The Dystopian Society In Ayn Rand's Anthem

The dystopian society that is depicted in Ayn Rand’s Anthem is all about selfishness. The Great WE runs the world. It is the way of life. Even through the dark cloud that is WE at least one I shines through. This light is Equality 7-2521. He is the individualism in this society. He is the first domino in the chain of individualistic life. Equality 7-2521 is absorbed in his own learning. He wants to better his knowledge. Equality is selfish and invested in his own betterment. His brothers would be better off as individuals, as it was before the Great Rebirth. Everyone would be able to act as himself and not as one. Acting as one, as WE, the word of serfdom, of plunder, of misery, falsehood and shame, instead of as I, the god who will grant
He created the lightbulb. One thing is wrong, though. The Council of Scholars has rejected his invention. Among all of his raging emotions, Equality storms off to the Uncharted Forest. Now he lives there, and knows he is doomed. “We have torn ourselves from the truth which is our brother men, and there is no road back for us, and no redemption. We know these things but we do not care. We care for nothing on earth. We are tired” (76). Equality is disappointed in his “brothers” for not accepting his invention. He is selfish, he cares for nothing and despises his brothers.
Finally Equality 7-2521 reaches the maximum selfishness when he discovers the word I. He believes he is the almighty and he is the only one who matters. “It is my eyes which see… It is my ears which hear… It is my mind which thinks… It is my will which chooses” (94). Equality feels like he is a god. The giver of light to men. He holds himself above all others. Is this really a bad
It is the way the world develops and becomes better. Equality 7-2521 knows this and is fed up with collectiveness. “I am done with the monster of ‘We,’ the word of serfdom, of plunder, of misery, falsehood and shame.” (97) He is done with collectiveness and ready for the new horizon that is individualism.
Equality knows that individualism is amazing. He knows it will lead to great things. “...This god who will grant them joy and peace and pride. This god, this one word: I” (97). This is why he is The Unconquered, because he is not conquered by the society he lives in. He overcame all odds, and, just like Prometheus, brought light back into this world. Equality 7-2521 does not get caught up in the grey of things. He does not let the white and the black, the extremes, mix together and become on equal sea of grey. Equality may have been selfish, but that selfishness brought white and black, light, individualism, self-worth, pride, and all things that define you as you back into this world. For this Equality truly deserves honor and