An Analysis of the Topic of the Novella Anthem by Ayn Rand

Anthem IOC

In Ayn Rand’s novella, Anthem, the main character, Equality, is set in the future, in a society where individuality is not allowed. This rule is taken to such an extreme, that for nearly the entire story, Equality refers to himself with the pronoun “we.” Equality realizes this is wrong, and along with a friend of his, known as the Golden One, runs away. The end of the book reveals that Equality (who has changed his name to Prometheus), is a father, the Golden One (now Gaea), being the mother since she is now pregnant.

This heavily implies that they plan on creating a society, where individuality is allowed and encouraged. Throughout the story, Ayn Rand argues that a society like the one in Anthem, where having a sense of individuality is a crime, is the worst type of society there is and attempts to prove that an objectivist society, with an “every man for himself” philosophy, is the best type of society possible.

Ayn Rand refutes collectivist ideology in multiple ways, as seen in chapter twelve when Equality has stumbled upon a newfound philosophy of individualism. After being amazed by it, Equality reflects upon his previous life, wondering why other men haven’t yet done what he has.

Rand writes, “But I still wonder 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). Ayn Rand states her thoughts in EquaEqualitylking about how the men of the collectivist society were blind and cowardly, and more importantly, that this is what can happen in a collectivist society.

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By stating the men’s characteristics as fact, Rand has infused the belief in the reader that these men are like this. She is also deliberately stating this in a way that makes it a conclusion: that these men are blind and cowardly, and this has been caused by their years in a communist-esque society. Equality is describing his reflection upon not only his previous community, but the history of humans in general, and how it descended into this collectivist, dystopian society, and explains in this quote that it is indeed this collectivism that has caused madness and fear amongst the people.

Ayn Rand not only states her own beliefs in Equality – but she also plays with people’s emotions. In chapter eleven, Equality has made a fascinating discovery: the word “I”. He indulges in this discovery, and Rand writes, “I am. I think. I will” (Rand 94). After referring to himself with “we” for his entire life, Equality has discovered “I”, and experiences the joys of the freedom that accompanies the word. Rand uses this emotional exposition for a very specific reason: she wants to convince the reader that if individuality is so enjoyable, then a society that suppresses it must be unthinkable, and a horrible place to live. This discovery has also opened new doors for Equality: he creates a new life for himself and the Golden One, a life where they can be whoever they want, and own anything they need – a life where being yourself comes first, and the group comes second, an exact example of Rand’s philosophy: objectivism. Rand paints the picture in the reader’s mind that individuality is an amazing thing, and that any society that even attempts to suppress it must be horrible, making a strong attempt at swaying the reader to her side.

So it can be seen that Anthem itself is not a book for entertainment: rather, it is a political work, aimed at people who have fallen to the evils of collectivism. Rand believes that “I” should be the first thought that comes to an individual, while ” has been ingrained in the very roots of human history and human nature, and is the base of happiness in the first place. However, if a man ever loses sight of this, Anthem acts as a catalyst for their reformation, so they can hopefully recognize individuality and its importance.

We” should be the second. However, the two are reversed in Anthem, in which the dystopian society is oppressive instead of liberating. According to Rand, when “I” stays first, a man can see the beauty of the world and its meaning because the individual wills it. When Equality discovers “I”, he discovers self-worth, and any individual who realizes this lives only for him or herself. Ayn Rand seems to strongly believe that individuality can never fade, no matter who tries to suppress it, because it has been ingrained in the very roots of human history and human nature, and is the base of happiness in the first place. However, if a man ever loses sight of this, Anthem acts as a catalyst for their reformation, so they can hopefully recognize individuality and its importance.