Anthem Essay

Anthem, by Ayn Rand, depicts a futuristic society, an alleged utopia where everyone was created the same, no exceptions. Men in this novel are taught that it is a virtue to agree and be agreed with, when no one praises the creator, the egoist. The protagonist, Equality 7-2521, struggled his whole life to separate and free himself from collectivism, and develop an ego, obtaining victory at last. From a young age, Equality 7-2521 has differed from his ¨brothers¨. He was more knowledgeable when he was younger, more curious in his teenage years, and more futuristic in his twenties than his peers. First, Equality 7-2521 was superior in the way of knowledge, not to mention everything else, to his brothers in school. School work was effortless for him, while it was strenuous or just the right pace for everyone else. Citizens of this society are all taught that ¨It is not good to be different from our brothers, but it is evil to be superior to them.¨ Frowned upon for simply being smarter, Equality tried to forget his lessons to seem average. Brainwashed, Equality believed his gift of intelligence to be a curse of selfishness, and additionally tried to give up what makes him special to fit into what society believes is correct. Ayn Rand 's novel, The Fountainhead, states, ¨Man’s first duty is to himself. His moral law is never to place his prime goal within the persons of others. His moral obligation is to do what he wishes, provided his wish does not depend