Breaking Free From Collectivism Equality 7-2521 lives in a world of collectivism. In this collectivist dictatorship the word “I” has vanished. Equality always struggled with being the same as his brothers. “It was not that the learning was too hard for us. It was that the learning was too easy” (Rand 21). Equality must struggle to overcome the collectivism to be free of his society in Anthem. In Anthem, Equality frees himself from collectivism, but like all heroes, he struggled.
“It has reached a scale of horror without precedent. It has poisoned every mind,” (The Soul Of An Individualist). Equality felt like a waste of a person for being different in Anthem. “We are six feet tall, and this is a burden, for there are not many men who are…show more content… In the society of Anthem, Equality was different from the beginning. He wishes to be a Scholar not a Street Sweeper, but the laws of Equality’s society imply that you cannot think you are better than your brothers. Equality came upon a tunnel and made a new invention in the tunnel. Later, his tunnel was discovered and Equality was arrested to the Palace of Corrective Detention. Equality became willing to protect his invention and tunnel by not saying anything. “To my country, I wish to give the 10 years, of which I will spend in jail if my country exists no longer,” (The Soul Of An Individualist). Equality took his light bulb to the Scholars where his idea was rejected. The Scholars ejected for not accepting his job, thinking he was better than his brothers and for escaping from the Palace of Corrective Detention. “Collective 0-0009 rose and pointed at our box. “This…show more content… “I am. I think. I will,” (Rand 94). The society of Anthem has never used the word “I” since the Unmentionable Times until Equality found a house in the woods with Liberty 5-3000 also known as The Golden One. In the house there is a library. Upon reading the books, Equality decides to give himself a name, Prometheus and he gave the Golden One, Gaea. “ His name was Prometheus. It shall be your name, said the Golden One¨ (Rand 99). ¨Her name was Gaea. Let this be your name, my Golden One, for you are to be the mother of a new kind of god” (Rand 99). While in the Uncharted Forest, The Golden One tells Equality “We love you. But then they frowned and shook their head and looked at us helplessly” (Rand 86). When they later arrive at the house, “ I read many books for many days. Then I called the Golden One, and I told her what I had read and what I had learned. She looked at me and the first words she spoke were: I love you” (Rand 98). In their society loving somebody was a sin and against their laws. “ For men are forbidden to take notice of women, and women are forbidden to take notice of men” (Rand 38). For the two of them to love each other was The Golden One’s first steps into finding the individuality from her sisters. For Equality to be victorious in beating the collectivism, he had to break away from the society in Anthem and start a new life with his own
