Anthem Analysis

A captivating novelette in which a man’s priority is to serve only for his brothers, Ayn Rand’s Anthem illustrates a society that has suffered the ghastly consequences of collectivism. She depicts an oppressive culture in which the word “I” is unheard of and men belong to the collective “We.” Men’s lives are determined through the Council of Vocations, a group that maintains a powerful dictatorship by subjugating the public from the beginning of their lives. The idea that “If you are not needed by your brother men, there is no reason for you to burden the earth with your bodies” (Chapter 1) has been forced into average mindset of the vehemently maintained society. In contrast, Rand mocks the totalitarian civilization through the main

Life has fared well since Gaea and I have lived in this house. There are now others in houses surrounding us. These are my friends that I returned to rescue, International 4-8818 being one of them. He is now called Apollo. We are happy here, all of us. The others are learning, albeit rather slowly, yet they learn to say I instead of we. It is my hope that, before my first child is born, they will all say I so that he or she may only know this and not the cursed we.

The novel of Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, contributes to controversial subjects in society that are still relevant today. Some issues addressed by Rand in her novel include: equality, social hierarchy, individuality, and government. Throughout the duration of reading Anthem the issues in which Rand makes relevant are not obvious, but more so discussed through conflicts and situations that the main character, Equality 7-2521, encounters. Although many of the altercations that present social issues are provided by either other characters singlehandedly or by a group of the characters in alliance, some of the main issues that arise in this novel are presented within the main character himself.

This novel displays exactly what Ayn Rand’s theory of Objectivism does not support in order to expose the weaknesses of her opponents ways and express the importance of self improvement. She puts forth for the reader the faults of a collective minded society as the leaders and society within Anthem attempt to control mans body and mind. Towards the close of the novel, as Equality 7-2521 discovers the sacred word he also comes to understand the perks of self improvement and striving to advance as an individual. The leaders and society attempt to accomplish the tyrannical end to their dictatorship through their control of mans body and mind by hiding the past and maintaining a collective

“It is a sin to write this. It is a sin to think words no others think and to put them down upon a paper no others are to see. It is base and evil… We have broken the laws” (17). Thus begins Anthem by Ayn Rand, a novella about a future collectivist society and a man named Equality 7-2521. Though the story takes place in the future, all technology that came after candles and glass has been taken away. The word “I” has ceased to exist in anyone’s vocabulary. Every person must agree on everything and feel like everyone else. To accomplish ‘cleansing’ the evils of mankind, society lead its people to believe that nothing can be done independently. The story is told through the eyes of Equality as he purposely defies the laws

The story of Anthem takes place in dystopian future in which freedom and human rights have been obliterated. Equality 7-2521, the protagonist, is a street sweeper who finds a tunnel where he conducts his science experiments which are considered a sin. Throughout the book we see him change and discover how capable he is through a multitude of literary devices. In the novella , Anthem, Ayn Rand utilizes vivid imagery and a profusion of diction to frenetically emphasize the idea of love.

The dystopian novella, Anthem, is set in an age in which every aspect of life is controlled by oppressive leaders. In this society, everyone was deemed equal to each other, meaning no new ideas were allowed and the past could not be discussed. Individuals are told they exist only for the sake of serving society and have no other purpose. Strict rules were put in place involving everyone’s daily lives, their partners, and even when they were allowed to smile. The goal of this controlling environment is to be completely free from conflict and maintain peace and order by giving citizens little freedom.

The quote, “The secrets of the earth are not for all men to see, but for those who will seek them.” means that you cannot see what you do not look for. The secrets of this earth does not come to our hands whenever we want it. We must seek for the secrets of the earth ourselves. Only the people who work to find the secrets will have a chance to acquire it.

The world in Anthem is ideal and it’s a sin for anyone to think that they are more or less than “WE”(Rand, 20). However, in Anthem there is a character that knows there is more to be discovered that his brothers does not know about yet. When Equality goes to the scholars, to inform them on the spectacular stuff he has recently learned, he is chased out of his community and into a forest that no one dares to enter (Rand, 75).

The futuristic group “The Council” makes the decisions on the many strict rules the city should follow and obey. In the novel Anthem, everyone has lost knowledge of individualism to a point where they do not know pronouns such as “I” but instead Equality 7-2521 has to refer to himself as “We”. “Such would have been our life, had we not committed our crime which has changed all things for us. And it was our curse which drove us to our crime. We had been a good Street Sweeper and like all our brother Street Sweepers, save for our cursed wish to know. We looked too long at the stars at night, and at the trees and the earth. And when we cleaned the yard of the Home of the Scholars, we gathered the glass vials, the pieces of metal, the dried bones which they had discarded.” (Rand, 7) The Council dictates a person’s future by assigning a job they believe best suits a citizen. Although Equality 7-2521 wants

Individuality is non-existent and is known as one of the most sinful things they want. They aren't allowed to express their thoughts freely. “The laws say that men may not write unless the Council of the Vocations bid them so” (17). “We strive to be like all men, for all men must be alike” (19). “We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but the great WE, indivisible and forever” (19). Anthem’s society has none to minimal amounts of technology. “All the great modern inventions come from the Home of the Scholars, such as the newest one, which was found only a hundred years ago, of how to make candles from wax and string; also how to make glass, which is put on windows, to protect us from the rain” (24). “They whisper many strange things, of the towers which rose to the sky in those Unmentionable Times, and the wagon moved without forces, and lights which burned without flame”. “We pulled the heavy curtains from the windows and we saw that not more than twelve men could have lived here” (90). In Anthem’s society, education is not important nor needed for future jobs. “Men must learn until they reach their fifteenth year. Then they go to work” (20). “Dare not to choose in your minds the work you would like to do when you leave” (22). “We asked so many questions that the teachers forbade it” (23). Anthem’s society was created to be in the future which we imagine as a

     As one reads Ayn Rand’s significant quotes from the story of anthem, there is always a main theme that is trying to escape, just as Prometheus escaped in her story. All three of the listed quotes work as a trio to sing that We; as society, works to defeat individuality. The quotes emphasize that we cannot survive without individualism and being alone brings out our unique personalities. It is true that all the quotes work as one, but at the same time they have their own individualism. Each quote holds a purpose of its own and the author wants to express the quote to each persons understanding.

No “I” and no “you”, just “we.” How could we live in a world like that? Ayn Rand’s book shows a twisted and different form of collectivism. Everyone is told what they have to do for the rest of their future. Children are not even allowed to know who their parents are and are never given the chance to meet them. Although, only one shines in the society that no one else may see until now. Equality finds it difficult to find individualism in his life and in the rules of his society. Equality eventually finds individualism in escaping, to a haven of his own, from his odd society. Equality can then find peace with himself and can live in a more individualistic life in his newfound house with “The Golden One” in the forbidden and

Freedom is defined as being at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint; furthermore, to be released from an external force or control (dictionary). “Harrison Bergeron” is a short story that is in a society where the government is trying to make everyone equal, using handicaps to decrease certain individuals traits or qualities that are above average. In the novella Anthem, the people and society went back to the past when they are far into the future. The people are living in caves and have seemed to have lost or forgotten what people before them have discovered and believed. “Harrison Bergeron” and Anthem are very different but also have many similarities, especially referring to family and education.

Anthem’s previous strategy, which focused on cost leadership, was supported by numerous factors including their high brand recognition through the Blue Cross Blue Shield network. However, because of the post ACA environment and novel payment models, the company is shifting towards a differentiation strategy. Their new strategy focuses on the following objectives: (Anthem website)