Why Is Equality Considered A Crime

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 stands out from everyone around him, making him an individual. This also makes him the archetype of the loner or outcast. In the beginning of the novel Equality states that, “We were born with a curse. It has always driven us to thoughts which are forbidden.” (page 18.) He also says “We are six feet tall, and this is a burden, for there are not many men who are six feet tall.” (page 18.) These quotes show exactly how Equality is an individual compared to those around him who fit in the idea of collectivism, or sameness.

Equality lives his life, over twenty years of it, being oppressed by the system. When he finds the subway tunnel, his hideout, he begins to discover a new way to live; a new world to explore is opened for him. It scares Equality at first, but he quickly realizes that there is more to his life than sweeping streets. As he continues working in the subway and developing his light box, he meets the Golden One, and

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

He was thought that it was bad to be different but he did not care, he just wanted to show other citizens that there was more than what meets the eyes. Not only is equality an individualized thinker but he is also smart and brave. Equality makes a statement in his society by creating light and sharing the new invention with others. “We MADE IT. WE CREATED IT. We brought it forth from the night of the ages. We alone. Our hands. Our minds. Ours alone and only. We knew not what we are saying. Our head is reeling. We look upon the light which we have made” ( Rand 59). This shows that Equality made a new invention and is eventually going to show it to the council of scholars. This affects society because the council of scholars thinks that Equality is being superior to his brother. “We have much to say to a wretch who have broken all the laws and who boast of their infamy! How dared you think that your mind held greater wisdom than the minds of your brothers? And if the council had decreed that you should be a street sweeper, how dared you think that you could be of greater use to men than in sweeping the streets?” (Rand 71). This proves that no one, besides Equality wants to change society. This ties to the theme by trying to break out of the controlling society and leading into Equality standing up for individualism and for himself. In addition this concludes how the two short stories “Anthem” and “Harrison Bergeron” have different themes.

Equality is motivated by himself. He wants to invent things. He’s not doing it for fame or to try to impress the council, but for himself. He’s eager to discover and he’s curious about things and how they work. He is very passionate about his experiments and puts a lot of pride and work into them. Equality is much smarter than the rest of his society as it states “It was that the learning was too easy”(21). He dreamed of being a scholar where he can put his talents to a good use;

I feel that Equality’s only purpose is to show others in the story that individuality is okay. His invention would benefit mankind very much, in both others and himself. He created the light bulb to be and individual. Equality creates the light bulb and it becomes a part of him, it was intended to help others, but ended up helping Equality to find himself in a world of sameness, in world of brainwashing, and in a world of

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

Equality had many different thoughts than all the others in his society and was more lenient to break a law. He always had a negative assessment of his sins even when trying to do what was what he thought a good thing for his society. Over time, Equality negative assessment of his sins faded and he became less interested in trying to please his society. Finally, making him go to the point of making a new place of living for the select few that he has

The council fears Equality and the uprising that he could bring. “For the lips of the oldest one did not move until they said: “Street Sweeper.”(Rand.26) This is at the assigning of jobs at the beginning of the book when Equality is assigned the job of Street Sweeper. The council and teachers have seen that Equality is different, so they put him at a low level job in an attempt to prevent him from becoming too outspoken. Sense Equality respects the council and their decision; he will not try to change his position yet. There are other examples of when Equality shows hid un uniformity, by creating the light and talking to the Golden one. Later however, Equality will

For instance, it is apparent throughout the novel that he is brilliant, inquisitive, and, self-governing. However, just as though he had an ever growing mind, he also was afflicted with a somewhat egocentric, yet lion-hearted attitude. Of course, all characteristics that do not blend well with the glorification of the state over an individual are not at all welcome in Equality 7-2521’s city, and therefore make him a rather formidable threat. Much like the rest of his peers, he is restricted to what the Council of Vocations declares him capable of managing –in this case, a Street Sweeper. As long as he could remember, his desire to be free to study alongside “The Council of Scholars” had kept him up at night, yet his previous vocation prohibited that. The stubborn and passionate boy defied society’s norms and escaped after being discovered of his transgressions. Without any care in the world apart from his love for “The Golden One” and his recently invented lightbulb of sorts, he rushed into the Uncharted Forest with a realization of his

Equality initially had a superior intellect,preferred lessons over work, and was curious about the Unmentionable Times.He wished to learn, and he asked too many questions.With his discovery of the tunnel ,he broke many rules,and regulations just to satisfy his inquiry. With the hope of finding his purpose in life ,his moral compass began to change its direction completely . He began to feel less guilty for pursuing new things,things such as the tunnel,speaking to a female, as well as the finding of electricity.Equality no longer had remorse for simply recognizing he was different from everyone else around him.He began discovering himself ,and eventually became comfortable with how he dealt with society’s practices and institutions.In a way he went from one end if the spectrum to the

“It is a sin to write this.” – A quote from the book, Anthem. This book takes place in a future version of the world. The people have a Council that decides everything and is very strict. To make things even better they have very little technology.

A rule that is mentioned in the book is that The Councils of Vocations choose your job. Equality 7-2521 desired to be put in the Home of the Scholars to study because he loved to learned but instead got put as Street Sweeper. “So I wished to be sent to the Home of the Scholars. We wished it so much that our hands trembled under the blankets in the night(41),” Equality 7-2521 really loved studying more than what he learned back then when he was a youngster. I think this rule exists because the City’s idea of being equal is too select a job to everyone and not giving anyone a choice of what job they want because then that wouldn't be fair to the rest of the men which is the purpose.

Third reason is equality itself. The governments godly views of an utopian society is overbearing in most aspects of daily life. Their collectivism is pushed to the extreme with the likes of only saying we, can't be alone, and no colors. The common people have no room for individualism of any kind because of the oppressive rule of the government. So when Equality wants to advance himself above brothers to help them, the Council of Vocations gives him a job where he can't use his