Anthem

“We are nothing. Mankind is all. By the grace of our brothers are we allowed our lives. We exist through, by and for our bothers who are the State. Amen.”

While in the Home of the Students, the students and teachers recite a nightly prayer to reinforce collectivist ideals. The prayer is intended to condition the students to conform to collectivism and to support the collectivist government system without question.

“And if you are not needed by your brother man, there is no reason for you to burden the earth with your bodies.”

The teachers at the Home of the Students insist that everyone must be satisfied with their assignment from the Council of Vocations because the purpose of life is to serve other people. This principle serves as the primary contrast for the author’s true message, which is that the purpose of life is to live for oneself.

“Since the Council does not know of this hole, there can be no law permitting to enter it. And everything which is not permitted by law is forbidden.”

International 4-8818’s warning further develops the dystopian setting by demonstrating that anything that is not explicitly legal is illegal. This concept is an allusive juxtaposition from real-world government structures in which laws are established to declare what is illegal. This concept carries satirical undertones that criticize government intrusion into private lives.

“We stood still; for the first time did we know fear, and then pain. And we stood still that we might not spill this pain more precious than pleasure.”

The barriers between Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000 cause Equality 7-2521 pain. He longs to be with Liberty 5-3000, preferring her to other women, and he feels emotional pain at the idea that he cannot have a relationship with her. The attraction he feels demonstrates the concept that individualism is necessary for love.

“It is forbidden, not to be happy. For, as it has been explained to us, men are free and the earth belongs to them; and all things on earth belong to all men; and the will of all men together is good for all; and so all men must be happy.”

Society enforces compulsory happiness by reasoning that, since everything belongs to everyone, everyone should be happy. The concept satirizes the idea that equality creates happiness. By presenting this idea as absurd, Rand suggests that it is individuality, rather than equality, that generates authentic happiness.

“And as we all undress at night, in the dim light of the candles, our brothers are silent, for they dare not speak the thoughts of their minds. For all must agree with all, and they cannot know if their thoughts are the thoughts of all, and so they fear to speak.”

By making it illegal for people to have unique thoughts, the government effectively silences and divides the citizens. This is an example of situational irony, as one would expect collectivism to unite the citizens rather than separate them.

“The secrets of this earth are not for all men to see, but only for those who will seek them.”

Society asserts that everything that can be known is currently known, but when Equality 7-2521 discovers electricity, he realizes this is not the case. The solitary discovery supports the theme of individualism and innovation.

“For we did not understand what had made us do this, and we were afraid to understand it.”

Equality 7-2521 kisses Liberty 5-3000’s hands despite not knowing what a kiss is or why he was driven to kiss her. The kiss represents both love and sexuality as inherent qualities of human nature.

“For the first time do we know how strong our arms are. And a strange thought comes to us: we wonder, for the first time in our life, what we look like.”

There are no mirrors in the City, so Equality 7-2521 and the other citizens do not know what they look like. They have not been taught to consider their bodies as meaningful beyond their capacity to perform altruistic work. When Equality 7-2521 creates electric light, he also experiences a physical awakening, becoming aware of his physical form. The simultaneous events reflect the close relationship between the mind and the body.

“We wondered who was sprinkling burning coal dust upon the floor, for we saw drops of red twinkling on the stones around us.”

The author uses a metaphor to describe Equality 7-2521’s experience of seeing his blood on the floor. The comparison of blood to coal dust evokes the burning sensations caused by the whip lashes.

“There is no reason to have guards, for men have never defied the Councils so far as to escape from whatever place they were ordered to be.”

The lackadaisical security of the Palace of Corrective Detention demonstrates the high levels of conformity among the citizens. Such conformity, combined with other details such as the fearful atmosphere among the citizens, suggests that people are scared to rebel against the government, which is a typical feature of dystopian literature.

“And if this should lighten the toil of men, […] then it is a great evil, for men have no cause to exist save in toiling for other men.”

One of the Scholars, Similarity 5-0306, argues that electric light is evil because it would lighten people’s burdens. This rejection of useful technology illustrates the extreme altruism that the World Council is based on. The author intends to satirize altruism by depicting it in an absurd form of social control.

“We are doomed. Whatever days are left to us, we shall spend them alone. And we have heard of the corruption to be found in solitude.”

Equality 7-2521’s reaction to being alone in the forest reflects the social conditioning in his collectivist society. Although he has discovered electricity and escaped from his oppressive society, he still feels the impact of his conditioning. As he spends more time in the Uncharted Forest, where he finds enlightenment, the impacts of his prior culture fade.

“It has been a day of wonder, this, our first day in the forest.”

Equality 7-2521’s first full day in the forest contrasts with his initial entry into the Uncharted Forest, where he was worried and pessimistic. His pleasant experiences in the forest demonstrate his growing sense of individuality and identity. As he realizes the beauty of the forest, he realizes the beauty of himself.

“We have so much to speak of to ourselves, and we hope we shall find the words for it in the days to come. Now, we cannot speak, for we cannot understand.”

Having first entered the Uncharted Forest, representing enlightenment and individuality, Equality 7-2521 recognizes his ignorance. The language he uses suggests that he lacks not only comprehension of his current circumstances but also the language to describe his personal journey.

“Your eyes are as a flame, but our brothers have neither hope nor fire. Your mouth is cut of granite, but our brothers are soft and humble. Your head is high, but our brothers cringe. You walk, but our brothers crawl. We wish to be damned with you, rather than blessed with all our brothers.”

Liberty 5-3000 distinguishes Equality 7-2521 from the other men in the City by criticizing the others as conformists. The criticism develops the author’s position that collectivism leads to weakness. This concept contrasts with many popular dystopian fiction texts, which often portray the opposite concept—that people must work together to overcome oppressive forces.

“The fires smoulder as a crown of jewels around is, and smoke stands still in the air, in columns made blue by the moonlight.”

By comparing the ring of fires surrounding Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000 at night to a “crown of jewels,” the author alludes to the notion that humans are superior to animals. The two humans possess fire, and the animals “dare not” cross their “crown of jewels” to attack them. The line also serves as imagery intended to inspire the reader to create a mental image of the scene.

“Everything which comes from the many is good. Everything which comes from one is evil. This have we been taught with our first breath. We have broken the law, but we have never doubted it. Yet now, as we walk through the forest, we are learning to doubt.”

The World Council oppresses its citizens by eliminating the concept of skepticism. Through his individual reasoning, Equality 7-2521 develops the ability to doubt what he has been taught. This emphasis on skepticism demonstrates the importance of critical thinking skills. Further, the author suggests that such skills are hindered by collectivism and can only be developed through independent thought.

“This is our home and the end of our journey. This is your house, Golden One, and ours, and it belongs to no other men whatever as far as the earth may stretch. We shall not share it with others, as we share not our joy with them, nor our love, nor our hunger.”

The house Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000 move into introduces the theme of property rights. Objectivism holds that property rights are foundational human rights.

“May knowledge come to us! What is the secret our heart has understood and yet will not reveal to us, although it seems to beat as if it were endeavoring to tell it?”

Equality 7-2521 senses gaps in his language and understanding because of his conditioning and social environment. His plea for knowledge foreshadows the coming change in language, when he switches from plural pronouns to singular pronouns, which he learns through reading the books in his newfound library. It also foreshadows the conclusion of the novel, in which he learns the word “ego.”

“My hands…My spirit…My sky…My forest…This earth of mine…What must I say besides. These are the words. This is the answer.”

Equality 7-2521 learns individualistic language, including singular pronouns. The completion of his character arc coincides with learning the concepts of and the language that expresses individuality. He is able to comprehend his instinctual desire for individuality and to share his perspectives with others.

“I wished to find a warrant for being. I need no warrant for being, and no word of sanction upon my being. I am the warrant and the sanction.”

The author highlights the idea that a person has inherent value by existing. The World Council conditioned people to believe that their worth is tied to their altruism and their impact on others. His epiphany that existing is its own purpose develops the dichotomy between altruism and egoism.

“I understood that centuries of chains and lashes will not kill the spirit of man nor the sense of truth within him.”

The author suggests that individualism is inherent in human nature. This concept is introduced multiple times, and it is a driving force of Equality 7-2521’s character arc; his journey of enlightenment was inevitable because of his instinctual desire to experience and express his individuality.