Sins Revealed In Ayn Rand's Anthem

In the beginning of chapter thirteen in Anthem By Ayn Rand, Equality 7-2521 is brought to the realization that, “the best in me [Equality] had been my sins and my transgressions,” (98); this is a large difference from his previous writing, “It is a sin to write this,” (17). As he progresses through the story, Equality’s morals begin to change and eventually are not the same as those of the city. Although most readers believe that Equality’s final assessment of his sins are correct, this is a false assumption because sin is an opinion. Equality ended thinking that his actions were not sins, but because he stole, was selfish, and put others in danger, he sinned based off of modern society’s morals. Similarly, he committed actions such as being

His first sin was asking “International 4-8818, will you report us to the council and see us lashed to death before your eyes?” (34); they are both aware of the consequences, and Equality requesting this of him puts International in danger because if he is ever discovered knowing of Equality’s wrongdoings, he will be punished. Endangering others for one’s own prosperity is a selfish act no matter which society the act is committed in. His second sin was stealing. Equality stole a total of eight mentioned items including candles, flints, knives, paper, glass vials, powders, acids and manuscripts. Equality also shows a significant amount of selfishness which is his third sin. Throughout the book he puts himself above others in unnecessary ways. He openly admits “We do not care. We forget all men, all laws and all things save our metals and our wires.” (54). Equality shows little regard for the people around him and even when he makes claims of wanting to help his brothers by lighting his tunnel, the cities of the world and giving a new superior light to his brothers, he holds a selfish hidden motive to be sent to the Home of the Scholars. Equality’s overall assessment of his sins ignores these three actions that are considered to be immoral in modern

It is well known throughout the society that “We [the people] are one in all and all in one. There are no men, but the great WE, One, indivisible, and forever,” (19), yet Equality spend two years’ worth of his nights thinking separately, and working alone in the hole that he and International 4-8818 discovered. Equality also is guilty of the Transgression of Preference due to his favoring of International, and Liberty 5-3000. Another action seen as a sin to his society is Equality’s creation of the light. The light was created in solitude and “What is not done collectively cannot be good,” (73). Additionally if the light were to be mass produced it would bring the downfall of Department of Candles. The fact that morals are different in modern society than in Ayn Rand’s fictional society does not mean that modern morals are right, therefore even if these actions may not be sins in present- day culture, they are sins in the future civilization of