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. Equality fits into the pioneer archetype as well as the rebel, while Liberty fulfills the roles of companion and lover. Equality’s personality exudes curiosity. In his environment, this sin dictates Equality’s life, however, it is a definite trait of the pioneer archetype. The dystopian society within Anthem forces Equality to grow into a mold shared amongst every other person, to the extent where a person is not their own being, …show more content…
Equality is abnormal in his society due to his wit, and this pushes him to illegally think and invent. Equality stumbles across the perfect refuge to execute his experiments while working beside his friend, International 4-8818. Sworn to secrecy by Equality, International leaves the underground hiding place to his friend. Every night, Equality sneaks out for three hours to the underground cave where he collects stolen resources that aid his scientific research. He claims to conduct observations where “We melt strange metals, and we mix acids, and we cut open the bodies of the animals which we find in the City Cesspool”. Equality knows “We are defying the will of our Councils” still, “there is no shame in us and no regret” (35-37). Equality realizes the danger of getting caught, but he considers that a small price to pay for his engagement in learning. The investigations that he execute
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. Equality fits into the pioneer archetype as well as the rebel, while Liberty fulfills the roles of companion and lover. Equality’s personality exudes curiosity. In his environment, this sin dictates Equality’s life, however, it is a definite trait of the pioneer archetype. The dystopian society within Anthem forces Equality to grow into a mold shared amongst every other person, to the extent where a person is not their own being, …show more content…
Equality is abnormal in his society due to his wit, and this pushes him to illegally think and invent. Equality stumbles across the perfect refuge to execute his experiments while working beside his friend, International 4-8818. Sworn to secrecy by Equality, International leaves the underground hiding place to his friend. Every night, Equality sneaks out for three hours to the underground cave where he collects stolen resources that aid his scientific research. He claims to conduct observations where “We melt strange metals, and we mix acids, and we cut open the bodies of the animals which we find in the City Cesspool”. Equality knows “We are defying the will of our Councils” still, “there is no shame in us and no regret” (35-37). Equality realizes the danger of getting caught, but he considers that a small price to pay for his engagement in learning. The investigations that he execute