How Is Equality Revealed In Anthem By Ayn Rand

“It is a sin to write this,” (Rand 1) said Equality 7-2521. In the story Anthem the main character, Equality, lived trapped in a world of equals and look-alikes, where writing and working alone was forbidden. To break through this curse of sameness Equality found alone time to start up a new invention that would help mankind greatly. It was the creation of electric light. Even though Equality was enhanced by his new invention of light this was not his primary motivation, suggesting that the want to learn was only to benefit himself. First, Equality showed that the power of selfishness and individuality could do great things if one believes. For example, giving the evil, Street Sweeper (Equality) the courage to break the Council’s rules and

He may have done these so called unspeakable acts, but it did help him become an independent person. For example, when he worked away from his brothers and actually created something, he thought to himself, “We, Equality 7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature. And we have discovered it alone, and we are alone to know it.” (Rand, 52) Equality had the rare ability to be a fearless person when working on his project, where his society would have disagreed Equality was drawn to breaking the rules. However; Equality was blinded by his geniousness so much that he started to become obsessed with looking/tweaking his invention to the point where he got himself caught and thrown into jail. That’s when he thought, “What is my life, if I am but to bow, to agree and obey?.” He believed that if he can’t do anything without the Council watching him like a hawk, than what is the

Equality being a miserable Street Sweeper wished to be part of something more important in his society. This was understood to be the Council of Scholars. He believed that, “No single one can possess greater wisdom than the many Scholars. ” (Rand, 54) Equality always had a burning thirst to join the Council of Scholars since he was a little boy, but was very shocked, in the beginning of the story, when he was placed in the position of a Street Sweeper. As if to prove to the scholars that he can fit in with them, he made a courageous decision to show his great contraption to them. He declared that, “Tomorrow... [I] shall take our box...and walk up to the Home of Scholars. [I] shall put before them the greatest gift ever offered to men.” (Rand 67) Nonetheless; Equality was soon to figure out that the Council 100% disapproved with his new creation of light and sought to punish him for his terrible doings. Just in the knick of time Equality was able to escape from them, but thought to himself, “we think that the Council of Scholars is blind [for not liking and accepting our creation].” (Rand 52) This thought had stayed with Equality for the rest of the story, and even though he didn’t technically show the Scholars what they were missing out on, he was able to find out what a great and creative person he