Theme Of Buriosity In Ayn Rand's Anthem

American chemist and author, Linus Pauling once stated, “Satisfaction of one's curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.” In other words, by acting upon impulses of curiosity, one can achieve happiness. As for Equality 7-2521, the protagonist in Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem, this claim may hold true. Equality is a teenage boy living in a dystopian society, where the concepts of freedom and individual rights are eliminated. Society is controlled by the World Council of Scholars, who ensure that no individual stands out to maintain sameness. However, sameness can never be achieved because Equality always stands out, for he is intellectually and physically advanced compared to his fellow brothers. Equality’s different characteristics

are used against him, when he is assigned the inferior career of a Street Sweeper. As a Street Sweeper, Equality encounters a tunnel from the Unmentionable Times, the era long before the idea of sameness was established, and finds love.

Throughout the novel, Equality allows his active curiosity to encourage him experiment, venture, and learn. Reactions to impulses of curiosity can lead to the discovery of one’s potential, purpose, and self-reliance. Therefore, in Anthem, Ayn Rand demonstrates the outcomes of curiosity through Equality’s behavior in the tunnel from the Unmentionable Times, in the Uncharted Forest upon finding his home, and in the house when he begins to read.

To begin, by acting on urges of curiosity, one can discover their potential. Within the tunnel from the Unmentionable Times, Equality discovers his potential as he applies his skills, which is provoked by the drive of his curiosity. As Equality completes his community chores, he stumbles upon an abandoned tunnel buried within weeds. While entering the tunnel, he encounters items he believes are remains from the Unmentionable Times. Gradually, he begins spending months within the tunnel, taking advantage of the materials accessible to him; his curiosity for the artifacts lead him to the creation of a glass box, within it, the power of electricity. Equality understands the power of his invention and considers the possible collective benefits it would have in his

society. For this reason, Equality meets with the World Council of Scholars to discuss the greatness of his creation. He then realizes the transgression in his actions based on the unfavorable reaction of the Scholars. In order to effectively protect himself and his achievement, Equality escapes and ventures into the Uncharted Forest. He reflects on his newfound attitude and perspective stating, “Only the glass box in our arms is like a living heart that gives us strength. We have lied to ourselves. We have not built this box for the good of our brothers” (Rand 76). At this point in the novel, Equality realizes that he did not apply his talents to contribute to the greater good of his community, but instead to validate his own abilities. In other words, he begins embracing the eminence of his glass box for the sole reason that it is the result of his own potential. He now understands that through his potential alone, he is able to contribute more to his society than a simple Street Sweeper, for he is destined to make a difference in his unique approach. Through his curiosity, Equality is able to experience content as he applies his skills to manipulate the objects available to him. Consequently, he recognizes his true capabilities and capacities, being that with his exceptional talents, those are perpetual. Not only does acting on curiosity lead to the discovery of one’s potential but also to the discovery of one’s purpose.
Moreover, by acting on impulses of curiosity, one’s purpose can be discovered.

As he settles into his newly declared home, Equality reflects on his responses to his urges of curiosity, which resulted in the discovery his purpose. After fleeing from the World Council of Scholars and eluding into the Uncharted Forest, Equality is soon joined by Liberty 5-3000, the woman who he has fallen in love with. For days on end, the couple walks the paths of the forest, with the hope that there is more to the uncharted region than they are told to believe. Equality and Liberty soon happen upon what appears to be a white flame among the trees. As they conclude that the flame is not a flame, but rather a reflection of the sun casted upon the object, Equality and Liberty move closer to the source of the light. They then find themselves in front of a two story house, which they assume is left from the Unmentionable Times. Upon entering the house, Equality and Liberty are amazed by the artifacts within, including the vast array of garments and manuscripts. Together, they conclude that in this house, they will raise their family. Soon after, Equality contemplates his actions in the course of the previous days and comments, “I wished to know the meaning of things. I am the meaning” (Rand 94). Before Equality allowed curiosity to guide his behavior, he was not able to grasp the meaning of his life. However, at this point in the novel, Equality finds that only he, himself, can determine the

meaning of his life. To clarify, there is no inclined purpose of his life, for he alone decides and establishes this purpose through his decisions. For that reason, Equality establishes his life’s purpose after encountering his new home and realizing the promise his future holds. He discovers his purpose to continue developing a joyous life for himself and Liberty. By allowing his curiosity to influence his decisions by leading him to his new home, Equality is able to discover his purpose and the meaning of his life. In the same way that acting on curiosity leads to the realization of one’s purpose, acting on curiosity also leads to the discovery of one’s self-reliance.
Furthermore, by being influenced by curiosity, one can discover self-reliance. Equality discovers self-reliance as he finds himself driven by his curiosity to read the many books and manuscripts within his home. As Equality continues to settle in his new house, he is engrossed by the books from the Unmentionable Times. As can be expected, he allows curiosity to influence his decision to read. Through his reading, he is able to learn the word “I”. He immediately understands the word, for it leaves a precise impression on his tongue. For this reason, Equality begins to ponder the sense of independence granted to him by the newfound word. In this case, he perceives the idea that his abilities should not be shared amongst many, but instead should be respected and reserved for his own being. He adds, “I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them” (Rand 96). Disregarding the collective belief that one’s treasures should be shared with one’s brothers, Equality believes that he should live for himself and not have others relying on him. Now aware of his potential and purpose, he understands that by living for the collective, he would solely disrupt the prominence of his spirit. To put it more simply, in order to protect his character and all the talents he possesses, Equality realizes that he must rely on himself and not his brothers. Because of his curiosity to read, Equality discovered self-reliance, which allowed him to attend to his own needs and focus on establishing his own happiness. In brief, acting on the impulse of curiosity leads to the discovery of self-reliance.
It is safe to assume that Pauling acted on his urges of curiosity and achieved happiness from those experiences. Nevertheless, it seems as though Equality 7-2521, of Ayn Rand’s Anthem, could relate as he allows his curiosity to motivate himself to experiment in the Unmentionable Times tunnel, venture into the Uncharted Forest, learn from the books within his home. In all events, he experiences happiness and content. By giving into his impulses of curiosity, Equality discovers his potential, purpose, and self-reliance. All in all, urges of curiosity should be faced with willingness, for it can ultimately lead to the discovery of happiness in oneself.