth around us." (7) Equality 7-2521, in his youth, desires to be granted the occupation
of scholar, despite personal preferences being frowned upon. The Council of Vocations
recognizes this and thus assigns him the authority of Street Sweeper to restrain his intellectual

3. capability. Equality originally accepts this charge, as he himself describes, "We would accept our
Life Mandate, and we would work for our brothers, gladly and willingly, and we would erase our
sin against them, which they did not know, but we knew." (10) Equality eventually comes to
admonish this thinking because he could not comprehend his internal struggle. One man against
his entire society -- The need for discovery as opposed to the presence of shame. He goes on to
perpetrate various offenses in his community; exploring an underground tunnel, stealing
writings, and reinventing forgotten technology. When subsequently possible, he savors the brief
moments of seclusion he experiences within his hidden underpass. Equality finds himself in
perpetual demand to know more, despite societal restraints operating against him. He manages to
split from the confines of his conformist culture and eventually produces electricity.
Acknowledging the anomaly of his civilization's archaic technology, he resolves to persuade the
Council of Scholars of his newfound invention's usefulness. Although he assures himself that his
contraption is solely for the interest of humankind, in succession, he determines his happiness is
derived from the individual production of his device by the employment of self-interest. Through
his vigorous hunt for knowledge, Equality retreats into the "Uncharted Forest", a place believed
barren of cordiality and liveability. Equality's psychological power is unquestionable. Ayn Rand
composes a narrative in compliance with her conception of Equality 7-2521; within a society that
has crushed all potentialities of achieving change, innovation and discovery are infinitely imbued
within the spirit of man.
It is inside the Uncharted Forest that Equality 7-2521 permanently realizes himself as an
individual. Only until he had undergone sincere, uninterrupted, and absolute seclusion did
Equality have the possibility to ponder the significance of individual happiness. He identifies the
destructions of collectivism and its incompetence to provide the fulfillment it promises. Anthem

4. approaches its apex in Equality's first-ever use of oral self-identification; "I am. I think. I will."
(78) In his unveiling of the Unspeakable Word, Equality recognizes that the pursuance of
knowledge and objective truth is an essential component of one's individuality. No occurrence of
suppression will ever prove capable of entirely dictating man's power of innovation and
discernment. Equality rejoices in his recognition that he "[owes] nothing to my brothers, nor do I
gather debts from them. I ask none to live for me, nor do I live for any others. I covet no man’s
soul, nor is my soul theirs to covet." The deeds deemed unlawful within Anthem's society are
merely pieces of one's potential and aptness. Equality 7-2521 gratifies himself under his
newfound identification as "Prometheus" and resolves to repudiate his former collectivist
mindset and the despair it undertakes.
Equality's hunt for knowledge is a segment that introduces him on the route to
self-discovery. Having been subjugated to the substantial censorship showcased in Anthem, he
develops a philosophical outlook on life. Equality's ideas are a crystalline depiction of Ayn
Rand's experiences witnessing the naturalization of the Russian Revolution and its spiral into a
totalitarian government. Equality, similar to Rand, maintains the notion that the loss of
understanding the philosophical individual will only lead to chaos and authoritarianism. Anthem
remains a cautionary tale about the predicament of sacrificing our views and comfort in the name
of altruism: but even if man is constrained. The originality he brings can never completely be
suppressed.