Equality 7-2521

Individuality, a thing we all take for granted, but in a collectivist society, individuality is banned in all forms and is enforced with torture and execution in the name of “brotherly love”. In the novella Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, all men are bound to the society and held captive by the government’s beliefs. The Home of Scholars is responsible for all scientific discoveries. A new act is preventing them from releasing their findings into the society. Equality also dabbles in science, and he knows that this is a transgression. Equality wishes only to study the clockwork of the world, and to be accepted into The Home of Scholars. He brings his invention of a light to the council, but is turned down because his technological advancement

1.Significance of "Equality 7-2521" and why this character refers to himself as "we". "He is a young intelligent and curious man, that ealizes his place in this world is not just," Our name is Equality 7-2521, as it is written on the iron bracelet, which all men wear on their left wrists with their names upon it. We are twenty-one years old."

In a society where fabrications and the eradication of individuality ran rampant, Equality 7-2521 chose to defy the norm and stand up to leaders who created numerous, inequitable falsehoods about life, love, and the power of the self. Through small acts of defiance, our heroic character overcame the totalitarian state and ultimately started a small but legitimate revolution against the system of collectivism and compliance. However, the young rebel could not have possibly respected the leaders of the oppressive society. As Rand said in her short essay, “But since men have to act, so long as they live, such a society is willing to be taken over by anyone willing to set its direction.” Equality 7-2521 had every right to denounce those in charge of an empire that deliberately withheld information from citizens.

These people have never seen a light bulb before, all they have seen is the recently discovered candle. The second part of the quote is, “The power of the sky can be made to do men’s bidding. There is no limits to its secrets and its might, and it can be made to grant us anything if we but choose to ask.” This is stating that electricity can be used for so much more than just light. This quote is prophesying in a way what electricity is capable of, like what it does in today’s

All his life he had been told that it “is a great sin, to be born with a head which is too quick. It is not good to be different from our brothers, but it is evil to be superior to them” (21). The Teachers made Equality believe that everything he did was wrong, and because they were appointed by the Councils, he believed them to be correct. The appointing of all things by the Councils relates to the Supreme Court. This situation relates to the moral sin in society. Everything is controlled. When Equality turned fifteen, the Council of Vocations appointed him the job of a “Street Sweeper”; it pleased him. This happiness did not last because he was unsatisfied. He always craved more, and one day, a gift was given. Equality 7-2521, with fellow Street Sweeper International 4-8818, uncovered an underground tunnel that was used for subways during the Unmentionable Times, which gave Equality hope. This underground tunnel became everything to Equality because it gave him peace, and it became the one of the many reasons why he was able to break free from being controlled by the leaders of his time of the Great

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.

When Equality 7-2521 begins the novel by saying, “It is a sin to write this.” he has a different moral assessment of writing than at the end of the novel. Throughout Anthem, Equality’s actions affect how he views his society and the people around him. By the end of the story, Equality begins to realize that the government and society that he lives in might not be so perfect, and it might not be a sin to write. Equality’s eventual moral assessments of his sins are correct and are supported by; his growth throughout the story, the themes of independence developed in the novel and Ayn Rand’s concepts concerning communism. These are the three ideas that will be developed and explained in this paper.

After Equality 7-2521's disappearance, a tunnel has been discovered on the edge of the City, near the City Theatre. It’s meaning is unknown, but countless brothers have often seen Equality 7-2521 in its nearby area. Many believe that this is where he spent his time discovering what he has supposedly presented to The Council of Scholars. Consequently, several items have been found, such as several stolen candles, knives, paper, glass vials, acids, an abundance of ashes and an assortment of animal carcasses. Various precious manuscripts have also been found. The City Council has yet to release a statement regarding the findings and are keeping quiet concerning the entire debacle.

When Equality 7-2521 is assigned the job of a street sweeper, he replies to the council that, "The will of our brothers be done.” (Rand, 26) Equality 7-2521 wanted to be a scholar, but accepts the assignment of a street sweeper because he is still contributing to the group. In this society, even being genetically unique is considered selfish for standing out. "This is a great sin, to be born with a head which is too quick.” (Rand, 20) Just because Equality 7-2521 is smarter than his fellow men, he is looked down upon. He is scorned for being tall as well, which shows the irrational view this society has towards

Equality 7-2521 feels trapped like as if there’s a wall in between him and the truth, which could potentially lead him into major problems because of his desire of do great. Equality, was never the same as the others, he was brighter, and people like him never fit in. In this society, he feels useless and trapped. He states a “…moths beat against the street lanterns” (pg. 28). The moth is trying to get to the light, but there’s a glass wall that surrounds the light that he needs/wants to reach. After observing the moth, he realizes that the moth attempting to reach the light metaphorically represents his life, for both he and the moth are blocked from their main desire by a barrier. Equality also writes about how “The sky is like a black sieve

Standing before the Council of Vocations, Equality 7-2521 waited patiently to hear what would become of his future. With all the jobs the council had to offer, there was only one that Equality 7-2521 dreamed to be. He wanted to be a Scholar. When the Council of Vocations told Equality his future, “ A finger of the hand of the oldest rose, pointed to us, and fell down again. This was the only thing which moved, for the lips of the oldest did not move as they said: ‘Street Sweeper’.” (Rand 26). The Council of Vocations assigned Equality the job of Street Sweeper not because that was his full potential, but because of the potential he had to change the way their society lived. They knew he would change things in their community that

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

   Confinement drives a being to extreme extents. Rosa Parks, who wants to live life as an ordinary woman, comprehends this captivity and experiences it each day. She desires a standard life of a woman who comes from work, but discrimination restrains, harried, her from that very practice. Rosa Parks noted, “No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.” (Parks, 6) In this statement, Rosa Parks argues

In a thought-provoking dystopian novella, Anthem by Ayn Rand, a man by the name of Equality 7-2521 struggles to survive in a communist society. Despite his vast intelligence, he is given the job of a street sweeper by his superiors, the Council of Vocations. He uses his knowledge to create an invention to help society flourish, but ultimately is chastised and flees from his city. In the end, he is a free, independent man who wishes to help his peers free themselves from the shackles of communist society. His appointment to street sweeper by the Council is fueled by neither chance nor incompetence, but rather by obvious calculation.

This story suggests that total equality amongst one another is not something worth striving for, suggesting that it implantation is dangerous and will have unintentional outcomes. This is true because in the story in order to achieve equality physically and mentally the citizens were treated inhumanly by the government. The beautiful were forced to hide their beauty under masks, the strong forced to wear hundred pound weights around their necks, and the intellectual suffered unbearable noises making it impossible for them to concentrate. Citizens dumb themselves down and hide their talents fearing government punishment. Equality is achieved in a sense but at the expense of freedom and personal achievement.