Morality In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Equality’s view on morality towards the end of the novel is drastically different from his society’s institutions, practices, and officials views. This is evident throughout the novel Anthem. Equality matures as a human being while on a journey of self enlightenment, and towards the end of the book, he already has acquired more knowledge than any of his “brothers” back in his old society. At the end of the novel, Equality sees nothing wrong with individuality and encourages it. He now even hates the word “we” since he believes that it was “the worship of the word ‘we’” (Rand 102) that brought his old society into submission. Equality also wishes to be called by an individual name, so he chooses the fitting name of Prometheus and gives the …show more content…
According to Ayn Rand, the definition of selfishness is “concern with one’s own interest” (The Virtue of Selfishness). This society believes that if you are concerned with yourself, it is a sin. But, Rand also “proudly...upholds rational selfishness” which is “the values required for human survival” (The Virtue of Selfishness). The ideology of “rational selfishness” is most like Equality’s viewpoint as well. How can man survive on his own when he does not think about his own well being? In a different book, Rand states that “Men have been taught that the ego is the synonym for evil…” (For the New Intellectual). This exactly matches the views of morality of Equality’s society. Anyone who even utters the sacred word “ego” is put to death (Rand 49). This is somewhat understandable since Rand also says that “egoism was held to mean the sacrifice of others to self” (For the New Intellectual). Egoism goes entirely against the morals of his society. On the other hand, Equality now embraces this word. “The word which can never die on this earth, for it is the heart of it and the meaning and the glory. The sacred word: EGO” (Rand

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