Introduction
The protagonist Equality 7-2521 in Ayn Rand’s “Anthem” has a personality that eventually causes him to breach the rules in the first chapter. His autonomous, curious, and rational temperament contrasts with the collectivist culture in which he lives, prioritizing obedience and surrender to power over everything else. As a result of his determination to think for himself and seek his interests, Equality commits several violations of the government’s norms.
Defiance and Individualism in Ayn Rand’sAnthem
The Pursuit of Knowledge: Equality’s Intellectual Rebellion
Firstly, Equality’s independence distinguishes him from his colleagues and causes him to doubt the government’s sovereignty. He is fascinated by nature around him and wishes to discover more about science and innovation, irrespective of the reality that the administration severely prohibits these fields of study. This is clear when Equality states, “It is not good to feel too much joy nor to be glad that our body lives. For we matter not, and it must not matter to us whether we live or die, which is to be as our brothers will it. But we, Equality 7-2521, are glad to be living. If this is a vice, then we wish no virtue” (Rand 19).
This statement demonstrates that Equality appreciates his individual life and perspectives, disregarding the government’s perception of him and his mates as cogs in a system. This need for self-satisfaction and fulfillment drives him to violate the law to get knowledge.
The Power of Love: Emotional Liberation as Ultimate Defiance
Lastly, Equality’s drive for personal pleasure pushes him to the greatest sin: falling in love. The government rigorously prohibits this act since it contradicts society’s insistence on togetherness and the subjugation of individual interests. When Equality first meets the Golden One, he thinks, “We knew not what we were saying, but we spoke” (Rand 27). This quotation demonstrates that Equality’s yearning for connectedness and love is so powerful that it outweighs his sense of survival and dread of government retribution. This act of defiance eventually drives him down a perilous path as the authorities progressively alienate and punish him.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Equality’s personality, which includes his independence, curiosity, and rationality, all lead to his decision to breach the law. His goal for individual satisfaction and happiness, combined with his analytical thinking capabilities and thirst for information, drives him to question the government’s authority and follow his own pursuits. While these characteristics cast him as an outlier in his culture, they eventually lead him to the facts concerning himself and the environment surrounding him.
Work Cited
Rand, Ayn. “Anthem.” Feedbooks, 1983, pp. 1–55.