Anthem

The theme of Anthem is the importance of individuality and life along with the things you can get out of both. Anthem is another novel that deals with censorship. However, the level of control the government has over people is far more extreme than in Fahrenheit 451. In Anthem, people do not even have names or view themselves as one. They are named in groups, and refer to themselves as "we" and refer to others as "they". Our main character takes the name Equality 7-2521. They do not fit the same mold as all the others in their society, for they have a secret fascination with knowledge and discovery. Groups are given professions at the age of fifteen, and Equality 7-2521 wants nothing more than to be named a Scholar so that they can finally go after their dreams of intelligence. However, when they are given Street Sweeper, they hide their disappointment and carry on the "will of their brothers". As Equality 7-2521 finds a tunnel and discovers light, they realize life is not what it was supposed to be, there was something more. They bring this discovery to the Scholars and are shunned for it; they are forced to run away into the Unchartered Forest. Equality 7-2521 goes on into the forest, followed by their love Liberty 5-3000 or The Golden One. Finding a house from the Unmentionable Times filled with books and knowledge leads Equality 7-2521 to use the word "I" and name himself Prometheus. This is his revelation that has been building up throughout the entire story. He realizes now that life is what he makes it; he is his own individual and lives for himself. Rather then living for their others, men can be their own men. Life has to offer so much to him: love, knowledge, variety, happiness, and whatever he wants for himself. This theme makes us realize how truly grateful we should be to use the word "I" and be an individual. Life is precious and we need to do whatever we can to enjoy every minute of it.


"We do not wonder at this new sin of ours. It is our second Transgression of Preference, for we do not think of all our brothers, as we must, but only of one, and their name is Liberty 5-3000. We do not know why we think of them. We do not know why, when we think of them, we feel of a sudden that the earth is good and that it is not a burden to live" (41).

This quote shows how little Equality 7-2521 knows about themselves and what certain emotions mean. Because men are not allowed to notice women and women are not allowed to notice men, they have never felt the feeling of attraction before. They are intrigued by Liberty 5-3000, yet they don't know why. All they think about is the Golden One, and they cannot figure out what this feeling signifies. It ties into the theme of importance of life and individuality because most people today know exactly how this feels, to be attracted to someone and feel so much for them that they control their every thought. Equality 7-2521 cannot grasp the meaning of such a feeling we are so familiar with.


I loved Anthem. The story gripped me right away as soon as I began reading. I could not begin to imagine living in a world without saying "I" or knowing what that means. There was no individuality, no names, no differences, and no variety. The control the government in this city had on the entire population was mind blowing. The plot kept moving and the things happening in Equality 7-2521's life made us sympathize with him and want him to find knowledge and discovery. I loved the aspect of romance between Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000, another thing that people did not know of in this world. When our main character finally finds the word "I" and realizes the importance of his life and individuality, it made me realize how important this word really is. I loved Equality's drive to be different than all the rest. This book really opened my eyes to all the things we have today in our world: family, friends, originality, knowledge, love, and so much more. It was also written very well; there was never a dull moment throughout the entire story. I give Anthem two thumbs up.