The Theme Of Anthem, By Ayn Rand

Anthem, by Ayn Rand, is a very unique novel. It encircles individualism and makes the reader think of how people can conform to society and do as they are told without knowing the consequences and results of their decisions. Also, it teaches the importance of self expression and the freedom that comes along with being your own person and having the power to choose what path to take in life. Figurative language is used often in this book and in a variety of quotes that have great importance to the theme, plot, and conflict of the novel.

Ayn Rand's Anthem shows us her view of our world united under what seems to be communist rule. For example their view of right and wrong; which Anthem portrays is a system of very strict rules which mainly make sure that everyone is involved in a collective role within the society in this system no one is considered an individual or that they can even think as an individual.

“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). Anthem is written by American author Ayn Rand about Equality 7-2521 on his quest for happiness. The novel is set in an unspecified time and place in the future. Years after human civilization has gone through a deconstruction in which all knowledge was lost and a new society established with no concept of the individual. “The novel describes the efforts of the main character, Equality 7-2521, to reestablish a sense of personal identity and restore the knowledge of the past by objective scientific inquiry. In doing so, he must face many dangers and privations” (Anthem). Anthem is a dairy of the Equality

Equality 7-2521 on the other hand, has many differences from the other people. This quote said by Equality 7-2521 “No single one can possess greater wisdom than the many Scholars who are elected by all men for their wisdom. Yet we can.”(pg 54 ch 3, par 8) shows that he is smarter than others and that is bad in this society. The story previously said that teachers would look down on him because he would always want to learn more and is much smarter than the others.

¨It is a sin to write this. It is a sin to think words no others think and put them down on a paper no others are to see¨ - Equality 7-2521 (17). This quote grabs the reader's attention right of the bat. The Anthem, written by Ayn Rand is about Equality 7-2521 who lives in a world where ¨I¨ does not exist. It is forbidden to think about something not everyone thinks.

Rand had an infatuation with a French author that influenced her life’s work much like Equality. He became incited by the acts of the Transgressor of the Unspeakable word. Rand wrote, “There was no pain in their eyes and no knowledge of the agony of their body. There was only joy in them, and pride, a pride holier than it is fit for human pride to be”(51). The acts of the Transgressor planted the idea in Equality that dying for what you believe in is worth more than sercoming to society.

Equality is placed in a society, which he is unique and unlike the rest. He is not like the others he is curious of the unknown, while the rest are carless and do not dare to expand their knowledge. “We looked upon the faces of the Council, but there was no curiosity in those faces, and no anger, and no mercy” (63). Using these words to describe the members of the Council of the Home helps express the society that Equality 7-2521 is living in. The differences amongst Equality 7-2521 and the government show the clash between them. People in the society are hesitant to do the actions that they are told to do, but Equality 7-2521 feels pride in the actions he is not suppose to take part in. “Two men stood by the post, naked but for the leather aprons and leather hoods over their faces” (64). As these men hide their identity from doing an action they would be shameful for, in contrast Equality 7-2521 has no shame for the sins and laws that he disobeys showing the differences amongst Equality 7-2521 and the rest of society. Equality 7-2521 has “evil” in his bones, he is taller then the rest of his brothers. “Our body is healthy and strength returns to it speedily” (67). Not only is Rand showing Equality 7-2521 physical strength but also his strength to be different and be an individual. His physical strength to over come the lashing he went through does not stop him from breaking free, but

Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, is a novel set in a futuristic dystopian city. The main character, Equality, has specific positive feelings towards his superiors in his society. They believe in the power of “we,” frowning upon individualism. All of men are equal in education, finances, social status (except for the leaders). However, over the course of Anthem, Equality’s feelings change superbly. His positive thoughts change drastically to negative and critical feelings as the novel concludes. He denounces them morally, as his views are seemingly different from his leaders. Equality is correct to do so, as his feelings are realistic and valid. On the contrary, the thoughts of his superiors are unrealistic and invalid.

The oppression used in the novel “ ANTHEM”, Ayn Rand demonstrates that you should always follow your goals no matter the obstacles along the way. The main character “Equality 7-2521” decides to do a sequence of events even if the actions taken are against the government. The decisions taken by Equality 7-2521 at the beginning of the novel affects his life at the end of the novel in a positive way. The main character went through many obstacles to achieve happiness. Rand uses imagery and diction to convey the oppression of her novel “ANTHEMS” setting, which conveys to the reader the theme that “Speaking your mind and following your true desires bring happiness.”

The values at risk in Anthem are not merely those of the central luminary; they are the ostensible values of an entire civilization—our own. Our society is founded upon the notion of individual rights; its existence, as Ayn Rand depicts, cannot be conceived on any other grounds. Anthem, Rand’s dystopian novella, is about us, and about what will happen if we do not follow alongside Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000 in their discovery of the importance of individualism.

It is tragic to think about we do not want to be unique in ourselves and keep chasing to be like others. We like to be beautiful like others, smart like others and so on. In this literature, the government sets the handicaps for people to end chasing each other not to be inferior. It could be a brilliant idea but as readers, we could notice the adverse side of being equal. The characters are equally living.

Equality slowly becomes his own person and therefor gradually starts to break the laws. In the very beginning he know his breaking he law but does not stop “It is a sin to write this… it is base and evil”(Rand 17) shows he is no a slave to the government and has his own mind. He wasn’t told to do this and came up with it his self, shows uniqueness and independency.

The characterization of the people and world surrounding the main character creates a connection to the

The writing of the author’s work depicts the author’s purpose in the novel. With the tragic society that Equality 7-2521 survives in, it not only proclaims the major conflicts in the story, but also passes along Ayn Rand’s writing on how it contributes to expressing the conflicts even further. The prime conflict is individualism itself in a world that doesn’t follow the philosophy of one’s attributions to be upheld. It doesn’t exist because of a society that sways the course of people’s lives, coming in the way to maintain an atmosphere with no higher power than another. "We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever."(Rand, 1) This is shown in the novel because Equality 7-2521 cannot go ahead with what he wants to have for himself in life which is to be in the  Home of the Scholars but instead is assigned to become a Home Sweeper. Moreover, the style that Ayn Rand uses in her writing gives the readers the better awareness of how strict the society is that not even the narrator can speak and refer about himself. It is a sin for anyone to fall in love and choose their own mate as Equality 7-2521 wants and des with Liberty 5-3000. He went to prison for writing, doing scientific experiments inside a hidden tunnel, falling in love and most of all presenting to the council an invention that doesn’t exist in a world without advanced technology. The manner that she uses helps to spread across the message about a society that

Literary elements are the “universal constituents of literature”(literary devices, n.d.) and be found in any oral or written story. Plots, settings, and characters are a necessity and needed if a story is to work. The plot is a series of events and character actions that relate to the central conflict. The character is a person, animal, or item who takes part in the action of a short story or