Symbolism In Ayn Rand's Anthem

The future is predicted to be full of opportunity and endless possibility by the advancements of technology, but what if we end up living in a world where the opposite happens? In the novella Anthem, Ayn Rand utilizes symbolism and many examples of diction to show that every individual should have triumph over oppression.
Various types of symbolism in Anthem is used to help emphasize the importance of a person’s independence. When Prometheus, the main character, read a book stored in the house from the unmentionable times, he “saw the word I, and when [he] understood this word, [he] wept in deliverance and in pity for all mankind”. The letter “I” is a major symbol and has multiple definitions in the Anthem. “I” represents how everyone should
The council nurtured the people of this city when they were young to say ‘we’ instead of ‘I’, so when Prometheus spoke, he referred to we instead of I. “We did this work alone… We look upon Earth.” The use of the word ‘’we’’ shows equality to such a degree that people in this society have to regard themselves part of the society while talking about themselves, displaying that the council is trying to dispose of any form of individuality. After Prometheus discovers ‘I’ and its value, he begins to speak using I in his sentences like “I will, I am, I think.” The choice of the letter I while everyone else is saying we is helping us understand that Prometheus’s individuality is greater than society’s laws, and because of this, he has decided to raise his sons to fight against the corrupted city in the far future. Even though Prometheus actions are showcasing that he likes the city in the introduction of the book, it is clear that he doesn’t respect the city through his quotes of him saying sentences like “my brothers, for their minds are shackled into the weakest and dullest ones amongst them.” Prometheus’s lack of positive words exhibits that the city is dysfunctional because of the lack of individuality, so much so that people tried revolting against this defective community. Through the words chosen to help us understand that individuality is important, we can see why Ayn Rand includes diction to convey her thoughts.
To conclude, Ayn rand enters many examples of the literary devices symbolism and diction in Anthem to help emphasize that everyone needs their own thoughts and opinions. Who knows, is our world heading toward the same fate as the society in