What is the book Anthem about?

Lesson Summary Her novel Anthem tells the story of a society destroyed by collectivism, the philosophy that individuals exist only to contribute to the well-being of society. In the novel, everyone is forced to be equal and to think the same.

Why did Ayn Rand call the book Anthem?

Leonard Peikoff explains the meaning behind this title: “[Rand] is (implicitly) upholding the central principles of her philosophy and of her heroes: reason, values, volition, individualism.” Thinking that the original title was too blunt, unemotional, and would give away too much of the theme, Rand changed the title …

What is the lesson of the book Anthem?

Anthem is largely a statement against collectivism, which is the idea that society should take precedence over the individual. This idea was at the base of the propaganda in the Bolshevik Revolution and the subsequent communist government of the Soviet Union.

What is wrong with the ending of Anthem?

The last chapter in particular is also meant to issue a warning to us about the danger of losing sight of the sanctity of the individual ego: individuals must not sacrifice their freedom and happiness to collectivism and the “great WE.” Rand herself saw this as a growing threat when she wrote Anthem (see “In a Nutshell …

What is Equality’s curse?

Equality 7-2521, the character’s specific curse is that he was born with intelligence. This causes him great unhappiness in life as he is smart enough…

What was the tunnel in Anthem?

The tunnel is clearly a remnant of the Unmentionable Times, the ancient period prior to the establishment of the present society. Equality 7-2521 sneaks to the tunnel alone every night, where safe from others beneath the ground he secretly performs scientific experiments.

Why is ego important in Anthem?

In Anthem, society was forbidden to show their ego, so they acted as if it did not exist. In the end, Equality’s sense of ego is what drove him to release himself from a toxic society. Our egos lead us in a path of self-acceptance and perseverance, which is how Equality and Liberty saved themselves.