Fascism In Ayn Rand's Anthem

In Anthem, Ayn Rand depicts a government that has structured control over its citizens and everyone is equal. Comparably, fascism is a governmental system, led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism. Communism is a system in which all property is owned by the government and there is a collective, classless society. The society presented in this novella is similar to communism, as the government establishes a classless routined society and relates to fascism, as the government has complete control and restricts individualism.

The government which impacts Equality’s society, is similar to a fascist authority, as it prohibits individualism and the regime has complete control

Everyone has a place or part in the government and operate together, as a whole, “We are nothing. Mankind is all” (Rand 21). Likewise, in a society with a fascist government, individuality is prohibited, contrary ideas are censored and nationalism is emphasized. Benito Mussolini was the leader in Italy during its reign under fascism. Soon after declaring himself dictator, a strict press censorship was instituted. Freedoms of speech, press, assembly were all seized from the people. Workers were stripped of the ability to strike, and it was considered the duty of any good Italian to be physically fit and have a large family that could be of service to the Italian state. Within Equality’s society, everyone is taught that they mean nothing and are essentially worthless, if they can not contribute anything to benefit the whole population. With no individualism, comes no recognition, which ultimately leads to no progress. A society such as this is oppressive to its people, as they are not free

It is Communist in the sense that jobs are government assigned, the government provides everything a person needs, and everyone is considered equal. What people read, write, learn, say, and aspects such as breeding, punishment, are controlled by the government. The school system indoctrinates the state's children with the philosophy that instead of living to satisfy their own desires, they must live exclusively for their brothers, paralleling the “We strive to be like all our brother men, for all men must be alike” (19). The society has regressed to the technology of the pre-Enlightenment era and men such as Equality who could benefit their society are encouraged to waste their talents. The word ‘I’, has been abolished in order to prevent people from thinking of themselves as individuals with identities distinct from that of the collective. All men are brothers without any distinctions or divisions, all decisions are made for the common man by Scholars and Councils, including each person's profession thinking, dreaming, and creating are strictly forbidden and punishable crimes if they are discovered. Being alone is the greatest sin as that wrongly distinguishes one man from his brothers, work is the greatest good, independent thinking is not allowed, “Fear walks through the City, fear without name, without shape.