The Power Of Equality In Anthem By Ayn Rand Essay Example

Ego, progressive evolution, and knowledge all but vanish when a society prizes mindless obedience over independent thought. Objectivism is undeniably necessary for humankind to survive and thrive. Ayn Rand's theory of objectivism is advocated in her novel, Anthem, through Equality's goal, value in realism, and the triumph of the individual. Equality is not a self-centered character; rather, he wishes to pursue his originality and potential in a world that requires uniformity and the loss of personal identity. 

Rand’s universe showcases extreme collectivism, through the government assigning jobs, names, clothing which completely strips individuality from its citizens. Equality 7-2521 is not bad to want something for himself, especially after spending his entire life serving others. He summons his excitement when he yells “ We made it. We created it. We brought it forth from the night of the ages” (Rand 59), to celebrate is victorious findings. The creation of electricity by Equality 7-2521 imbues him with a sense of his own strength, which he conveys clearly here. Equality experiences for the first time what it is like to make something of his own volition. The repeating of the phrases "we"and "our" represents his acceptance of his newly discovered feeling of uniqueness, a sensation that will eventually fully separate him from society. Equality does not yet have the necessary pronouns to refer to himself, which generates a level of absurdity that Rand utilizes to show what she regards as collectivism's excessive suppression of the individual. His determination to try to be unique and aid society is not considered selfish because his acts benefit society in the end. Equality 7-2521's character development throughout Anthem may be recognized as a gradual shift toward his particular style of thinking. Even after determining that his personal pleasure is all that matters, he is still eager to return and liberate all of his society's oppressed people. He claims, "the day will come when I shall break all the chains of the earth, and raze the cities of the enslaved, and my home will become the capital of a world where each man will be free to exist for his own sake" (Rand 104). He will not give up the things he desires in life, no matter how hard he tries. Finally, his sincerity extends to his fight for liberty. Without a doubt, his greatest accomplishment is his recognition in a society that does everything it can to suppress it.  Human beings are individuals who require political freedom to live, and he wishes to spread that to a society that doesn't realize it yet. He believes in individualism and opposes the collectivist society in which he lives, yet this does not make him egotistic. Equality demonstrates individualistic tendencies that he was denied in his community, distinguishing him from others. He then applies those fresh innovations and creations to benefit society as a whole, which is the inverse of selfishness. 

In Anthem, nature represents man's original and undamaged state. When Equality 7-2521 is exiled from society, he flees to the Uncharted Forest, where he might reclaim his freedom and begin his life as a new man. In society, Equality 7-2521 is unable to reach his full potential because the lesser members of society fear his strength and want to exploit it against him. In his quest for freedom, he wonders “ how it was possible, in those graceless years of transition, long ago, that men did not see whither they were going, and went on, in blindness and cowardice, to their fate” (Rand 103). He vows to dwell in his new home, kill and raise his own food, and study the literature in the house to learn the mysteries of the Unmentionable Times. He wishes to reconstruct the world that has been destroyed by collectivists since he is not bound by the weakest members of his society. He pledges to resurrect the vanished world for the sake of man's liberty, rights, life, and honor. Even if his new race fails, the members' feeling of independence will endure since they are bonded by the most essential word in human history: "ego." His strive to rebuild a life almost blindly opposite to the one he was living in hopes to share it with the rest of society is considered selfless. His freedom of thought and soul is what explains his behaviors from his formative days. Even as a child, he saw the "science of things" which captivated him. Though it is prohibited to choose one field over another, he prefers science over all others. Though youngsters are not authorized to pursue their own professions, he longs to be sent to the Home of the Scholars, where he can follow his passion for research. He then steals materials and papers, using the tunnel as a private laboratory to conduct experiments.  It is critical to understand that all of these activities are not only illegal but also unimaginable in anthem society. Men in this culture do not have such thoughts. For example, when Equality 7-2521 assures International 4-8818 that they would not reveal the tunnel's finding, his companion is taken aback. Despite his unusual independence, International 4-8818 raises his hands to his ears, "for they had never heard such things as these"(Rand 34).  The apparent implication is that such remarks were never spoken or even considered. Under indescribably difficult conditions, and in the face of furious resistance from the powerful authorities that oppose him, he proceeds to make a huge leap forward in the level of humankind's knowledge. He takes these risks not only for his own curiosity but also because he believes the results will benefit society as a whole and aid in the demise of the totalitarian government. His astonishing innovations and global curiosity have repercussions, but they are ultimately the source of hope that humanity in anthem requires overthrowing monarchical domination.  

Anthem is primarily a message against collectivism, which holds that society should take priority over the individual. Ayn Rand's negative experiences with collectivism are reflected in the society she builds in Anthem. Throughout the novel, we see Equality and Liberty 5-3000 struggle against injustice. One of the book's primary takeaways is that individuality expressively creates progress. Teenagers in today's environment are maturing in various ways than in the past. They are frequently more involved with other people their own age than with their own family. Today's youth are frequently more preoccupied with celebrity gossip than with the knowledge of our forefathers. Many students should read Anthem since it addresses many of the critical issues confronting our generation, such as discrimination and peer pressure. We must recognize that it is human instinct to disagree, but we must strive to understand rather than discriminate. In Anthem, Equality was different from everyone, and as a result, he faced many difficulties that many youths face on a regular basis. This was clear when Equality was in the Home of the students. His professors and classmates avoided him because they thought he was unusual. People will always disagree, but our generation must learn how to do it respectfully. Everyone has their own point of view, which we must respect. We cannot oppress someone's ego simply because they have different dreams, worship a different god, have different IQ levels, are from another region, or appear different. It's simply not right, and I believe one of Anthem's most prominent issues for teens to comprehend is discrimination.  We are in authority of our own lives, not those of our peers, and we must accept responsibility for our own acts because we alone control our own destiny. 

In conclusion, Anthem is a book packed with messages that target many of the major issues that our generation is dealing with today. Equality 7-2521 possesses uncommon characteristics because he not only lives in accordance with his ideals despite the typical uncertainties of life but more importantly, even when in conflict with a suffocating dictatorship that forbids his creative labor and threatens to execute him for his acts. His actions reflect his selfless behavior, as he takes the time to engage in experiences that may benefit his humanity as a whole, despite the consequences. After being transported to the uncharted forest, he embodies all that is mysterious and unknown, yet he intends to share it with the rest of the citizens. We have a will, much like Equality's point of view on life, and we must remember that no matter what others say. We must think for ourselves and be guided by our own morals rather than those of others. We must battle for what we believe in because no one else will. We are challenged to consider the strength of the human spirit, and we are reminded of how love may affect strong and positive change.