Theme Of Equality In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Since 1848 when The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx was published growing questions about whether a communist or globalist society could work were asked. With many theories and attempts to make a perfect society, it has never been done ,but in fiction it has worked out such as in the television series Star Trek. Likewise communism does not always work well in fiction leaving the people poor or mistreated. Such as in the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand which tells the tale of an oppressive communist society that uses its government to keep everyone equal. The society in Anthem has all its rules and controls for the purpose of keeping an artificial sense of true equality ,and by the end of the story Equality would go the opposite route in not having

Like when Equality shows his discover the council states “And without the plans of the World Council the sun cannot rise” (74). With that in mind, there is a class system in Anthem making the government being a truly equal society farse told many times by creating higher ups the hold all the power over others. Along with that the council controls the advancements of the world shown with the statement “Many men in the Homes of the Scholars have had strange new ideas in the past,” said Solidarity 8-1164, “but when the majority of their brother Scholars voted against them they abandoned their ideas, as all men must” (73). In light of that quote the council creates a dictatorship of one party rule further planting a sham of an equal society. Finally the council puts themselves above the rest by saying “How dared you. Gutter cleaner,” spoke Fraternity 9-3452, “to hold yourself as one alone and with the thoughts of the one not the many?” (72). In line with the quote the council puts down as Equality as being lower than them in what is supposed to an equal society. Beyond Anthem not being a truly equal government a working communist society is never

We only knew suddenly empty” (57). These actions provide further evidence by showing how intellect may create a difference in power of the mind showing the inequalities of humanity itself. In the terms of those revelations without cloning or body modifications a government can only lie about true equality. A way of giving the false sense of equality or limits is by destroying the possibility of one being better than the other mentally or technologically. Like with technology the council cuts off advancements for the sake of the weaker “Then it would bring ruin to the Department of Candles. The candle is a great boon to mankind, as approved by all men. Therefore it cannot be destroyed by the whim of one” (73). Then with this the equality of treatment is broken because it suppresses one for the livelihoods of many. Along with that rules were built to halt individual ideas spreading “It is a sin to write this. It is a sin to think words no others think and put them down upon a paper no others are to to see it” (17). With keeping writing illegal the powers of communication are diminished to help appease the lie of true equality. Also when Equality was doing his job he stumbles upon a hole in which he wavers exploring with this in mind ”Since the Council does not know of this hole, there can be no law permitting to enter. And everything which is not permitted by law is forbidden” (31). According to these lines exploration is illegal unless you are