Individuality And Freedom In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Anthem by Ayn Rand is a soul-shifting and mind-blowing novella that explores the dangers of a collective, dystopian society. As a man named Equality 7-2521 stumbles through life, he realizes that he has a burning desire to learn and explore, traits discouraged by the society he lives in. In the City, there are many rules, and all of them shadow the idea that “we are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE. One, indivisible, and forever.” (3) Equality 7-2521, with his passion for learning and science, slowly breaks away from this iron rule set by society, and in doing so, learns of the importance of individualism and freedom. In Anthem, Rand’s use of literary devices such as symbolism, characterization, and imagery help develop and present the tone of the importance of individuality and the dangers of a collective society. Slowly but steadily, Ayn Rand highlights the importance of individuality with the use of symbolism. The City has strict rules – citizens rise and sleep with the toiling of the bells, men and women are separated, people’s lives are laid out for them by the Council, and no one has a name. Instead, there is a word and a number etched onto an iron bracelet. In the protagonist’s case, he says, “Our name is Equality 7-2521, as it is written on the iron bracelet which all men wear on their left wrists with their names on it.” (3)

In the society which the characters live in, individuality is forbidden and collectiveness is absolute. Throughout the course of the story, the main character is propelled forward into finding his own individual personality, separate from the dull hive mind of the rest of the City. Anthem stresses the importance of the individual while urging readers to be mindful of the dangers of a collective, mindless society that fears