Anthem, by Ayn Rand, is dystopic literature. To be dystopic literature, the protagonist feels that something is wrong with the society. The society is supposed to be a Utopia when in reality there is a problem with the society, the people are made to believe certain things that aren’t true. In Anthem, there are many characteristics of dystopian literature present. The whole society is programmed to worship the Great “We”. Independent thought has been outlawed, “..it is a sin to think differently than other men” (4) They all fear the outside world also known as the Uncharted Forest, and nobody that has gone to this forest has ever come back. To think differently is a great transgression or a sin. It is against the rules because every man is supposed to agree on everything as a Great We. In this novel …show more content…
They are often different than everybody else and they have trouble conforming to society. Equality 7-2521 is taller, stronger, smarter, and more handsome than the rest of his brethren. He has such a problem conforming because he is so much smarter than the rest of his peers. He can’t help being smarter than the rest and striving for knowledge. He starts to break the law, but when he does he realizes he feels no guilt. He knows that he is breaking the law, but he doesn’t see it as wrong. He is at peace with breaking the law. When Equality 7-2521 goes against the society and shows the Council what he has done by breaking the law, they turn him down. Even though his invention could change their world for the better. He says “The Council is blind” (52). They are all acting on a rule that is meant to make the society perfect, but really it just keeps them from making any evolutionary progress. Equality 7-2521 eventually escapes to the Uncharted Forest where he can be independent and starts his own society of smart and different