Anthem

Anthem, by Ayn Rand, encompasses a concept unfathomed by many- the complete absence of individualism- the inability to use the word “I.” It is a fascinating idea. In the world of Anthem’s characters, no one person can be held in higher regard than another. Having a friend is forbidden, because that would render others less important. Love then, is completely unheard of. Despite the non-allowance of love, it occurs anyway. This occurrence lends support to the meaning of the novel as a whole. That is to say, the human spirit, and the natural emotions that come with it, such as love, cannot be broken. Perhaps it was the intent of the author to say our world is moving toward non- individualism, but that our own actions, our own unstoppable, natural emotions will prevent it from doing so. Despite all the measures taken in the world of Anthem to stamp out love, it is present anyhow. And the amazing part is, the characters feel it, know that it is something profound, without knowing what it is. It is a glimmer of hope for our own world, to say that even in the most oppressed world, perhaps the most precious thing there ever was cannot be defeated. Love is the most powerful emotion we possess. It is my belief that Rand intended to transcend a feeling of hope to her readers. Simultaneously, however, she intended to ward humans off the path of conformity, power, and hatred.

Their white tunic was torn, and the branches had cut the skin off their arms, but they spoke as if they had never taken notice of it, nor of weariness, nor of fear.
“We have followed you,” they said, “and we shall follow you wherever you go. If danger threatens you, we shall face it also. If it be death, we shall die with you. You are damned, and we wish to share your damnation” (Rand 82).

In perhaps one of the most romantic passages I have ever read, Liberty 5-3000 professes her unconditional, undying love for Equality 7-2521. Rather than saying, “I love you,” which is, of course, what most people say today, she must explain how she feels without using these words, because the word “love” does not exist in their world, nor, for that matter, the word “I.” Love is obvious despite not being mentioned in the conversation. We see that the author’s message is clear. Love does not need to be taught, or learned, or understood. It is a fact of life, ever-present, and undeniably sacred. Though the characters do not understand what is happening to them, they are falling, ignorantly and unquestionably, in love. In this world, we think we know what love is. We see it in the majority of ads, on hundreds of billboards, commercials, and movies. In anticipation of a good chick flick, we are content to know that the ending will be a happy one. It’s exciting to imagine falling in love, taking a step of faith in a relationship absolutely dependent on trust. It is the same in Anthem. I don’t think knowing the word “love” makes a difference in the end. Whether or not we think we know what it means, no matter how many times we have watched Sleepless in Seattle, it is impossible to understand love until it has been experienced. But it must be something profound, it must be something magical, because it is the one thing that shows Equality 7-2521 the light, the truth. This passage is without a doubt, intensely thought-provoking and unforgettable, stripping away the superfluous misconceptions of love, the extraneous details and leaving the bare truth. We do not need to know what love is, we do not need a definition. In discovering love, we find ourselves. The journey to self-discovery, through the eyes of love, is the true meaning of this work, and it can be found in the words of the ignorant, confused, and somehow unstoppably determined Liberty 5-3000.

I found Anthem to be a truly original and thoroughly enjoyable work. It was unquestionably my favorite book so far this year. Perhaps because I am intrigued by the concept of love, or perhaps simply because I am a sucker for a happy ending, I was captivated by this novel. I recommend this book to other young-adult and adult readers. I was fascinated by the fact that escaping from prison was an unfathomable idea to the leaders in the society, because their authority had never been challenged; that Equality was able to just walk out of jail. It is frightening to think of the possible ramifications of a society so oppressive, one in which people exist merely by ignorance or fear. Indeed, the occurrence is not unheard of in our own world. Attempts to break the human spirit by targeting and persecuting one group of people have been made for thousands of years. I believe it to be admirable of the author to warn her readers not to repeat these tragedies, and above all, I am fascinated with the creative language she used to dictate her message.