The Road To Individualism In Anthem, By Ayn Rand

“The dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they act on their dreams with open eyes to make it possible,” Lawrence of Arabia once said. Men can be dangerous. Those who follow their desires and explore the forbidden are pledged to hold the world upon its inner core. If the forbidden is challenged and faced with its true reality, then the greatness you find is the long lost concealed knowledge. This is what the character Equality realizes in the book “Anthem”.

At this early stage of life all Equality 7-2521 knows of is a life of collectivism. Ever since Equality’s childhood he has struggled to blend into the rest of his society. “We strive to be like all our brother men, for all men must be alike.... We are one in all and all in one.

Daisy Pham Language Arts Honor February 2nd, 2017 1st hour Anthem The book Anthem was written by Ayn Rand is a Science Fiction Book. This Science Fiction book would be unknown since the Author didn’t exactly give the time in the book. In the book Anthem there wasn’t any clues or hints that it took place in 1900’s or the 2000’s. Ayn Rand is a Russian-American novelist and she is known for writing books.

Although at first he sought approval, Equality grows to accept his role against the society and builds to a defiant nature. "Neither am I the means to any end others may wish to accomplish. I am not a tool for their use. I am not a servant of their needs. I am not a bandage for their wounds.

However, Equality is blind to the faults of society, he truly believes that what is wrong is his own desires, not the

Equality’s individuality is the second step to rediscovering the lightbulb. He has his own individuality, and his individuality is what makes him

Equality’s greatest strengths and personal qualities were intended to be restricted and abhorred. Indeed, Equality and his gifts were abhorred, but he found a way to circumvent each restriction, consciously or not. And, though he maintained use of his strengths and kept a strong spirit, Equality was never able to permanently influence the society because, as a Street Sweeper, he was no longer part of the great WE. The Council of Vocations mandated Equality to life as a Street Sweeper in order to limit his intellectual opportunities.

Equality wonders what the words forgotten in the Unmentionable Times are that have been forbidden (Rand 49). The curiosity which Equality possesses is forbidden, especially because it is a sin, in his society, to wonder what others do not. There is a power only Equality knows off which goes against every law known to man (Rand 53). This power, electricity, was forgotten and lost through the years, yet Equality continues to wonder, learn, and explore this new found force. As Equality explores hidden truths, he finds the word “I” and once he fully understands it he cries in pity and remorse for the world (Rand 98).

Through recounting his life, Equality 7-2521 is able to recognize how he always had an inner voice that was suppressed by his society because it was telling him to be an individual and put his personal wants above the wants of his fellow brothers. In a world where no one is able to think privately, Equality 7-2521 breaks away from the only moral belief system he has ever been taught and

In response to the choice of Street Sweeper, Equality thinks, “We knew we had been guilty, but now we had a way to atone for it” (26). With his intelligence and curiosity, Equality would do much better as a Scholar. The government punishes him for being different, and as a result, they can’t see him become advantageous. They are blinded by their beliefs on

Equality can only think of himself, at the beginning

To start, Equality feels it is important to be true to himself. He grew up in a strict community

It’s hard for anyone to receive help when needed. It’ll be a crime for those who question their work. Equality is one of those people who question work and how to be free. All of his life he has been alone: “We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great we, one, indivisible and forever!”

There's so much emphasis on putting others before oneself that people often forget to look out for their own needs, as shown in this book. Ayn Rand successfully captures the negatives of an overrated ideology and presents an unorthodox perspective on the matter. In conclusion, Equality's true motives behind his work are much more selfish than they first appear to be. Equality strives to fulfil his own personal desire rather than contribute everything to society, and this isn't necessarily a negative thing.

Equality does this by when he first falls in love with Liberty, he is obsessed. However, when his invention is rejected by the council, he starts to realize he doesn’t need to be in a group and in result, starts to love Liberty less. When he understand individuality fully, he becomes very selfish and doesn’t care for Liberty at all and thinks of her as an object. Equality felt he needed to be with a group and with Liberty. Through his journey he discovered that he doesn’t need to be with a group and can be independent.