anthem summary essay

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Summary and Study Guide

Anthem is a short novella written by Ayn Rand and published in 1938. Rand is known for her polarizing fiction, which includes the well-known novels Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead . She is also known as the founder of a controversial philosophy known as Objectivism. In 1987, Anthem won the Libertarian Futurist Society’s Hall of Fame Award. Since its publication, the novella has been met with mixed reviews due to the controversy around its Objectivist themes, which champion egoism and individualism and oppose collectivism. This dystopian novella is written in the form of a secret diary owned by Equality 7-2521 , a curious outlier living in a City of the World Council—the oppressive collectivist governing body. While he initially regards his inherent individualism as a hindrance, Equality 7-2521 comes to understand it as his strongest trait, and he plans to enlighten other citizens living under the World Council.

This guide uses the Kindle version of Anthem: The Original 1938 Unabridged and Complete Edition printed in 2023.

Plot Summary

Equality 7-2521 writes down his thoughts and experiences while hiding in the abandoned tunnel he sneaks into each night. He has spent his life trying to fit in, but his unusual height and extraordinary intelligence make this a difficult task. When he was a child living in the Home of the Infants, Equality 7-2521 fought with the other children, and when he moved into the Home of the Students, he was unhappy and was targeted by the Teachers for being different. As with everyone, when Equality 7-2521 turned 15, he was prescribed a social role by the Council of Vocations. He wanted to be assigned to the Home of the Scholars—the innovators who had come up with the two most recent inventions, glass windows and wax candles; however, he was assigned to work as a Street Sweeper. He has adapted to his new schedule, waking, eating, working, and recreating alongside the other Street Sweepers in the City. He is expected to fulfill his social role until he turns 40 and is sent to the Home of the Useless with the other Old Ones. One of Equality 7-2521’s work crew members, Union 5-3992, collapses in a fit of convulsions while Equality 7-2521 and another crew member, International 4-8818 , continue working behind the City Theatre. While cleaning, they find a grate, open it, and discover the tunnel. Equality 7-2521 descends into it, and when he emerges, he easily convinces International 4-8818 to keep the tunnel a secret.

Each night during the Street Sweepers’ recreation time at the City Theatre, Equality 7-2521 sneaks into the tunnel, where he uses stolen and foraged materials to write, read, and conduct experiments. During his working hours, Equality 7-2521 notices Liberty 5-3000 , a female working as a Peasant, or farmer. He watches her each day, and she returns the favor. They exchange looks and subtle gestures, and Equality 7-2521 starts referring to her as the Golden One in his mind and in his writings. One day, he gets close enough to talk to Liberty 5-3000, and they both express their attraction for one another. He is relieved that she is only 17, meaning that she has not been sent to the Palace of Mating, where women and men are paired together by the Council of Eugenics and all resulting children are taken and raised by the government. That day, he is punished for singing without cause. He has noticed that there are other Street Sweepers who also seem unhappy living in the World Council. Fraternity 2-5503, for instance, is prone to bursts of weeping, and Solidarity 9-6347 screams for help at night. He thinks about the Uncharted Forest—the forbidden wilderness outside the city—and the Unmentionable Times that occurred before the establishment of the World Council. During the Unmentionable Times, there was a war, and the Evil Ones were defeated; all their books were burned in the Script Fire, and one word—the Unspeakable Word—was eliminated. The punishment for knowing the Unspeakable Word is death. When he was a child, Equality 7-2521 witnessed a man burned alive for knowing the Unspeakable Word, and he is convinced the man, whom he calls the Saint of the Pyre, made eye contact with him and tried to pass on the word to him.

While conducting experiments with a deceased frog, Equality 7-2521 unwittingly discovers electricity. He tries to recreate the strange force that made the frog twitch. He speaks again to Liberty 5-3000, and they exchange the pseudonyms they use for each other—the Golden One and the Unconquered. Liberty 5-3000 fetches Equality 7-2521 water from the field moat using her hands, and he drinks it and kisses her hands, although he does not understand the concept of a kiss. Back in the tunnel, Equality 7-2521 creates electric light and is thrilled by his discovery. He decides he will bring his discovery to the World Council of Scholars, who are meeting in the City soon. In his excitement, Equality 7-2521 loses track of time and is late leaving his tunnel. He refuses to tell the Council of the Home where he has been, so he is taken to prison, where he is tortured by two men who are naked save for leather aprons and masks. He is tortured and questioned until he falls unconscious; then he wakes in a cell. Judges come to him periodically to ask if he is ready to talk, but he refuses. Before the meeting of the Scholars, Equality 7-2521 escapes from prison, which is easy given the lax security measures. Battered and bloodied, he arrives at the meeting and presents his box of electric light. The Scholars reject Equality 7-2521 and his invention, arguing that it would disrupt society. They decide to turn him over to the World Council to receive punishment, but he takes his invention and breaks out through the window. Not conscious of where he is heading, he runs into the Uncharted Forest .

While he is initially intimidated by the Uncharted Forest, Equality 7-2521 finds it a beautiful and welcoming place when he wakes on his first full day away from the City. Carrying his glass electric box, he explores the forest, stopping when he is hungry to kill a bird, cook it, and eat it. As he is drinking from a stream, he sees his reflection for the first time and notices that he looks strong and trustworthy. On his second day, he is joined by Liberty 5-3000, who left the City when she heard about Equality 7-2521’s escape. They continue wandering in the forest, easily surviving in the natural environment, although they are still plagued by overwhelming questions, lacking not only the answers but even the language in which to pose these questions. While walking in the mountains, they come across an abandoned house from the Unmentionable Times. They decide to claim it for their own, and Equality 7-2521 studies the books, which provide him with the language and answers he has been seeking. Equality 7-2521 recognizes individuality as a virtue, and he scorns collectivist ideals. He assigns himself and Liberty 5-3000 new names—Prometheus and Gaea, respectively. Gaea is pregnant, and Prometheus plans to raise their child with individualistic values. He also plans to return to the City and bring back the other outliers, like Fraternity 2-5503 and Solidarity 9-6347. He feels it his duty to bring individualism to the collectivist world, and he has learned the Unspeakable Word—Ego.

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By Ayn Rand

Anthem by Ayn Rand is a science fiction novella set in an unnamed totalitarian city where all advanced technological innovations have been destroyed and humanity launched back into a dark age of moronic collectivism.

About the Book

Article written by Onyekachi Osuji

B.A. in Public Administration and certified in Creative Writing (Fiction and Non-Fiction)

Anthem depicts a dystopia of the complete elimination of individualism where the state controls the citizens in all aspects of their being and even the word “I” is eliminated from the language. In this dystopian city emerges a rebellious young man called Equality 7-2521 who rediscovers the inventions of the lost era and risks his life to escape from the city.

Key Facts about Anthem by Ayn Rand

• Title : Anthem
• Author : Ayn Rand
• Publication year : First Published 1938, Revised Edition Published 1946
• Number of Pages : 99 pages
• Genre : Science-Fiction; Dystopian Novella
• Point of View : First-person Narration
• Setting : A dystopian city in an unspecified future date when humanity has destroyed all innovations and reverted back to the dark ages in a totalitarian dictatorship.
• Climax : Equality 7-2521 escapes the city after the World Council of Scholars threatens to punish him for making a discovery.
• Protagonist : Equality 7-2521
• Antagonist: The totalitarian authorities of the City.

Ayn Rand and Anthem

Ayn Rand wrote Anthem in 1937 while taking a break from the research and writing of her next novel The Fountainhead. She had planned to release Anthem as a serial or magazine story but was advised by her agent to publish it as a book instead.

Rand simultaneously submitted the manuscripts of Anthem to two publishers who had worked on her first novel We the Living- – Macmillan Publishers in the USA, and Cassell Publishers in England. But while Cassell published the manuscript, Macmillan rejected it, saying that the novella showed that Rand did not have a true understanding of Socialism.

Rand had initially titled the novella “Ego” but later changed the title to Anthem because “Ego” easily gave away the central theme of the book.

In 1946, motivated by the success of her novel The Fountainhead , Rand revisited Anthem and published a revised edition targeted at American readers. The revised edition was published by Pamphleteers Inc, a small publishing house owned by her friends Leonard Read and William Mullendore. The difference between the first edition published by Cassell and the revised edition published by Pamphleteers is that the language of the revised edition was more simplified to make for a clearer understanding of the theme.

The general message in Anthem was personal to Ayn Rand. Being born in Russia, part of her childhood and teenage years were troubled by the tumultuous political conflicts in her home country Russia, and in World Politics. Her family had had to flee Russia to escape the perils of the 1917 Revolutions and had gone through hardship when her father’s business was confiscated by the Communist government of Russia. Ayn Rand in Anthem was trying to warn of a future doomed to retrogression and unhappiness if collectivism totally triumphs over individualism.

Books Related to Anthem by Ayn Rand

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand : Also by the same author, The Fountainhead is similar to Anthem in having strong, physically attractive, and assertive heroes who must overcome unproductive collectivism by the power of their individuality and ingenuity. The Fountainhead , published in the year 1943, tells of a hero Howard Roark who is a genius in architecture but faces challenges in bringing his innovative designs to fruition because of the traditionalistic society he lives in.

The Fountainhead is an extension of the philosophy of Ayn Rand which she expressed in Anthem. Rand’s goal to showcase her idea of an ideal man was achieved in Anthem but had a fuller epitomization in The Fountainhead .

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell : This novel by George Orwell published in 1949 is often put in comparison with other dystopian novels. Like Anthem , it is a dystopian novel set in a totalitarian dictatorship that suppresses individuality and independent thinking. Nineteen Eighty-Four follows a male protagonist, Winston Smith who dutifully works at the Ministry of Truth and is a member of the outer party but secretly dreams of rebellion that puts him in danger of possible persecution by the Thought Police , an authority that controls people’s minds and punishes people for having independent thoughts. The totalitarian dictatorship is under the leadership of a character known as Big Brother who has an omnipotent surveillance on the citizens.

However, the two books differ in many respects, one of which is the ending. In Anthem , the protagonist triumphs over the State’s collectivism and finds his freedom and individuality while in Nineteen Eighty-Four , the state succeeds in defeating the protagonist.

We by Yevgeny Zamyatin : This novel written by Yevgeny Zamyatin is one of the foremost dystopian novels and is instrumental to the development of dystopia as a literary genre. Written in Russian between 1920-1921, it was first published in 1924, in the English version translated by Gregory Zilborg. In 1952, the original Russian manuscript was published.

We is set in a dystopian society referred to as One State where the entire nation is constructed with glass for mass surveillance and shielded from the rest of the world by The Green Wall which demarcates its advanced civilization from a primitive one beyond. Like in Anthem , citizens in We are identified by letters and figures instead of names and the state has absolute control over the people’s will. The citizens wear uniforms and march in sync with one another, scientific principles and logic has been so inculcated into the society so much that people’s actions and behavior are determined by equations and formulae controlled by the One State.

The main character D-503 meets a woman called I-330 who flirts with him and breaks many rules of the state. His continued relationship with her makes him learn that I-330 is a member of a rebellious organization called Mephi which is secretly planning a revolution against the government of One State and to reunite its citizens with the rest of the earth’s population beyond The Green Wall. D-503 undergoes a surgical procedure that eliminates emotions and imagination in his mind through X-rays in parts of his brain. This makes him inform the authorities of One State about the Mephi and I-330 is captured and tortured but refuses to betray the Mephi a strong will that leaves D-503 in consternation. The novel ends as the Memphi begin to execute their plans and breach part of The Green Wall while I-330 is still under captivity.

Anthem and We are similar in the theme that the state extreme cannot eliminate rebellion completely in powerful individual minds even with extreme regimentation. Critics suggest that We had an influence on Ayn Rand’s Anthem but it is uncertain whether this is true or not as Rand in her lifetime did not make any reference to it.

A Time of Changes by Robert Silverberg : Written by an American writer, Robert Silverberg, and published in 1971, this novel is about a hero Kinnall Darival who begins an uprising against a repressive dynasty through the use of a telepathic drug he discovers while in exile.

Although Robert Silverberg claimed he did not know of Ayn Rand’s Anthem until after the publication of his novel, the two works of fiction are similar in having a dictatorial setting where the word “I” is forbidden.

The Lasting Impact of Anthem by Ayn Rand

Anthem is a fusion of Ayn Rand’s literary career and personal philosophy which made her both popular and controversial in her lifetime and after her death. Increasing interest in Ayn Rand over the decades has led to more attention to her works of which Anthem is among the foremost. Although Ayn Rand was turned down when she wrote to Walt Disney about a possible adaptation of Anthem in stylized drawings, the 1990s to the new Millenium had Anthem featuring in pop culture with many adaptations, awards, essay competitions, and musical pieces in its honor.

In 1953, Caxton Press offered the United States edition of Anthem in boards. In June of the same year, Famous Fantastic Magazine included Anthem in its final issue.

A Canadian Rock Band called Rush credited Ayn Rand’s Anthem for influencing two of their albums. Their 1975 album titled “Fly by Night” had a track titled “Anthem” with lyrics about standing out from the crowd and living on one’s own terms which mirror the plot and theme of the novella Anthem . Their 1976 album “2112” which Rush also credited to being influenced by Rand’s Anthem , again has similarities with the themes in the novella.

The Libertarian Futurist Society honored Anthem by Ayn Rand with its Hall of Fame Award in 1987.

Micheal Paxton wrote and directed a stage adaptation of the novella in 1991 which appeared at the Lex Theater in Hollywood.

In 2011, ABN released an audiobook version of the novelette, narrated by Jason McCoy. A graphic novel adaptation was produced by Charles Santino in the same year with artwork by Joe Staton.

In 2013, Jeff Britting, a manager at the Ayn Rand Institute, adapted it into a stage play that was performed at the institute in California.

In May 2014, an Anthem inspired spoof musical premiered Off-Broadway at the Lyn Redgrave Theater starring Randy Jones, Jason Gotay, Remy Zaken, Ashley Kate Adams, and Jenna Leigh Green.

Another graphic novel adaptation of Anthem was produced in 2018 by Jennifer Grossman and Dan Parsons.

Anthem has been translated to over six languages to date and has been the subject of over thirty-thousand essay competitions across the world.

Anthem Themes and Analysis 📖

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Anthem — Summary of Anthem by Ayn Rand

Summary of Anthem by Ayn Rand

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Published: Mar 6, 2024

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by Ayn Rand

Anthem essay questions.

How does the manipulation of language enforce collectivist doctrine in the society of Anthem ?

One of the main motifs in the novel is the omission of the word "I" from human knowledge, as it enforces the association of the self with the group and the state in the unconscious. Over the course of the novella, Equality 7-2521 begins to recognize the need for this Unspeakable Word, but his society has not equipped him with the mental machinery necessary to work out the exact nature of what he is missing. Although he breaks away from the collective at a relatively early point, he does not understand how to offer an alternative philosophy until this block in his thinking is removed, and his search for the Unspeakable Word is a central struggle in Anthem .

How does Rand connect Equality 7-2521's mental development to the ideals of the Enlightenment?

As Equality 7-2521 rediscovers electricity, he replicates the experiments of Galvani, Volta, and Franklin, all of whom lived and conducted their research during the eighteenth-century Enlightenment. Franklin was particularly involved with the founding of the United States of America and borrowed heavily from the ideas of contemporaries such as John Locke; Equality 7-2521 comes to appreciate the value of these ideals as he increasingly emphasizes an adaptation the Declaration of Independence's emphasis on "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," which in turn stems from Locke's protection of "life, health, liberty, or possessions." Finally, as Prometheus, the protagonist obliquely cites Enlightenment thinkers as he discusses the history of man, who "declared to all his brothers that a man has rights which neither god nor king nor other men can take away from him."

How do Equality 7-2521's experiments with electricity and the invention of the glass box influence his understanding of self?

Prior to discovering the tunnel and commencing his scientific experiments, Equality 7-2521 believes that the Council of Scholars is omniscient in its understanding of nature, and that he is at fault for exceeding others in a society that worships forced equality. However, after he discovers electricity, he realizes that the Council of Scholars does not know everything and that he as an individual can achieve more than any group. He also discovers that he can find happiness in experimentation because, for once, he is free to do as he wishes, and he thereby learns an appreciation for the strength of his own body. After inventing the glass box, he at first believes that he values the box because he sees its potential for humanity, but eventually, he learns that he actually loves the box because it is his creation and thus an extension of his self.

Explain the connection between mind, body, and self in Anthem .

At the beginning of the novella, Equality 7-2521 has a very incomplete understanding of self, so he ironically views the superiority of his mind and body as a crutch that prevents him from assimilating into his society and living morally. However, when he invents the glass box, he finally appreciates the strength of his own body and mind, and when he meets the Golden One, he learns that the connection between mind and body is particularly strong. His and the Golden One's fearless, strong bodies represent their similarly worthy minds, and, on the night of his invention of the box, Equality 7-2521 finally realizes that to take pride in one's body and accomplishments is akin to taking pride in oneself. By the end of the story, he has learned that mind, body, and self are inextricably interwoven -- and that the result is an ideal whole.

In what ways does Rand reverse our usual expectations about morality in Anthem ?

At the heart of Anthem is a polemical argument that reverses our assumptions about selfishness and altruism. Collectivism operates on the expectation that if every man unselfishly works for others, all will be happier, but in Rand's extreme collectivist society, this philosophy leads inevitably to the repression of the able individual, while an egoist man will by contrast benefit society by working solely for himself. Rand also represents this apparently counter-intuitive argument through the visual association of snow white -- traditionally the hue of innocence and purity -- with the evil indoctrination of the Home of the Students, while placing Equality 7-2521's positive scientific experiments in the dark tunnel. Correspondingly, Equality 7-2521 develops the philosophy of egoism and comes to believe the opposite of what the Home of the Students taught him.

What is the significance of the Uncharted Forest for Equality 7-2521?

The Uncharted Forest serves two major functions for Equality 7-2521: it is a foreshadowing of his future, and it is an affirmation of his doubts regarding collectivism. At first, Equality 7-2521's thoughts are drawn to the Uncharted Forest because he senses that it separates the flawed collectivist society of the City from possible remnants of the Unmentionable Times with which he is obsessed. Later, his body recognizes unconsciously that the solution to his break with the World Council of Scholars lies in the forest, and he runs instinctively into it. Once he enters the Uncharted Forest, he begins a mental and physical journey away from the City, triggered by the sense of happiness and independence that he now associates with the wilderness.

Explain the relationship between the Golden One and Equality 7-2521.

The Golden One is not simply Equality 7-2521's love interest; she also serves as his first disciple, who follows him into his forest and trails the path he blazes into a rejection of collectivism. Accordingly, despite the importance of the romantic subplot in Equality 7-2521's mental development, the Golden One is a secondary character who does not exhibit the full three-dimensionality of Equality 7-2521. For him, she is a symbol, and he loves her rationally and because she instinctively shares his values and character. His love for her is also an exploration of his love for himself, which he comes to celebrate because it brings him joy.

What is the significance of the house of the Unmentionable Times for Equality 7-2521?

Sensing that his literal and metaphorical journey away from the City is coming to a close, Equality 7-2521 chooses to settle with the Golden One in the new house to create a new, individualist life where he can discover the Unspeakable Word and resolve his inner dialogue on collectivism. The house is an embodiment of the values of the Unmentionable Times, and Equality 7-2521 specifically mentions that it belonged to only two people, emphasizing its rejection of collectivist values. The house also contains a mirror in which the Golden One stares fascinated for hours, allowing her to gain Equality 7-2521's understanding of the importance of the body. Moreover, it features many electrical appliances and books which give Equality 7-2521 a fuller knowledge of what humanity has forgotten in its worship of "We."

Compare the scene of the World Council of Scholars with the penultimate chapter's proclamation of "I" in terms of their respective philosophical arguments.

The words of the World Council of Scholars encapsulate the basis and problems of collectivism, just as Equality 7-2521's words about his rediscovery of "I" constitute a manifesto in favor of egoism. Whereas Collective 0-0009 tells Equality 7-2521 that "what is not thought by all men cannot be true," Equality 7-2521 chooses to search for the Objectivist truth. He says in Chapter Eleven, "I am not a sacrifice on their altars," directly refuting the council members' claim that he must submit to the will of others and serve society as the authorities see fit. While the meeting with the Council of Scholars marks the point of no return, after which Equality 7-2521 inevitably leaves and rediscovers "I," his manifesto celebrates his discovery and allows him to justify his refusal of his society.

What are some potential errors of Rand's arguments in Anthem ?

Because Rand chooses to argue against the most extreme possible manifestation of collectivism with the most extreme form of individualism, she does not adequately refute the supposition that a moderate form of collectivism or even a slightly altruistic society based mainly on individualism may have merit. Rand's declaration that man will most efficiently help society by focusing solely on his own works is an exaggerated version of capitalism, but in historical practice, a purely selfish approach has often led to a gap between the rich and the poor that has had more to do with lack of opportunity for the poor than with their weakness. Furthermore, Rand proposes a model based on a perfect human rationality that may only exist in theory, and one might consequently contend that Rand has made some false assumptions about human nature that rival her description of the errors of Marxism.

Anthem Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Anthem is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What is a typical day like in Equality’s life?

A typical day in Equality's life consists of waking up in a communal sleeping hall, eating breakfast with his fellow street sweepers, performing his assigned job during the day, and attending government-mandated classes and leisure activities in...

You write "in" . Are you referring to a specific chapter or the book as a whole?

How does equality 7-2521 demonstrate his rejection of his society in

In what? Are you referring to a specific section of the novel?

Study Guide for Anthem

Anthem study guide contains a biography of Ayn Rand, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Anthem
• Anthem Summary
• Character List

Essays for Anthem

Anthem literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Anthem by Ayn Rand.

• The Merit of Ipseity
• Ayn Rand in Context
• Family Sway
• The Evolution of Equality: A Self-Liberated Character
• A Curious Aspect of Progress: Inquiry vs. Oppression in 'Anthem'

Lesson Plan for Anthem

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Anthem
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Anthem Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Anthem

• Introduction