Anthem

Liberty 5-3000 is a Peasant, or an agricultural worker. Equality 7-2521 describes her as “straight and thin as a blade of iron. Their eyes were dark and hard and glowing, with no fear in them, no kindness and no guilt” (18). Liberty 5-3000 returns Equality 7-2521’s attraction, and they both risk detection in order to interact with one another, first subtly through eye contact and obscure gestures then directly through talking and touching. She later follows Equality 7-2521 into the Uncharted Forest and becomes his domestic partner.

Although she has a primary role in the story, both as a prominent character and as Equality 7-2521’s love interest, Liberty 5-3000 is a flat character. Her character polarizes critics, with some interpreting her characterization and behavior as feminist while many others argue that her traits demonstrate misogyny. Some readers may perceive Liberty 5-3000 as a strong and independent character, citing her initial description as stoic and capable and her bravery and autonomy in running away from the City to join Equality 7-2521.

On the other hand, many aspects of the relationship between Liberty 5-3000 and Equality 7-2521 follow traditional, patriarchal patterns. She assumes a follower role when she joins Equality 7-2521 in the forest. He objectifies her by stopping and staring at her when he feels overwhelmed—“They approach us, and they stop, laughing, knowing what we think, and they wait obediently, without questions, till it pleases us to turn and go on” (48). She learns from Equality 7-2521, rather than reading books for herself, and he assigns her both her name—Gaea—and her maternal role for their children and the other people he plans to bring to his home. Despite her initial masculinized traits, Liberty 5-3000 displays feminine qualities and assumes stereotypically feminine roles, as if the author is suggesting that, when given freedom to express individuality, women will choose to be nurturing and subservient to men.

International 4-8818 is a Street Sweeper and is on the same crew as Equality 7-2521. Equality 7-2521 is drawn to International 4-8818’s frequent smile, and he describes International 4-8818 as “a tall, strong youth [whose] eyes are like fireflies, for there is laughter in their eyes” (12). They discover the tunnel together, and although Equality 7-2521 is the only one to climb into the tunnel, International 4-8818 agrees to keep it secret. His willingness to risk his own safety by hiding the existence of the tunnel illustrates that their friendship is mutual. He tells Equality 7-2521, “Rather shall we be evil with you than good with all our brothers” (15).

International 4-8818 is a static character who serves to characterize Equality 7-2521 and to develop the story’s themes. The friendship between International 4-8818 and Equality 7-2521 develops the theme of individualism and love—in this case, platonic love. They value each other more highly than they do the rest of their peers, thus committing the Transgression of Preference. Both demonstrate individualistic tendencies, further suggesting that individualism is a key component of love. International 4-8818 also serves to characterize Equality 7-2521 by demonstrating that, although individualistic, Equality 7-2521 is neither selfish nor unempathetic.

Fraternity 2-5503 and Solidarity 9-6347 are fellow Street Sweepers who live in the Home of the Street Sweepers with Equality 7-2521. Both of them exhibit signs of unhappiness and oppression. Fraternity 2-5503 is described as “a quiet boy with wise, kind eyes, who cry suddenly, without reason, in the midst of day or night, and their body shakes with sobs they cannot explain” (23). His bouts of weeping suggest that he experiences intense grief because of the oppressive conditions in which he lives. Solidarity 9-6347 is “a bright youth, without fear in the day, but they scream in their sleep, and they scream: ‘Help us! Help us! Help us!’ into the night, in a voice which chills our bones, but the Doctors cannot cure Solidarity 9-6347” (23). Solidarity 9-6347 represents suppressed fear, as he copes with the oppressive conditions during the day but experiences fearful outbursts at night.

Both Solidarity 2-5503 and Solidarity 9-6347 are minor characters that serve to develop the context. They demonstrate that Equality 7-2521 is not unique in his intrinsic dislike of the World Council. Equality 7-2521 empathizes with the two characters and plans to bring them to his home in the mountains. In this way, they also demonstrate Equality 7-2521’s capacity for empathy.