Equality 7-2521 Character Analysis in Anthem

The society Ayn Rand depicts in her novel is that of a society that strips away any individuality from its citizens and surrenders them into a constant state of monotony. The citizens, since birth, are taught to acknowledge their “brothers” and are coerced into believing that they are no better than one another and despite obvious differences, these children are expected to think that they are all cut from the same cloth. Equality 7-2521 is a man who holds on to his own values and curiosity in a collectivist society that demands blind compliance. Even though there are moments of guilt, Equality doesn’t hesitate to follow his own path and do what he believes is right for himself no matter the struggle it takes to attain them. This sense of self-determination among a sea of brotherhood, is admirable because Equality knows of the punishments for his transgressions, but still does them and feels satisfied when he does. It is important for people to undertake whatever challenges they are faced with for what they believe in, to achieve anything for their own happiness because it is their responsibility to do so. 

Since he was a child in the Home of the Students, Equality 7-2521  felt guilty for feeling superior to his classmates, for learning faster than them, since it was evil to be different from their brothers., “We, Equality 7-2521, were not happy in those years in the Home of the Students. It was not that the learning was too hard for us. It was that the learning was too easy.” (Chapter 1) Equality was guilty of the great Transgression of Preference, since he yearned to be in the Council of Scholars, he desired to be a Scholar because of his great curiosity. He knew what he wanted to be without the Council of Vocations having to decide for him. It is a privilege to discover what someone wants to be and it is important for them to go after it, despite what challenges come with it. For example, being the daughter of immigrant Hispanic parents, ordinarily, I am expected to look after the children if someone else couldn’t, because as a woman, it is my job. Seeing my aunts, mother, and grandmother have that natural caretaker quality always released a pang of guilt because that is what is expected of me, even though it isn’t what I want. A typical woman’s dream in my family  is to find a man who will provide for you, and in turn you take care of him and his kids, responding to their every need, often in disregard to your own. I was raised watching these women and observing them and realizing deep down inside they were miserable; then, I knew immediately that wasn’t what I wanted and that I was going to work twice as hard for what I did want. As a result, I exert myself more than ever in school so that I can graduate with an associates degree- something that has never been done before in my family- to achieve whatever it is I want in life.

Furthermore, the common theme of Ayn Rand’s novel is that Equality 7-2521 is guilty of many transgressions knowing of his punishments, but decides to endure them anyway as it is what he feels is just. It is this sense of righteousness that carries Equality through whatever barriers he might endure. “And yet there is no shame in us and no regret. We say to ourselves that we are a wretch and a traitor. But we feel no burden upon our spirit and no fear in our heart.” (Chapter 1) Morally he feels no shame of his transgressions, because it is his right as a person to go after what it is he believes in. His “curse” of curiosity leads him to achieve the greatest thing a man can obtain, happiness. It is necessary to be confident in your beliefs and put your all into that faith for it is our purpose. Whatever it is we believe in, it is our right to act and do right by that ideology despite the possible consequences. For example, I believe that people have the freedom to wear whatever it is they want, and be whoever it is they want regarding religion, gender, dressing a certain way, etc. The standard stereotypical way of being are all just social constructs that were implemented in us and we were raised to not do any different. With this new generation however,  social barriers are being shattered. My brother is transgender and is barely transitioning, which my parents are not supportive of. He wanted new clothes, boy clothes, which my parents did not agree with since they have always bought him girl clothes. My parents tried to persuade my brother, who is a submissive person, to continue presenting himself as a female even though that is not who he is. It wasn’t until I wrestled with my parents and did whatever necessary, even if it meant buying the garments myself, for him to get the appropriate clothes. I fought for him because it is what is right, people should have the freedom to be who they want. Even if it meant upsetting my parents, even if they were displeased my brother was content  and free to be what he wanted which is all that mattered. 

In essence, we are introduced into this world with nothing, and we are expected to make do with whatever is thrown at us much like the children in Anthem. Nevertheless, it is the people and what they make with what they have that makes the world  a better place. To be able to believe in something so strongly and fight for it is something truly powerful. Equality 7-2521 had faith in himself to run away from the comfort of the only place he has ever known; in turn, he created “the key to the earth” (Chapter 7) Without this courageous confidence in himself he wouldn’t feel the sense of pride for his invention, he would still be in the Home of the Street Sweepers swallowing his true self in miserably. It is within us, it is our individuality that makes life worth living, and that fight for what we believe in, makes the world marvelous.