Could you imagine living in a world where you were not your own individual? In the book Anthem, by Ayn Rand, everyone is the same and no one can be “better” or more intelligent than each other. In this book, the characters can not even speak the word “I” without getting executed. Think about having rules that restrict individuals from having their own thoughts, ideas, and opinions. In the book Anthem, the readers will discover that these rules and restrictions become a reality.
Everyone in the book is expected to follow these extremely strict rules. These rules exist because the government does not want “ordinary” people to out-smart them. The government did not want the truly brilliant people thinking that they were more superior than the
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If Equality 7-2521 would have stayed, he would be executed. He wants a fresh start in which he can make his own rules. The first rule Equality 7-2521 made was, “For the word ‘we’ must never be spoken, save by one’s choice and as a second thought. This word must never be placed first within man’s soul, else it becomes a monster, the root of all the the evils on earth, the root of man’s torture by men, and of an unspeakable lie” (97). All of Equality 7-2521’s life he has called himself “we,” but now he realizes that he is his own individual. Also, he realizes that his inventions are more advanced than his brothers. Equality 7-2521 should not be ashamed of this because everyone different and not one is the same as another. He plans on carrying these rules into his new and improved society. Equality 7-2521 states in Anthem, “Gaea is pregnant with my child. Our son will be raised as a man. He will be taught to say ‘I’ and to bear the pride of it. He will be taught to walk straight and on his own feet. He will be taught reverence for his own spirit” (100). This shows the readers that Equality 7-2521 is going to teach his son to be himself and to never let anyone tell him that he is not capable of conquering his dreams. This is what the new society will look like, a place where everyone can do whatever they