Equality In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Words: 602
Pages: 3

“We strive to be like all our brother men, for all men must be alike” (Rand 19). In Anthem, the society people live in is a collective society. Everybody is supposed to be alike and equal. They are not familiar with any words affiliated with themselves such as “I”. A collective society wants people to care about the whole, and not the one, it does not allow people to show their uniqueness and individualism, and has very strict laws to follow. In Anthem, the government tried to make a new a better society, but turned out for the worst. The cause of everything that had an effect on Equality or his actions, was because of the cruel collective society. For example, “ The laws say that none among men may be alone, ever and at any time, for this is the great transgression and the root of all evil” (Rand 17). Due to being a collective society, being alone is forbidden. Equality says he can hear his brothers sobbing and feeling miserable. Because of the new society it had an effect on people, and they are now unhappy and miserable. Due to the laws being so strict, Equality has to hide and not show his true self, and has to hide his invention. …show more content…
Equality never really fit in with anyone else, he stood out and was different, and he was unique. For instance, “It is not good to be different from our brothers, but it is evil to be superior to them. The teachers told us so, and they frowned when they looked upon us” (Rand 21). This illustrates he is different and more superior to his peers. This leads him to the direction of creating the light bulb, because he is smarter and different, and the society frowns upon those who are different. This leads up to Equality escaping the society be the World Council rejected him, and there he discovers the true meaning of