Ayn Anthem Chapter 6 Analysis

Whether discussed in Anthem or found in reality today, the idea of what is right in different societies can be found as completely different when briefly analyzed. While examining Anthem in a simplistic way, one can find the contrast between Equality’s hopes for the future and the society of Equality’s past at the end of the novel, as a contradiction that has no medial perspective. In the excerpt, “Galt’s Speech” from For the New Intellectual, Rand illustrates a view similar to Equality’s thoughts near the

This character helped understand the theme in the story, that individuality must be treasured in our society, since the character is , while struggling to maintain his own individuality.“...and we would work for our brothers, gladly and willingly, ...What is my life, if I am but to bow, to agree and to obey?...” (Rand). This quote helps support the theme in the novel by showing Equality's individuality in different parts of the book. At the beginning, he denied his individuality and tried to blend in with the conformist society, while at the end, he accepts and treasures his individuality. This relates to the theme by showing that his individuality is treasured and valued by him.

In Anthem, Ayn Rand is constantly using characters and emotion to set the mood and tone in the book. In the book, everyone is equal and do not have their own self rights. But of course one character in Anthem does not agree with the rules and goes awol. Throughout the book, characters like Equality 7-2521 become dynamic and learn more about two people in their group of one hundred kids. Every year 100 babies are born because men and women are sent to the City Palace of Mating. Among these two people were International 4-8818 and Liberty 5-3000. Both of these characters causes some of the choices Equality made in the book. Ayn broke down the book with mood and tone into three categories; characters and their feelings, challenges dealing with the setting, and society such as the Council.

There are many more examples of un-equality as you near the end of the book. The three main characters spend the whole book trying to get to a “Refugee Camp” for survivors and those who are scared and need the safety it promises. Once there it becomes apparent that it is no safer or nicer in the Camp as it is anywhere else. In my opinion, reading this back from cover to cover will definitely change you, the main idea and several other smaller themes of this story are… surprising. You will never know the unfairity of living like that until you have either been put through it (something I would not want to do) or read about it, it shows how horrible the world can be if you are different and how terrible it can be, even to those whose innocence is greater than most others.

In addition, Equality continues to make his individualism known by preferring a woman, Liberty 3-5000, above all. While sweeping the streets, Equality takes notice of a woman working in the fields. He is instantly intrigued by her and thinks of her over all others. Equality’s attitude is significantly changed by his interactions with Liberty. “We do not know why we think of them. We do not know why, when we think of them, we feel of a sudden that earth is good and that it is not a burden to live” (Rand 41). Individualism is shown when Equality chooses to favor Liberty. Equality looked at her, even though there were other women in the field that day. He chooses Liberty above all the woman. Equallity shows a preference in only her, which shows individuality. To add, Equality is becoming more unruly and disobiedient by continuing to break rules. The crimes he comits involve talking to woman of other Trades, looking upon woman, and the Transgression of Preference, which is to prefer someone or something above others. Equality’s love for Liberty continues to isolate and detach him from his brothers. His love for Liberty motivates him to banish himself from his society and cut off all his ties to it.

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.

In this paper, I will be talking about the book called Anthem by Ayn Rand. I will be talking about characters such as protagonists and antagonists and how some characters impacted the story. I will talk about the setting, conflicts, and the plot of the story. I will also talk about literary devices such as point of view, symbolism, mood, tone, and theme.

|Chapter 4 |Clearly this far into the book a theme of oppression is quite |

Overall, this novel proved itself to be a story of hope and liberation. The way in which Equality 7-2521 repeatedly showed actions and thoughts of opposing the society, and how he finally came to the conclusion that the modern society is deprived and wanted to change it, shows that this story is not about despair. Although readers don’t truly know if Equality’s goal to make a better future for the world was achieved, his display of independence, want for freedom, and plans to change the world, left a feeling of hope. Equality 7-2521 sought liberation and a future in which humans were free to be independent. Likewise, a famous phrase in the real world says, “De oppresso liber”-- meaning to “liberate the

After that first step is taken, people will begin to realize the merits of their situations and therefore, begin to fight as well. This theme is evident throughout the book as the motif of individuality is so prevalent but it only really becomes clear once the main character begins to act on his beliefs. Character development also takes many large strides in this section. Equality’s actions during his meeting with the Council of Scholars were rash and perhaps even radical. Now however, we begin to see his logic in his actions. This all shows the fact that he is beginning to think for himself more than ever and is therefore becoming an individual rather than a monotonous member of the collective. This all comes back to the major conflict of the book: Equalities search for a life in which he can exhibit nonconformity and live in any way he chooses. The conflict is fully resolved after Equality and Liberty find a small house hidden from the rest of society which is from the “Unmentionable times”, a time period similar to our own which the World Council attempts to hide as best they can because it can be implied that they fear to lose power over this society. In the final few chapters of the book, Equality learns, through reading classical texts of the word ‘I’. Thus, his journey for individualism and nonconformity is completed and his conflict is resolved. Rand writes:

The story’s settings of the novel, Anthem, greatly influences the plot. The novel’s setting takes in a Dark Age where there is no creativity, technology, progress, or optimism. The “society” is completely controlled and manipulated by a central group of leaders. The story primarily centers around a young man named Equality 7-2521 who is a street sweeper. This occupation does not offer him opportunities to expand beyond his small controlled world. Equality 7-2521 take his readers on an adventurous life journey as written in his own journal. Readers feel his oppression and personal desperation as they travel through the dark tunnel and live each day in the shoes of Equality.

a world of collectivism. Equality is a street sweeper which was chosen for him by the Council of

He realizes he had everything to fear from the twisted society that he lived in. Equality had trusted himself enough to completely let go of his old society, to leave everything behind and adopt a new culture. He must have trusted himself immensely to have done this. He also realizes humans are much too smart to govern that society and wonders if they were just too afraid to contradict their government or just did not trust themselves to try and overthrow it. Equality realizes he should be confident in himself. He is a very headstrong person and is not persuaded so easily. That is why he had left his society in the first place. Equality would like to live as an individual where he would not work together for the common good, as a group, but where he alone will work as an individual in his new society that he will soon create.

In the second half of the book, the narrator loses his optimism and naivety and in place finds anger, frustration, and passion. Eventually the narrator ends up joining a social equality movement called the

However, this anger presented in the novel is not a negative one. The characters are about to burst out of it and as result they will seek improving their conditions and fighting against this inhumane treatment. Many people agree on the fact that the novel is greatly about anger. For instance, Malcolm Cowely believes that the novel is one among the “great angry books that have the power to spur readers on to protest and action.” ( Cowely, American Tragedy p.382-383)