Equality 7-2521 In Ayn Rand's Anthem

The evolution of the world's society is in a large part based on inventions and progression of human kind. If there is no one to invent new ways to ease ways, then there is no reason to try. This however does not mean that one should try to ease the way of men to do nothing at all. For if that happens, there is no reason to live anymore save for only being. The society Equality 7-2521 has grown up in is caught on thinking that no one man can do good for others, only if in a group of all. This way of thinking has set them far back in the terms of society and inventions. Everyone has to agree upon the same idea, even though that it not a way to progress. The motivation to do new things and invent new ways is a simple but very compelling instinct

of humans. Something in this society trough years of the same uniform conformity has destroyed this base instinct and thrown the people back in to the dark ages. As Equality discovers his instincts again, he wants to learn and help his "brothers" do more good for themselves. In the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, the author's use of imagery and figurative language trough the narrator's view to establish why motivation to help one's self and others is a good way to live. 
Although in Anthem the society emphasizes that the need to know and to learn is not important, Equality 7-2521's need to learn new things is too strong.

Sneaking away in the middle of Theater hours he goes to his tunnel to study things he would like to learn and what else he could find out. His main motivation to invent, is to learn. Motivation can be a strong catalyst in anything, if wanted badly enough. "This place is ours. If we ever surrender it, we will surrender our life also." (34) Equality's necessity to acquire knowledge is so strong that he will break his society's rules to do so. If he has "Solved secrets of which the Scholars have no knowledge of." (36) he knows that if he continues, there is much more to learn to benefit him and others. When Equality creates the shining glass box, he is struck with thoughts of wonder. He wishes to "Give our brothers a new light." (60) to alleviate their strain and work. Equality has decided that if he can do this alone, there is much to be done together. He still believes that there is much that his brothers are wrong about, though he feels that he can help and become one of the

Scholars. 
When Equality 7-2521 first starts writing down his story, his goal is to help his brothers and be more like them. Unfortunately they call him evil for being taller and wanting to know more than is given to him. As much as it seems that everyone wants to help each other, it is sadly not so. Many of the people in Equality's society are hung up on trying to help each other be great they forget about themselves. They've lost many traits that should be true to a singular person. Equality however, has the incentive and later the means to do what he wants to. Primarily, he wanted to learn and explore the vast world of science. When he makes his glowing glass box, a thought to help his brothers comes upon him, as it has been taught in this society. "The power of the sky can be made to do man's bidding."(60) However, what Equality did not realize, was that instead of accepting the light, the Council of Scholars could reject his idea because "What is not done collectively cannot be good." (73) Equality is rejected without understanding why something done by one person for good of others cannot be considered good. "We give you the power of the sky!" (71) He feels that he is indeed doing good by presenting this to people who are supposed to be more open minded than others. It is a sad thing to witness humans failing themselves and their own instincts to explore. If other people tried more to learn and actually do new things, the world may have turned out better some time ago. This should be a fact in everyday life. When people do not try, then there is nothing to do. The utopian idea Equality's society held was wronged by the unification of all. Individualism is a very important factor for the growth of the community and life. 
When people band together for a good cause, the outcome should naturally be good.

In this case, the consolidation of all the people and power in different stages results in something comparable to a double-edged knife, killing but also helping the society. There is a belief throughout the world that working together to achieve a similar goal could result in peace. Perhaps it could, but the wrongdoing of this idea, is that every person will not have the same opinion. The Council of Scholars shows this in a tad different sense, but similarly as they tell Equality that "When the majority of their brothers voted against them, they abandoned their ideas" (73). There may never such a thing as a perfect utopia, but this is a good endeavor to see. Equality discovers that his brothers really aren't trying o make anything better. The evidence that this society is not motivated to do, is not a good idealistic way to him. "We have lied to ourselves." (76) Equality now knows that his brothers were not trying to make anything better. He knows that they care only for unity and control. At the metaphorical end of Equality's story that we know, he is conscious of being different and feels he is more knowledgeable about the outside world than anyone he was met. He decides that he will do things to improve the living of his friends and loved ones "And man will go on." (104). Equality knows that if he tries, he may right the wrongs the society has

brought. 
Rand used imagery and figurative language to show people how when one is rightly motivated, there is much good yet to be done. Throughout the story of Equality 7-2521, he discovers that the way his brothers may think about the uniformity of the society may be wrong, and that they are ruining which benefits human kind the most of all, the need to know. In his society, the need to discover is called evil and a curse. It is something that has been forgotten throughout the ages, and only one man has seen that it is wrong and has acted on it. To want to grasp reality and the ways of life is an important motivation to help one and others. That is the only way humans can survive in the end. This is the only way the world can prosper.