Books That Made a Difference in My Life: Anthem

I was introduced to the writings of Ayn Rand through my grandmother, an avid reader with a rich, vast collection of books. The first Rand book I read was The Fountainhead, a novel about an architect out of step with the herd, who prioritizes individualism, integrity and creative freedom over collectivism, conformity and pandering to others' expectations.

The story was so engaging that I followed up with Rand's novella Anthem, to subject here today.

The book is written in diary form, a challenging form because it limits the viewpoint to the observations of our narrator/observer. (I attempted to write the middle section of my novel The Red Scorpion as a diary.)

The book place in a dreary future. The main character is Equality 7-2521, most of whose diary is written in first person plural "we" because the word "I" has been banned. It is only late in the story that he begins using the word "I." Once he discovers this word, he understands how corrupt and evil collectivism is. Anthem is his ode to the word "I."

In this future world people are not allowed to be alone. Like Winston in 1984, he keeps a forbidden journal in a hiding place, which in this case is a subway tunnel from the Unmentionable Times. He writes by candlelight where he comes to sense he is different from others. The first sentence in Anthem is potent: "It is a sin to write this."

Anthem shows what happens when free thought and individuality are strangled. The ruling council of the collective has convinced people that being alone is the worst crime a person can commit and in this manner we are dehumanized.

Our hero's breakthrough comees when he finally discovers the forbidden word and declares, "I am. I think. I will." 

Now that you are free, what will you do with this freedom?

* * *

"Let us flood our cities with light.
Let us bring a new light to men!"--Equality 7-2521