Classic Book Review: Anthem by Ayn Rand

Anthem
By Ayn Rand
Plume, December 1, 1999 (reprint)
256 pages

Ayn Rand recently referenced in the media by political pundits for the seeming correlation of Atlas Shrugged to the Democratic paradigm of taxing wealthy, independent producers. References to her work and even her writing considered outstanding, has come under fire by political satirist Stephen Colbert.

In Anthem Ayn Rand penned a shorter, but no less powerful book.

Ayn Rand moved to the United States from the Soviet Union. It was her goal as a writer to illuminate the free world to the austerity, depression, and meaninglessness of living in Soviet Russia. Make no mistake about it. Ayn Rand’s works are political philosophical fiction.

Anthem is written in first person by a character, Equality 7 – 2521, who writing alone, refers to himself as “we.” He has been taught that there is nothing good apart from that which benefits all mankind. Thinking of oneself, in the future age in which he lives, is considered illegal. Pursuing one’s own life, goals, liberty, and happiness is forbidden.

Equality 7 – 2521knows there is something different about him. Based on his stories of the nightmares and sobs in the bunkhouse at night, others have a yearning for something. They don’t know what it is. Equality 7 – 2521recognizes his desire for knowledge.

Learning, however, is reserved only for the “wise ones.” They are also the ones who assign your lifetime job when you turn fifteen. Prior to the age of fifteen you are raised by the state and do not even know your parents. Despite his yearning to learn, Equality 7 – 2521 is looked upon by the “wise ones” and assigned to be a street sweeper.

Relationships, including friendships and lovers are forbidden. Everyone must be loved and treated equally for Equality 7 – 2521has been taught that is what is best for the greater good. There is no real way of making friends, because to express thoughts that are not shared by the collective body of the citizens is wrong. So, for the most part, no one speaks.

No one sings, unless it is time to sing hymns to the state in the courtyard. No one smiles without reason. No one may divert themselves to any other hobby or interest save what they have been appointed to do by the “wise ones.” In this world there is no individualism, no individual rights, only collective responsibility.

Equality 7 – 2521 and his street sweeping “equals” stumble upon an old gate and find behind it a hole in the earth covered by a grate. Knowing one fellow street sweeper is loyal and the other, who is called a half-brain, doesn’t know what is going on, Equality 7-2521decides to keep the finding a secret. This is considered a dire transgression.

In the evenings Equality 7 – 2521 begins to slip away and study things he finds in the hole. He has found debris left from what the “wise ones” refer to as the “dark times.”

As he continues to study, Equality 7 – 2521 makes what he believes to be a revolutionary discovery. He knows that by bringing this to the Council it will atone for his crimes; sneaking away, learning, and working alone. All of these are forbidden.

Read Anthem, by Ayn Rand, to discover how Equality 7 – 2521’s revelation is received by the World Council and how Equality 7 – 2521 decides to live out the rest of “our” days, as he would say, referring to himself in the collective sense.

This is not an easy read. It is not a story driven by plot story engines. The characters are not especially developed. None of this needs to have been done for Ayn Rand to deliver a compelling and thought provoking story.

Her message is not hidden, and it is not subtle. Anthem is a commentary on life in a collective society, where individualism is punished and there is no reward for hard work.

It’s a perfect read for the political climate of our times. My biggest problem with the novel is that Rand, in her complete aversion to communism and socialism, carries the glorification of “ego” to the extreme. Perhaps that was her literary device to deliver her philosophical and political message. Personally, I think she took it into overdrive.

If you can’t get through the entire book at least read chapters 11 and 12.