How Is Equality Revealed In Ayn Rand's Anthem

In the book Anthem, by Ayn Rand, there is a man, Equality 7-2521, who unknowingly wishes to be himself in a world that only sees mankind as one body, and all men are forced to follow this herd mentality. As the book progresses, Equality 7-2521 finds freedom in a secret, underground tunnel. Equality is allowed time to learn about the scientific world around him and he finds joy in this. It seems as if he is motivated to make himself happy or to better the world for all men, but this is not the case. Equality’s main motivation, one others can follow today to live better, is to break from the mold that all men are equal and diverge from his fellow brothers, because he often wonders what the Unthinkable-Word is, Equality feels free and happy when
he escapes into the Uncharted Forest, and he believes ego is sacred. A major justification for the thesis is that Equality wants to know what the Unthinkable Word could be. In Anthem, Equality asks himself, “What-even if we have to burn for it like the Saint of the pyre-what is the Unspeakable Word?” ( Rand 51). This shows Equality is willing to risk his life to stand out of the crowd, even if the moment if brief and death follows after. If everyone had this mentality, then mankind could accomplish magnificent things. Another explanation for the claim is that Equality feels elated to be unrestricted in the Uncharted Forest.
“We thought suddenly that we could lie thus as long as we wished….We could also rise, or run, or leap, or fall down again…. And we heard suddenly that we were laughing aloud, laughing as if there were no power left in us save laughter,” thinks Equality when he awakes in the Uncharted Forest (Rand 78-79). This shows just how happy he is to not have the pressure of the society that wishes him to be like everyone else. Equality can be say he wants, do what he wishes, and just be different. This show that, when a person breaks away, they are happier and a better person. They are not restricted, and that can be the same for anyone now, just follow your heart. The last argument is that Equality believes ego is a sacred word. This is known, because Equality states, “The word which will not die, should we all perish in battle. The word which can never die on this earth, for it is the heart of it and the meaning and the glory. The sacred word: EGO” (Rand 104-105). This clearly shows just how abundantly Equality believes in having an ego, and this is developed throughout the book to show readers what Equalities motivation is. In conclusion, people of today should follow Equality’s example and break away from societies chains on a person’s ego. Equality ended up doing this, because he strived to know what the Unthinkable Word was, he found joy in being free, and believed strongly in the word ego. All of this can lead anyone to be an overall better person who can stand out as an
individual.