The Themes Of Individualism In Anthem, By Ayn Rand

In the novel, Anthem, written by Ayn Rand takes place when mankind has entered another dark age. A man named Equality 7-2521 lives in a society where he struggles to live equal within the brotherhood. In the world he lives in people are told they exist only for the sake of serving society, and have no other purpose. Therefore, each individual is assigned a vocation as a permanent life career which determines who they socialize and live with. However, Equality being very different from his brothers, believes in individualism and rejects the collectivism society around him. The concept of individualism vs collectivism is portrayed in the story because individuality is unknown to the people where no one is unique or excellent in any way. The people

Rand uses similes and metaphors to describe two different things such as when Equality compares liberty to a thin blade of iron or when comparing his judgement of mind to the only searchlight that can find the truth. Her work of literary devices also includes personification because in the novel it states” Men never enter the Uncharted Forest, for there is no power to explore and no path to lead among its ancient trees which stand as guards of fearful secrets.” (Rand,48) The writer uses personifications to describe the trees as guards. This is where symbolism comes into place. The Uncharted Forest is symbolizing the desire for forbidden knowledge from the people living to the cities. I feel that the writer most important use of literature is when using dramatic irony throughout the story. Rand’s use of the word “we” is an example of dramatic irony because it acts as a first-person point of view which shows how individualism disappeared in this society. The reader knows that Equality is in the process of discovering himself as the singular word, “I” before himself even aware of this. The word “I” is also what the people in the novel call, the Unspeakable Word. At the point where Equality discovers this, he finds the sense of being an individual. Rand’s work of writing has connections towards to society and how one’s mind can change the