An Analysis Of Equality's 'So Long A Road'

After attempting to better his community through his brilliant ideas and discoveries, Equality is rejected and shunned. His thoughts of the event reflect his first independent ideas of self against the society, “No single one can possess greater wisdom than the many Scholars... Yet we can. We do. (54)”

“Anthem” is an engrossing novel by Ayn Rand focusing on the character Equality 7-2521’s descent into rebellion against the new socialistic government that has taken all previous scientific advancement out of life, only to leave the ideology of collectivism. His quest to discover, learn, and invent is problematic for those that oversee the progress of the civilization, and from roughly around the age of five, he is punished for his nature. Soon enough, the twenty-one year old is on a journey to learn, not only about nature’s mysteries, but also about what sets him apart from his dead-eyed peers. Equality 7-2521 has many distinctive characteristics that others in the restricted city do not, some of which are relatable, and others that are indeed unique.

“Anthem” is an engrossing novel by Ayn Rand focusing on the character Equality 7-2521’s descent into rebellion against the new socialistic government that has taken all previous scientific advancement out of life, only to leave the ideology of collectivism. His quest to discover, learn, and invent is problematic for those that oversee the progress of the civilization, and from roughly around the age of five, he is punished for his nature. Soon enough, the twenty-one year old is on a journey to learn, not only about nature’s mysteries, but also about what sets him apart from his dead-eyed peers. Equality 7-2521 has many distinctive characteristics that others in the restricted city do not, some of which are relatable, and others that are indeed

. . but when the majority of their brother Scholars voted against them, they abandoned their ideas, as all men must.” These words of a member of the World Council of Scholars, which exiles Equality 7-2521 after he presents his lightbulb, in Chapter VII, reflect the view, pervasive in Equality 7-2521’s society, that any idea not held by all men is worthless. Equality 7-2521’s confidence in the usefulness of his invention is irrelevant, as the council cares not about advancing scientific progress but rather about controlling it. The World Council will not act unless all its members agree and, as a result, has not approved any technological progress in the last hundred years. The philosophy expounded here by the council member reflects the ideals of collectivism, against which the whole of Anthem is written. Rand believes that when society acts based on consensus, the weakest members of society drag down the most exemplary members, with the result that society never achieves its maximum potential. This system represents the we that Rand considers the ultimate evil in society and against which all her heroes, including Equality 7-2521,

In fact, Equality was a different individual because of his intelligence and self awareness. All throughout school he asked several questions during lessons, which was wrong to do in their society. He would be beaten and punished because of how wise he was, so Equality tried his best to not know of things, but it wasn’t possible. In the text he says, “It was not that the learning was too hard for us. It was that the learning was too easy.” He wanted to be challenged and taught a variety of subjects. He says that he loved the science of things, which is why Equality wanted to go to the Home of the Scholars to follow the occupation he was interested in. He was very much aware of his surroundings and knew that there was more to the world than what the teacher’s tell the students. Equality knew there were all kinds of mysteries a part of the world and commented about it, saying, “We think there are mysteries to the sky and under the water and in the plants which grow.” He recognizes that the information they are taught is not all accurate and there is much more out there that they are not aware

Striving to know more about his surroundings, ¨We think there are mysteries in the sky and under the water and in the plants which grow..(...)..and questions give us no rest.¨ Wishing to be a Scholar, Equality’s curiosity landed him the job of street sweeper. His questions were forbidden, since his brothers didn’t have any, neither should he; or at least that’s what his teachers said. Equality struggles with this concept, but is not yet ready to rebel. He has had the word altruism sculpted into his mind, and in this society, there is no second choice, for egoism was effaced.

He envisions a society that is heard of all over the world, and he believes all men will wish to reach it and this new city will someday “carry the greatest of the world’s blood to his threshold.” The rules in place in the society Equality once lived in were all restricted to working and living together and never individually. In the new society that he envisions I believe Equality will encourage individuality and thinking for oneself, especially in the way of creative thinking, since Equality himself loves to create and explore the past times and sciences, this is how he discovered the power of electricity. Another rule implemented in Equality’s old home was that men were not allowed to have preferences of their brothers. They could not like or become friends with another person.

During his childhood, he was blessed with an individual spirit and the intelligence to understand the knowledge of the world. In spite of this, he reckoned his abilities as transgressions. He acknowledged that the way of life was that “Everything which comes from the many is good. Everything which comes from the one is evil” (Rand 85). Equality strives to accept the totalitarian society and consequently, he desperately struggles to disregard his abilities and subdue his desires. The grisly effects of society are portrayed immensely through the profound sense of guilt he suffers while committing the Sin of Preference. He continually recites that, “We are nothing. Mankind is all. By the grace of our brothers are we allowed our lives. We exist through, by, and for our brothers who are the State. Amen” (Rand 21). Gradually, his aspirations contradict with the dogma of society. He discovers that he finds more joy committing the Sin of Preference rather than restraining himself from happiness, which ultimately, allows him to elude his conscious premises. Equality’s belief that “[he] [has] torn [himself] from the truth which is [his] brother men… [he] knows [this], but [he] [does] not care” (Rand 76) marks his complete triumph over collectivism. Prior to his transformation, he belonged to a society in which the Sin of Preference revoked all rights for any desire, which ultimately disallowed citizens to think for freely. If permitted to do so, no

The society that Equality lives in tries to live in complete uniformity. This society is controlled by a council of elders. They dictate every aspect of a life for a man. This is supported by the quote “Councils are the voice of all justice, for they are the voice of all men.” (Rand 22) Society’s beliefs are exemplified through the hymns of brotherhood, equality, and the collective spirit. There is no concept of self and the book is written in first person plural. Collectivism is the belief the group has higher priority than each individual in it. This is demonstrated by the quote “there is no transgression blacker than to do or think alone.” Equality starts at the youngest of age. Starting in school students are taught not to be any different and any who are physically or mentally are reprimanded by the teachers. Even so, there is scientific development and new technologies are developed mainly by the Home of the

Living through this society, Equality is quite unfamiliar with the concept of individuality. Initially, Equality lives denying any hint of individuality coming to light just as others in the society do. With that mentality Equality pleads,

Although Equality and his leaders have developed different experiences and knowledge, he can’t judge his society for having a different perspective than him. Instead he should respect their point of view and move on in life. Even though the Scholars didn’t respect his new discovery of the light bulb, it doesn’t mean that

Throughout the book Equality is curious to know more, he wants to discover more. Equality always wants to know more, questions are always coming to his mind (24). Equality would gather the scholars leftover lab materials and he would study them (29). He would get these materials as he was street sweeping.

This perfectly describes Equality’s intentions. He did not make his progress to become a man of ego for anyone to follow in his footsteps. As talked about in “The Soul of an Individualist”, this is the victory and sacrifice

Every single day for more than 2 years equality would escape society for 3 hours a day and he would get to think, study, learn, and write what he has held in for so long. Equality’s brothers didn’t have a strong self-connection. All of Equality’s “brothers” had no energy, happiness, nor creativity (Rand). Unlike Equality they didn’t know who they were as a person, they

As "The Road Not Taken" begins there is regret expressed by the narrator that he can't travel on both of the two roads. He also describes one of the two roads as far as he could see down that road and in the second stanza it turns out the other road was "just as fair" and in fact may have been "the better claim" because clearly not many people had been down that other road. That second road seem to have "wanted wear" to the human eye, but by the time he started walking on that second road it was apparent that others had been there and had " 安orn them really about the same."