Individuality Vs. Conformity In Ayn Rand's Anthem

Improved Essays
In the book Anthem by Ayn Rand, Equality 7-2521 is a young man who struggles to find ways to show his true self because he lives in a society based on conformity. Ayn Rand uses the symbols of the light bulb, the Uncharted Forest, and his new name to demonstrate the conflict of individuality versus conformity in order to demonstrate the importance of individuality and self-discovery. Thus, through the use of these symbols, Ayn Rand is able to integrate the theme of individuality versus conformity throughout the entire novella.
Ayn Rand uses the symbol of the light bulb to portray the significance of individuality in a conformed society with the conflict between the two opposing societies. Equality 7-2521 has his own ideas and endeavors that
…show more content…
Equality 7-2521 goes through the course of the novella living in a social order in which he does not fit in with. As a result, Equality 7-2521 tries numerous ways to find his true self. It is at the end of the story in which he discovers the word “I.” The discovery of the word “I” is a breakthrough in the story because it shows how Equality 7-2521 has broken away from the conflicting conformed society. Equality 7-2521 begins to start his new life when the Golden One says, “He took the light of the gods and he brought it to men. And he taught men to be gods. And he suffered for his deed as all bearers of light must suffer. His name was Prometheus” (Rand 99). This describes his journey thus far. He has finally found out who he is. He can finally live life as an individual person and not have to worry about fitting into a civilization based on conformity. Ultimately, through the use of Equality 7-2521’s new name, Ayn Rand is able to show that individuality overpowers conformity and is a necessity in order to have a functioning society.
A multitude of symbols are used in the story Anthem by Ayn Rand in order to demonstrate the conflict between individuality and conformity and to prove how important individuality is to one’s life. Thus, through the use of the light bulb, the Uncharted Forest, and the new name, Ayn Rand is able to incorporate the theme of individuality versus conformity during the entirety of the novella. The demonstration of individuality is imperative because in order to have a fully functioning world, there needs to be some form of uniqueness in order for everyone to have something they can call their

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    In Anthem by Ayn Rand Equality 7-2521, the main character of the story, is a facilitator of discovery. Throughout chapters three and four, Equality 7-2521 makes discoveries not only in the sense of innovation, but also through connections made about the world around him. For example, in chapter three Equality 7-2521 discovers the light bulb and the concept of electricity that were left behind from the Unmentionable Times. During this event, Equality 7-2521 also has the revelation that he is alone in this knowledge, which gives him both power and fear. Another example of discovery from Equality 7-2521 occurs in chapter four, when he is speaking with the Golden One and finds out that she has given him a name inside her head as well.…

    • 168 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the book Anthem by Ayn Rand, the main character, Equality 7-252 lives in a society where individualism does not exist. From the day they are born till the day they they no longer exist, everyone is the same. When Equality Is given the life mandate of street sweeper, he wishes was a scholar instead. Equality Begins sneaking away to a tunnel to do what he truly loves, studying nature. Equality Soon discovers electricity and light made from it.…

    • 116 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The book, Anthem, is about a twenty year old male, who is six feet tall and named Equality 7-2521. His society that he lives in has made him feel as if he was different and being different is the worst transgression to commit. The saying "Curiosity killed the cat", was almost the fate for Equality in this novella and his ego saved him from this tragedy. Equality has always felt like the black sheep in his society and ego plays a huge role as to why he feels this way, throughout the book it is shown through the lack of ego in his society, as well as equality coming more in touch with his egotistical side, and lastly the word "I" becoming more understood.…

    • 492 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the book Anthem, by Ayn Rand, everyone is supposedly equal. Life is the same for everyone on a day to day basis. This book is about life in a dystopian society, and the life of Equality 7- 2521. Equality is one of many and is seen just as equal as everybody else. He soon realizes that he wants to learn new things and wants to be different.…

    • 878 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Having to face countless amounts of hardships in a cruel, twisted society proves no easy task for anyone to accomplish, however, Equality 7-2521 was able to break this barrier and step into a new, reformed world. Throughout the course of the novel Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, Equality’s motivations allowed him to see the society people were living in from a different point of view. In a society where everyone lives by the quote “‘We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever.’ ”…

    • 829 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In the novel the characters live in a communist type society where they have restricted speech and no individualism, also the author shows the reaction the characters in this society have when they lose these rights and their only response to this is to rebel. The novel Anthem by Ayn Rand is a story, which shows the journey equality 7-2521 went through and the hardship to get to where he is now and what he has found.…

    • 1525 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    He is growing farther away from the morals he was taught as a young boy. Equality will meet a girl in the story and they will eventually move to the forest and live together. Equality 7-2521 is being treated just like everyone else in his town. He does everything with them and is never separate from his “brothers.” (paragraph-8. Chapter-1)…

    • 360 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Ayn Rand wants people to think that when a person loses their right to be an individual or have natural human things like family and love, life becomes meaningless to the ones taking part in it. The story portrays the suffering the citizens undergo by not being free and how they cannot understand their awful situation. Near the end of the novel it is shown that life gains meaning when people are allowed to be different and given choices to do the things they love. In Equality’s case he loves Liberty, The Golden One, and creating things for the use of others. This is proven when Equality says “But the only things which taught us joy were the power we created in our wires, and the Golden One.”…

    • 332 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Individuality in Anthem Society influences the way people think and behave throughout their entire lives. However, the dystopian novel Anthem by Ayn Rand presents a society that controls the behaviors, actions, and even thoughts of their citizens. Rand’s two main characters Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000 represent common archetypes found in many other literary works. These archetypes help Rand develop the theme that suppression of individuality depletes peoples’ happiness because it is an essential part of humanity.…

    • 958 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Together The Golden One and equality found a house that was from the unmentionable times. Inside the house they found old books, and inside the books was the truth. Equality found out the truth about what had happened and how it had changed. “My chosen friends, My fellow-builders, shall write the first chapter in the new history of man. ”(101)…

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Symbolism in Anthem This story is about how the future could look like in communist Russia, it basically explains in detail what the people in the society are living and how they think of everyone as their brothers and how men can’t look at women and can’t keep their children with them, basically no one knows who their real family actually is in this society. Ayn Rand uses symbolism to show that Anthem truly belongs to dystopian literature by discussing light, names and freedom. As we have seen in the book Anthem, the light basically completed Equality’s life.…

    • 445 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    His journey culminated into becoming an individual and even wanting to battle his society. He boldly proclaims, “For the coming of that day I shall fight” (Rand 104). Since, Equality is now independent, his character grows and his traits of leadership begin to show. It is not only the choices that form identity, but also how people react to…

    • 817 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Ayn Rand Anthem Analysis

    • 741 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In Anthem she uses the idea of the main character, Equality 7-2521, finding and powering up a lightbulb, “...as a plot device,” (Rand Paul Gives Senate Lesson in Ayn Rand and Light Bulbs, paragraph 3) and metaphor for how if we try to share our ideas with others, they will positively be destroyed. He began eager to give his gift, “Fear nothing brothers. There is a great power in these wires, but this power is tamed. It is yours. We give it to you,” (Rand, 70), but the Council had quickly shot him down.…

    • 741 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Equality vs. Prometheus Imagine living in a world where everyone has to live under strict rules and have our future and life be chosen for us. In Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, is a dystopia of a future “Dark Age” that might happen if we worshipped the word “We” and collectivism. Through the end of the book, Equality discovers a god, Prometheus, and feels a connection towards him because of many things; the most important are, his gifts to mankind, his actions, and his outcomes.…

    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The struggle to be oneself has always been just that, a struggle. There is always a great deal of pressure to be what others expect of you. In real life it is parents, siblings, coaches, and teachers that expect more than you can offer. In the case of Ayn Rand’s book Anthem, it’s not really what people expect of them it is what they don’t. The main character, Equality 7-2521 is supposed to never ask questions and to accept things as they are.…

    • 1201 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays