Anthem: to Honor Individualism and Self-Worth

Title:

“Anthem”

Author:

Ayn Rand

Original Publishing Date:

1938

Genre:

Dystopian Science Fiction

Author’s Purpose:

To honor individualism and self-worth.

Narrator:

The book Anthem is written in 1st person. Equality 7-2521, the main character, is telling the story from his point of view.

Describe the Setting in detail:

Anthem takes place sometime after the “Great Rebirth.” Their society has no knowledge of science or technology whatsoever. They must be independent, everything they do or say is monitored by their leaders. The tone of Anthem is dark and very straightforward since the characters don’t know how to show emotion. However towards the end of the book when Equality 7-2521, and Liberty 5-3000 head into the Uncharted Forest, the mood changes into a positive and cheery tone. They learn what emotion is, and they start to show it.

Characters:

Equality 7-2521 is the main character in the book “Anthem.” He believes that everyone has a right to their own freedom and that no one should be making decisions for him. Equality 7-2521 is not like everyone else. Although he gets assigned the job of a street sweeper, he discovers and teaches himself the power of electricity. At the end of the book, he gives himself the name “Prometheus.” Promising never to use the word “we” again. Liberty 5-3000, known as the golden one joined Equality 7-2521 on his journey into the uncharted forest. Equality 7-2521 describes her beauty, and even before speaking to her, he knows that there’s something different about her. As the book continues they start to get closer, and closer with each other. Neither have never known what it's like to feel something for someone. International 4-8818, a friend of Equality, he was also assigned to be a street sweeper. He and Equality 7-2521 both shared the same visions of independence. International covered for Equality when they’d be exploring the tunnel or studying manuscripts. Council/ Scholars Are the head of society. They get to decide everyone’s life, and what they’ll grow up to be. Everyone thinks that they are the smartest, and the wisest. Collective 0-0009 disagreed with Equality’s visions. He believed In collectivism and wanted society to work as one.

Conflicts:

The conflict that is present in Anthem is Man vs. Self. Everyone fears to be individual, and make their own decision. They fear themselves, how they act, and how they look. They want to be like everyone else.

Another Conflict is Man vs. Society, Society controls the citizens, and no one has the urge to speak against the council. They believe that the council is leading them in the right direction. In Anthem, Equality 7-2521 has the urge to go against society and think for himself.

Theme(s):

The theme of “Anthem” is individualism and its importance. I think that the author is trying to teach us to fight for our beliefs and that the good of life is our own happiness.

Plot Summary:

The book starts with Equality 7-2521 talking about how he’s committed a sin. He talks about how there is evil in his bones, and how he was born with a curse. Then Equality 7-2521 takes us back to the time, and place where his life began, the home of the infants. Then the home of the students, and then finally to the Council of Vocations where he was assigned a job. The council assigned him to be a street sweeper, and he was sent to the home of the street sweepers, where he would live until age. Around springtime International 4-8818, who was also a street sweeper, and Equality 7-2521 found a shaft leading into the darkness. As they explored it, they found it was from the unmentionable times. Which society had said was a foul, and forgotten time. Each night Equality 7-2521 snuck out of the home of the street sweepers, and into the tunnel, they had discovered. He read and taught himself manuscripts, and soon discovered the power of electricity. When Equality 7-2521 was cleaning a great road next to the home of the peasants, he met Liberty 5-3000. He described her beautifully, and even before meeting her, he saw something about her. It was something new for him, because he had never known emotion, and was forbidden to prefer someone over the other. On one particular night, as Equality was sneaking back to the home of the street sweepers, he was caught. He was questioned about where he had been, and when he refused to answer he was sent to the Palace of Corrective Detention. They locked him up and beat him till everything was dark. The next day Equality 7-2521 escaped his cell and headed to where the World Council would be meeting. The world council was a group of the “wisest scholars.” Equality 7-2521 had the idea to share what he had discovered, electricity. When he got there the council couldn’t believe their eyes. He was a street sweeper, and they were head of the council! Equality 7-2521 tried to explain what he discovered, but the council refused. They knew that the lightbulb was very effective, but they couldn’t let other people get individual ideas. Equality 7-2521 argued and escaped into the Uncharted Forest. Where men would never think to go. He found the Golden One there, and they both see there love for each other. They head deep into the forest and find a house from the unmentionable times. They go inside and find tons of manuscripts. They decide that this will be where they live. For the next few days Equality, 7-2521 studies the manuscripts and learns about individualism. He gives himself the name Prometheus, and Liberty 5-3000 Gaea. He decides that he will never use the word “we” again for it is evil. Prometheus and Gaea start a new life together, both as individuals.

Significant Quotes:

1) “The evil of our crime but is not for the human mind to probe.” “Never had men done what we're doing, and yet there is no shame in us, and no regret.” (Rand, 11.)

After Equality 7-2521 had found the tunnel, each night he went to study what was left. Sneaking out at night was forbidden, but he felt no shame. He knew that what he was doing was wrong, but he had no regrets. For me, this part of the story is important because he’s starting to betray the council. He’s starting to not agree with the rules and orders. He’s always felt this way, but now he’s actually showing it.

2) “ We fell but we never let the glass box fall from our hands.” “Only the glass box in our arms is like a living heart that gives us strength.” (Rand, 29.)

At this time, Equality 7-2521 had run out of the home of scholars and into the uncharted forest, where he would never be found. This quote is significant to the storyline because we start to see how much Equality 7-2521 cares for what he has discovered. In their society, the council doesn’t want anyone to come up with any individual ideas, or to like something over the other. For me, as a reader, I can tell that Equality 7-2521 loves science, and wants to learn more about electricity.

3) “The word We is lime poured over men, which sets and hardens to stone and crushes all beneath it.” “I am done with the monster We, the word of serfdom, of plunder, of misery, falsehood, and shame.” (Rand, 89.)

This quote is important because it’s when Equality 7-2521 understood the word I. It's significant in the story because he finally figures out how it feels to be an individual. He becomes grateful for his curse, and what he is. This quote is also when the author starts using the word I, instead of we. This quote for me was the most powerful.

Recommendations & Your Thoughts:

If I were to recommend this book to a friend, it would have to be one that enjoys dystopian fiction. For me the book was alright, but I had to make myself read it. I wouldn’t want to read it for fun. The grammar and the storyline itself were hard to understand. However, I did like how the author used very descriptive words and figurative language. I also liked how short it was.