Individuality In Anthem, By Ayn Rand

Individuality is defined as the quality that makes one person or thing different from all others. However, individuality does not exist in all societies. Anthem by Ayn Rand, is set in a dystopian society where collectivism is believed to be supreme, and individuality is considered taboo. Equality 7-2521 is a Street Sweeper who questions the collectivist society that he lives in. Equality 7-2521 is a gifted individual who is different from his peers in the fact that he has personal interests. Equality 7-2521 wants to be in the Council of Scholars so he can pursue his interest in science. However, the Council of Vocations gives him the job of Street Sweeper. During the novel Anthem, the Council of Vocations assigns the profession of Street Sweeper

The collectivist society Equality 7-2521 lives in makes it so that everyone is equal in everything including learning. He is much more ahead than his classmates in intelligence during his time at the Home of Students. Undoubtedly, his teachers notice how gifted he is and grow enraged because of it. He is “lashed more often than all the other children” (Rand 22) by his teachers because of how different he is. The teachers want to keep the current collectivist society from changing. They teach students to love everyone equally and to not have preferences or interests. For this reason, Equality 7-2521 is often punished by his teachers. Due to his interest in science, Equality 7-2521 wants to be sent to the Council of Scholars. However, the Council of Vocations assigns him the job of Sweet Sweeper. Beforehand, his teachers tell him that “the Council of Vocations knows in its wisdom where you are needed by your brother men” (Rand 22). When assigning his job, the Council of Vocations makes sure to not take his personal interests into account. They assign him the job of Street Sweeper because they believe that will help the collectivist society in the long run. The Council does not want a man who does what job he likes to do. Therefore, they will not give Equality 7-2521 the job he desires in order to suppress any individuality he has within

After receiving his job, Equality 7-2521 says that he “would work for our brothers, gladly and willingly” (Rand 26). He decides to accept his new job with pride. He feels that this new job will make him feel better for thinking differently than how he should. In other words, the Council of Vocations makes him a Street Sweeper to give him a sense of pride and make him feel better about himself. However, this is not the case. The Council simply does not want to risk the current collectivist society from changing. Before receiving their jobs, Equality’s teachers tell him and his classmates that they have “unworthy little minds” (Rand 22). The Council has no interest on how a certain individual feels or thinks. They only care about the group and society as a whole. The Council of Vocations gives Equality 7-2521 the job of Street Sweeper for the sake of the society and not