Rodriguez 1

Jackie Rodriguez
Y. Garza
English II-7
October 26, 2014
Anthem Final Project
The dystopian novel, Anthem, depicts a civilization where individualism has been
totally obliterated. Everything is chosen for you when it comes to your career and how you will
live. It is illegal for you to be alone with your thoughts or to be different than your other
brothers. Equality 7-2521 defies the rules to changes their society and everything they worked to
erase.
Some individuals might prefer to stand out amongst a crowd rather than blend in with the
rest, but in Ayn Rands Anthem, this is not the case. An obvious difference between one
person and another is considered evil in the society Ayn Rand bases her novel in. The main
character, Equality 7-2521, is considered to be different than the rest of his brothers especially
when it comes to his unusually towering height. This seems to be his curse in life along with his
unyielding curiosity and wonder. Individuality has been erased and equality is what this society
preaches, but Equality does not possess his brothers ignorance. It is considered evil to be
superior to their brothers and Equality exhibits many qualities to be deemed superior because of
his knowledge. This intelligence could lead him to find the Unspeakable Word I, which results
in execution for anyone who finds it.
My visual image corresponds with the quote from the novel on page 21, It is not good to
be different from our brothers, but it is evil to be superior to them. On the left hand side of my
illustration are three men wearing green shirts, blue pants, and brown shoes to represent how

Rodriguez 2
their society required all men to be completely equal. Next to them stands Equality who is
visibly taller than them because of his six-foot curse. He is also wearing different colored clothes
than the others to represent how hes different than his brothers. Equality is holding a light bulb
in his hand because electricity was his first major discovery when he was experimenting in the
tunnels by himself. When this was discovered he was thrown in a type of jail because he had
committed a major transgression, which is why I drew him behind bars. The quote I chose from
Anthem is written at the top of the drawing.
Unlike the novels society, actual society is much different in their views. Nowadays
everyone wants to be different and avert from the clich or mainstream approach. Individuality is
evident in what we chose to do or wear. It seems as if their society has almost too much equality
whereas today we demand more of it especially when it comes to the law. Ignorance is not
valued in reality. It is appropriate for some people to be superior to others. The one thing they do
have in common is Equality, which is someone who will defies society for a positive effect.
Anthem makes it clear that their society thinks inequality is evil. It is wrong to hold
any sense of individuality, which is a reason its forbidden to say I. Equality changed
everything with his intelligence and individuality that surpassed his brothers.