Anthem By Ayn Rand: Character Analysis

In the book, Anthem, by Ayn Rand, the main character, Equality, is a selfish person. He created the light against the rules because he wanted to impress the council and boast on his intelligence. Ayn Rand’s philosophy was that there wasn’t such a thing as altruism. Rand was very objective and didn’t believe in people wanting to put others before themselves. Equality’s personality and his decisions clearly showed the author’s beliefs. Yes, Equality was selfish, but he had a right to feel this way because all his life he was taught that, “We are nothing. Mankind is all. By the grace of our brothers we are allowed our lives. We exist through, by and for our brothers who are the State. Amen” (Rand, pg. 21) This shows how their humanity was stripped from them; how mankind had no decision on what they even thought. Today, in this time, if we were to all act and think like Equality, the world might fall apart.
When Equality found the tunnel (Rand, pg.34), he made sure that International would not tell the council. Equality stole candles, flints, paper, glass vials, powder, and acids from the Home of the Scholars and brought them back to the tunnel. Equality stole those items because he wanted to create something of his own. Once, Equality made the light, he waited a month for the World Council of Scholars to meet, before bringing forth his creation. Equality waited until he knew there would be a large audience and people that would reward him for his findings. Equality wanted to be known as an individual; he wanted to stand