Identity In Ayn Rand's Anthem

It is the future, and society has been ruined. The word “I” has been erased from society; the only replacement being the word “we”. Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem explores the effects of a horrific, totalitarian society. Children are separated from their parents at birth, careers are assigned, not chosen, and free will is the ultimate crime. Living within this structure, Equality 7-2521 finds himself lost in contradiction; collectivity should lead to happiness, but for him, individuality seems to be the key. Through vivid setting, a provoking major character, and symbolic details, Ayn Rand’s writing is focused on one thing: to show “the meaning of man’s ego.”

How could Ayn Rand’s Anthem have been altered if Equality and his society had been founded on Christianity? Throughout the story, beliefs and convictions were a significant factor in plot progressions. In addition, different doctrine also provided a huge contribution to character development. However, these various viewpoints established throughout the story, directly contrast with Biblical values. Looking closely at the development of society’s and Equality’s beliefs, a reader can easily distinguish his ideas from Christianity.

In today’s society, we tend to imagine what the future will be like. Our imagination leans towards flying cars and being able to read one’s mind. This is not the case in Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem. In Anthem, the society is deprived of technology and the people are ruled by a totalitarian government that controls everyone. The people of the city are told what and how to learn, how to speak and act, and how to live their lives. Equality 7-2521, the main character of the novella, sits in candlelight and tries to gain insight on new things such as electricity and inventions to make life easier. The lives of the citizens aren’t filled with expensive gadgets and trees that plant themselves; it is filled with darkness and oppression. Just beneath the surface of the city’s oppression is the lack of technology. In Ayn Rand’s Anthem, society doesn’t have the chance to expand its knowledge, embrace new ideas, and

brought them for a civilization where the word ?I? did not exist to a world

In Ayn Rand’s book Anthem, The character Equality 7-2521 also known as Prometheus ran into the uncharted forest after being told that his box of light was a sin to create because he now knew more than his brother’s in the uncharted forest he found out that the golden one had followed him. Then the two uncovered homes from the unmentionable times. In the uncharted forest he discovered the unspeakable word “Ego”. Throughout the book he expressed traits of an Egoist. But in the book because prometheus had been in a dystopian society where they had to think of themselves and their brothers as a whole they were not allowed to think of themselves. So was Prometheus really a egoist? Or was it just his little bit of selfish coming out after not ever being allowed to think about himself?

Anthem by Ayn Rand was written in a futuristic period where no one had their own say. They were all equal to one another, they were all brothers and nobody was above anyone else. Whatever you think you know, you’re wrong, all you know is what they know.

There are many different meanings of the word egoist, and one of the most commonly found definitions would be "a self-centered, or selfish person; an arrogantly conceited person." When one is an egoist they tend to only care about themselves and not put others before them. People may get an egoist confused with someone's ego. The word ego means someone's sense of self-worth, self-importance, etc. As an example, in the book Anthem the main character states "I know not and I care not. For I know what happiness is possible to me on earth. And my happiness needs no higher aim to vindicate it. My happiness is not the means to any end it is the end. It is its own goal. It is its own purpose" (Rand 95). This quote is showing egoism because Prometheus is thinking about himself and his own happiness rather than the happiness of everyone around him.

Ego: The “I” or self of any person; a person as thinking, feeling, and willing, and distinguishing itself from the selves of others and from objects of its thought (www.dictionary.com). In the book Anthem, by Ayn Rand, the central character Equality’s, prime motive in sharing his invention was not to improve the world but rather for egotistic reasons. Wanting to become a scholar more than anything, Equality tried proving to the council that he does not belong with the other street sweepers. “We give you the key to the earth! Take it, and let us be one of you, the humblest among you” (pg. 71). His motives were wrong, nevertheless they had virtuous qualities. He should have been sharing his invention to further the success of humankind as an alternative instead of boasting on himself. If everyone in the world acted as Equality did then the world would be much more advanced, but everyone would be selfish by wanting to further his or her own

Just imagine, knowing there's a better world you can be living but your being held back by a force. You are put on a set of rules and told to follow or else. This force is authority, and in Anthem that is what there society runs on, Authority and fear. Authority means to have power or give right to an order and in Anthem the power is held by the Great council. The council uses fear and power to control their people. They use their authority to is why people conform to their daily schedule and don't break it. From waking up working, eating at noon, then theater at dark just to repeat for the rest of their life. Why don't people do otherwise, and that's because there scared.

Imagine a place where the individual meant nothing and everyone is the same. By definition a dystopia is characterized by human misery, oppression, and other problems. The book Anthem can be defined as a dystopia because of symbolism, the mood, and the theme of Anthem.

Being “yourself” would be the biggest sin in the world of Anthem, a book by Ayn Rand, where one citizen, Equality-72521, lives as not one, but among many. By not learning the word “I” at any time in your life, including birth. Equality, however, found a spot currently unknown, and decided to do a crime worthy of death. He hid there every night, and learned all he could secretly for years. He goes to great lengths to learn much no other person really knew, such as electricity, and didn’t tell anyone else about the light bulb as to make sure he could keep on learning, and in the end risked his life to protect what he learned, independently, so he could change who he was and what he knew.

Equality 7-2521, is a youth who writes, as he spends time alone, violating laws of his society. As equality 7-2521 discovers more about the past, through experimentation, he begins to question his individual self. Libertarianism is respect of individuals’ liberty rights through minimal state intervention in citizens’ lives. The novel Anthem, by Ayn Rand, shows support of libertarianism by displaying the beauty of relationships, the importance of discoveries, and the significance of individualism.

James Baldwin once said, “An identity would seem to be arrived at by the way in which the person faces and used his experience.” Baldwin is saying that a person’s identity, or what makes a person who they are, is shaped by what they have experienced. In Anthem by Ayn Rand, Equality’s identity is described as a confident person who is not afraid to stand up for what he believes. He was not afraid to take a stand, break away from the society, and live life outside of it so he could keep and use his light box. Equality did not want to be chained to the limits of the society anymore. Equality’s identity of being confident and fearless is shaped by numerous forces such as the invention of the light box, which gave him hope and confidence in the

How would you want to live in a Society? In Anthem by Ayn Rand Equality- 7-2521 struggled to learn about individuality in the strict society he lived in. Equality would let his society be free and let the people in it make their own decisions. He believes that everyone should take pride in the word I. Equality would not make his society like “The City of the Damned.”

In Anthem by Russian philosopher Ayn Rand, she endeavors to explain the good nature of man and demonstrate the heroic being of mankind. Happiness is expressed as being the ability to think. Through the satirical story the author proves the importance and happiness that comes from being unique and individual.