Bullying In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Have you ever been bullied just for being you because you are different from everyone else? Well, bullying or prejudice is very common whether in books or real life. With this being the case, the definition of bullying is when someone causes harm physically or mentally because of something being odd. Though most commonly, bullying tends to be perceived as physical harm from usually someone much bigger than you literally or figuratively. In the story Anthem, we see this topic heavily in the very beginning with the main character named Equality 7-2521. As the protagonist gets bullied we are told why as well because in his society even the slightest difference in height could lead to being picked on negatively. Throughout the story of Anthem

Some of said prejudice that was shown to Equality 7-2521 was just purely from how he looked a little different and how he functioned a little different from the rest. Not only this but he thought things that are considered evil, then there is how he had accidentally stayed too long in his tunnel, alone. For this they punished him greatly in the Corrective Detention. This punishment for being himself was,“ The first blow of the lash felt as if our spine had been cut in two” (Rand 64). After this was stated in Anthem, we saw Equality 7-2521 get lashed more with a whip as a punishment. With that being his punishment, and a way to get him to talk about what he had done along in the tunnel, the lashers gave up. Showing that in this society just being yourself was enough for them to punish you with not only the job you get but also by a beating. Lastly, the character Equality 7-2521 shows the reader that just by being yourself may end up in bad things, but it can also help carry you throughout

With Ayn Rand’s story starting off with the world building through the main characters' eyes. This said main character's name is Equality 7-2521, he introduces us to how he lives in this dystopian world. As Equality 7-2521 describes how he lives, we see many errors about what is wrong in this dystopian world. We also see how much he breaks the rules just so he can actually experience true happiness. As Equality 7-2521 breaks rules he understands that he is and so do others like Liberty 5-3000 when she states “Such thoughts as these are forbidden, Golden one” (Rand 56). Which in turn shows even if people and Equality know this is breaking rules it shows how prejudiced society is because you can not always control how you feel about someone, something, or a topic. Since this society is so prejudiced, it leads to many issues and fingers pointed at Equality and his fellow street sweepers. With prejudice being thrown at these characters just for their looks or action, it shows similarity to racial prejudice because the characters can be bullied just for a more tan skin or a lighter skin. In the end, Equality 7-2521 is just purely prejudice given to him for how he is and what he can not