Exploring Individualism in Ayn Rand's Anthem

Second Six Weeks Honors Project
“It is a sin to write this.” is how Ayn Rand’s Anthem begins. Equality, the main character, feels this way at the beginning at of the book, but by the end of the book, he feels differently. Equality learns how to be an individual, why it is good to be an individual, and what he has to do to save the rest of mankind from conforming to the collectivist society that he currently lives in.
In Anthem’s current society, it is only correct to be a coherent group. If you work alone, it is a transgression, if you work for the good of yourself, it is a transgression, and if you work to change the current society, then it is too a transgression (17). Equality believes these laws that are set in place by the Council, but by the end of the novella, he believes different. He believes that everyone should be allowed to utilize their skills and talents, and that everyone should live in a society, but

work for the good of themselves. Equality also believes that people should be able to exercise their learning and education to the maximum and not hold back because of fear (47). He thinks this because the only way that he was able to learn what he wanted, was to do it on his own. Equality furthermore believes that everyone should be able to learn at school without having to be afraid to ask questions, without having to be worried about being lashed for being smart, and without having to pretend to be ignorant or unintelligent to be like his peers (21-24). Equality sets the perfect example of a leader, a motivator, and most importantly an individual.
Equality possess the qualities of being a clever individual and the qualities of being an outgoing individual. In the old society of Anthem, Equality was never able to employ these qualities, because of the Council’s strict laws of collectivism. Equality internally believes that he is sinning for being different from his brothers (17), and he truly feels burdened by this feeling. Equality just wants to embrace himself and let his characteristics shine, but his current society hinders the success of any individual.
Through all of Equality’s trials and tribulations, he learns that only through himself can he learn to be an individual.

Equality discovers electricity, one day, and through this he recognizes the importance of intelligence, determination, and most of all, Equality learns that being different is not a transgression, but an essential part of life. Equality learns that he is the only one that can say if something is beautiful, if something is good, if something is bad, if something is ugly, and no one else can form his opinion for him, because he is an individual (94).
To be an individual, one must discover the trait of having an ego. An ego is someone’s self-importance and self-esteem. You can’t be an individual if you lack an opinion or self-esteem because these are the qualities of an ego. Equality possessed all of these qualities and more. In the novella Anthem, the unspeakable word, was ego. Using the text of the novella, one can infer that the word is ego because no one in the society can be alone, can be different, or can be an individual

(17-24).
Equality conveys to the reader that his evaluation of his transgression of being alone as incorrect. He believes that his invention can improve the quality of living for mankind, so he doesn’t believe that it should be known as a transgression (70-71). A reader could agree with Equality’s stand point because working alone is not a sin in today’s society. Equality worked on this invention in privacy, which is against the law in his society, but he discovered something that was beneficial to his society, and could improve their quality of life. Using Equality’s actions as a comparison to his invention, one sees that he broke the law to improve his society’s living. Was it the right thing to do? Or was it wrong? One can decide if Equality’s transgression is excusable, or if it is really punishable by the Council.
Typically, when one hears the word “transgression”, they think of sin. The dictionary meaning of the word transgression is an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct. Did Equality disobey the law? Yes he did, but is it reasonable to be punished? For example, if someone were to kill someone that was in their home about to kill their family, should that person be charged with murder? The person who shot the other person technically broke the law, but it was for the good of the society and safety of their family, so should they be charged with murder? One could use this example to compare to Equality. Equality broke the law, but it was for the society, so like the victim, should Equality be charged as well? One can decide Equality’s fate based on what they believe is right and wrong.
Laws are put in place to keep everyone safe and living in harmony, but sometimes laws are broken, and force others to break laws in order to return the community back to harmony. To explain this point, Equality broke the law when he created his invention, but should it not be a law that someone cannot hinder someone else’s learning and capabilities? Shouldn’t there be laws instilled to protect the community members instead of the Council? Shouldn’t everyone be entitled to their own thoughts and opinions? Shouldn’t everyone be allowed to express themselves? Display their intellect? Put their skills to work? Or should everyone be the same, believe the same things, and be the same person?
In Ayn Rand’s Anthem, the society is portrayed as a collectivist, totalitarian place, with no individuals that can think for themselves. Equality sees his transgression as not being a sin because it benefits his society. Should our society today follow the same principle? The answer is up to you…