The Value Of Freedom In Anthem By Ayn Rand

921 Words4 Pages

“This god, this one word: I” (Rand). A value is what one holds most dear and makes them as a person. These values can be seen throughout the novel, Anthem ranging from small things like science to great things like individualism. Rand shows these values through her character Equality’s experiences as he finds his way through the upside-down world of Anthem. Though Rand and I both value freedom, she valued happiness and individual truth while I valued pets and empath instead. Firstly, throughout the end of Rand’s novel, she emphasizes the importance of individual truth. Equality’s language consistently points to this as Equality continues to find his own truth. One example of this is when Equality his eyes are what give beauty to the earth, …show more content…

On the contrary, this was not always the case, as the start of the book showed Eqaulity’s freedom restrained to doing what he was told and being punished for being different. Although, as the book progresses Equality gains more and more freedoms even saying, “I am not a servant of their needs. I am not a bandage for their wounds. I am not a sacrifice on their altars.” (Rand). This shows Equality distancing himself from the dystopian society and gaining greater freedom. Equality does this through his constant resistance and rule-breaking tendencies when searching for his own freedom. Freedom is something that both Equality in the Anthem, as well as its author Rand valued, as it is a frequent and recurring theme in the …show more content…

Rand’s character Equality expresses his value of happiness by stating things such as “it is its own purpose” (Rand). Equality says this while directly talking about the importance of happiness as it inherently has “no end” according to equality. Equality or rather, Rand saying that happiness is a purpose within itself shows that she values happiness substantially. Furthermore, Rand states that happiness has no end meaning it is something that should always be needed and valued. Although Equality may not have always been happy, it is the actions he takes that prove his value of happiness. To start, one of my first values similar to Rand’s is one’s freedom. Whether it be freedom of speech, freedom of religion, or any other basic right, a person's freedom is something that makes up someone’s identity and has the power to change how people perceive you. Though, it is the actions taken by one that makes them who they are, a freedom that many take for granted. Although the freedom to do and say what you want is something that you may not realize is important, characters like Equality did not share along with you. So although many fail to see, freedom is something that both I and Rand strongly