Equality 7-2521's own name is ironic. He is represented as far from equal than his people in his society. He stands for liberty and freedom of the individual, which are opposed to equality, since equality means that everyone is the same. Liberty 5-3000, is a character who stands for freedom. What is ironic about her name is that her society would name her Liberty 5-3000, since that is what it destroys. Collective 0-0009, has no irony in his name, he is the perfect spokesperson for collectivism: “We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever" (1.8). All in all, in the society of collectivism, they have no identity of their own. They are not allowed to be individual and be unique an do things like fall in love with who they want, cry, feel emotions, and more. In the society of Collectivism, the word “I” doesn’t exist, it is simply banished from their language, as are the words “he” or “she”. The first-person and third-person singular have been abolished by society because they promote individuality, and no one even know we exist anymore. This is one of the most unique parts in the novella, because it shows the collectivist mindset of the society and the characters that are in it. Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000's struggles to find the word "I" are a part of their big struggle to reclaim their freedom and individuality. “I am. I think. I will.” (11.1) Equality 7-2521 shouts these words after he discovers the word “I”. After going through all his life using the word “we” to refer to himself, for the first time he experiences freedom and joy. Once he is able to express himself using his new word, Equality 7-2521 is able to imagine a whole new life for himself and Liberty 5-3000, in which they live on their own land and eat food that they made, and say “I love you”. As one can see, the vocabulary that their society uses prohibits individualism. Lastly, Everyone in Equality 7-2521's society has their lifetime occupation chosen for them by the Council of Vocations, supposedly to show the way in which they can use their talents to serve their society. Once a person’s occupation is chosen, he/she has to live with, eat with, and work with only people in his or her occupation. Sometimes the occupations fit well. Other times, however, they are just given as punishments. Equality 7-2521 is a scientific genius, and his friend International 4-8818 seems to be a natural artist, yet they both wind up Street Sweepers. The reason for that is because the Council does not want them getting in trouble and discovering individualism: "Dare not choose in your minds the work you would like to do when you leave the Home of the Students. You shall do that which the Council of Vocations shall prescribe for you." (1.20). To conclude, the major theme of Anthem by Ayn Rand, is Individualism. The Collectivist have no identities, they are just a group of people. Equality 7-2521 is in a society where no one has any individual identity. No one thinks for himself or feels anything which results in the council having full control of them. In the novella, the author promotes Individualism by critiquing the society of Collectivism by giving everyone individual meaningful names, banishing the word “I” from the language, and by not letting each individual do the job they want.
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