The Role Of Individualism In Ayn Rand's Anthem

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Throughout time there have been many different civilizations that have thrived throughout the world. With each new civilization an old one was lost and so was their own unique customs and beliefs. When the Great Rebirth happened and collectivism became the new sacred idea, all individuality was lost. The civilization in Ayn Rand’s novella, Anthem, otherwise known as The World Council, believes that any action performed that symbolizes individualism is thought of as a sin. If someone were to grow up with this belief etched into their minds, could they commit a sin and still be thought of as an honorable man? If so, would this man think anything less of himself? In the novella, Anthem, Ayn Rand proves Equality 7-2521’s eventual moral assessment …show more content…
Equality, talks of himself as if he were an abnormality in his society. He is unlike his brothers. He is taller and stronger, and because of this many teachers and leaders said to him that there is evil in his bones. Not only does he not look the part of any “typical” brother, but he does not think the part of anyone of them either. “It is a sin to write this. It is a sin to think words no others think and to put them down upon a paper no others are to see.” begins Anthem (Rand 17). In the dystopian society in which Equality lives, there are strict laws prohibiting thinking or acting alone as an individual and if broken that person would be punished. “We are one in all and all in one. There are no men, but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever.” is the code of honor all brothers live by (Rand 19). Equality repeats this to himself every day to resolve the struggles he has against his temptations, however the burden becomes too much and overwhelms him. Finally, Equality breaks free, “But what is freedom? There is nothing to take a man’s freedom away from him, save other men. To be free, a man must be free of his brothers. That is freedom. That and nothing else.” (Rand 101). After being banished from his civilization, he discovers that the great WE has no hold over him anymore. Equality now truly views himself as an individual and has never felt a greater feeling than now, knowing he is not a …show more content…
For Equality this special person is known as the Golden One. “For men are forbidden to take notice of women, and women are forbidden to take notice of men. But we think of one among women, they whose name is Liberty 5-3000, and we think of no others.” (Rand 38). From the moment he saw her in the fields, he was taken. She was unlike the other women in his society. To him she was the single sunray that shone through the clouds on a gloomy day and he trusted his instinct to fall for her. “Your eyes are as a flame, but our brothers have neither hope nor fire. Your mouth is cut of granite, but our brothers are soft and humble, Your head is high, but our brothers cringe. You walk, but our brothers crawl. We wish to be damned with you, rather than blessed with all our brothers. Do as you please with us but do not send us away from you.” are the words from the treasured Golden One describing her feelings toward Equality (Rand 82-83). After he became the “damned” and left all he knew behind him, he woke one day to see she had followed him and was now standing in front of him with eyes full of wonder and lust. Equality was not alone. The two of them together would decipher through all the lies and beliefs they were fed by their teachers and leaders to find the ones that spoke of something more. Soon they will uncover the forbidden word and what it
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