Individuality In Ayn Rand's Anthem
In the book Anthem, Ayn Rand publicizes her ideas of humanity by creating a society in which individuality is a sin and elaborates on these beliefs throughout the book. The protagonist, Equality 7-2521, struggles in this society as he questions the notion of collectivism that the government imposes on its people. Approaching the end of the book, Equality 7-2521 finally grasps the concept “To be free, a man must be free of his brothers.” In these words from Anthem, Ayn Rand states one of the story’s main themes, which is the importance of individuality. No one can succeed in life if they are only dependent on others. Anthem addresses the dehumanization of mankind where individuals are stripped of their freedom. From the very beginning, Equality
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Only the word “we” is used, even to describe oneself. The state considers individuality unreal. No person is unique or outstanding, as human beings are indistinguishable parts of a greater whole. The characters are nameless and are only known by a word followed by a number. Also, all decisions are made by Scholars and Councils. One of the greater crimes you can commit is being alone, which equality 7-252 breaks countless times. When he discovers a tunnel from the Unmentionable times, he goes there alone to do science experiments, but it is well worth it because he learned more information in two years by himself than all the scholars have in ten years. Eventually, Equality 7-2521 admits he is evil because he is the only person doing something for his own benefit and no one else’s. When Equality 7-2521 says "My happiness needs no higher aim to vindicate it. My happiness is not the means to any end. It is the end It is its own goal. It is its own purpose.”, he starts to wholly understand his importance and role as an individual and ultimately learns the word “I.” In Anthem, every person who belongs to the community is required to live and work for the soul purpose of the "great WE," which can be interpreted as the fellowship of all men. For example, when Equality 7-2521 presented the light bulb to the World Council of Scholars, they responded by wanted to destroy it and saying “what is not thought by all men cannot be
Only the word “we” is used, even to describe oneself. The state considers individuality unreal. No person is unique or outstanding, as human beings are indistinguishable parts of a greater whole. The characters are nameless and are only known by a word followed by a number. Also, all decisions are made by Scholars and Councils. One of the greater crimes you can commit is being alone, which equality 7-252 breaks countless times. When he discovers a tunnel from the Unmentionable times, he goes there alone to do science experiments, but it is well worth it because he learned more information in two years by himself than all the scholars have in ten years. Eventually, Equality 7-2521 admits he is evil because he is the only person doing something for his own benefit and no one else’s. When Equality 7-2521 says "My happiness needs no higher aim to vindicate it. My happiness is not the means to any end. It is the end It is its own goal. It is its own purpose.”, he starts to wholly understand his importance and role as an individual and ultimately learns the word “I.” In Anthem, every person who belongs to the community is required to live and work for the soul purpose of the "great WE," which can be interpreted as the fellowship of all men. For example, when Equality 7-2521 presented the light bulb to the World Council of Scholars, they responded by wanted to destroy it and saying “what is not thought by all men cannot be