Anthem

The rising action of the plot begins with Equality 7-2521’s discovery of electricity. His reaction to this discovery serves as a further opportunity for characterization. Rather than keeping the electric light to himself, Equality 7-2521 wants to share it with the world by giving it to the World Council of the Scholars. The generosity of this impulse—even as that generosity is rooted in pride—underscores the fundamental instability of the World Council’s totalitarian system: In a society dedicated to the ideal of total altruism, it’s Equality 7-2521’s altruism that gets him into trouble.

The encounter at the World Council of Scholars is the climax, or point of highest tension, in the plot. The tension is enhanced by the use of dramatic irony, as the author intends the audience to understand that the Scholars will reject Equality 7-2521’s electric light, but Equality 7-2521 does not foresee this outcome. This demonstrates both his naivety and his altruism. While altruism is popularly thought an admirable quality, the author satirically criticizes the concept through the Scholars’ rejection of both Equality 7-2521, who overstepped the bounds of his social role, and of the electric light, whose existence threatens the current plans of the World Council. The World Council regards The Tension Between Egoism and Altruism as an absolute opposition: One cannot exist in conjunction with the other. Equality 7-2521’s altruism is driven in large part by the pride he takes in his discovery—therefore it is anathema to the Council. Under their system, discoveries can only be made by those whose assigned social role is to make them, and they must then be approved by the collective.

The Scholars’ rejection of the electric light is a stark demonstration of Collectivism as a Barrier to Innovation. Because of their fear of individual achievement, society is deprived of a vital, even life-saving technological advancement. Equality 7-2521’s lifelong curiosity further develops this theme—as his desire to learn about the world places him at odds with the authorities and forces him literally underground to do his work in secret. Equality 7-2521’s initial discovery of electricity while dissecting the frog is a symbolic representation of his figurative intellectual spark, which incites further curiosity and leads to his discovery of electric light. Light has long been a symbol of knowledge, and as Equality 7-2521 develops his new technology, he is bringing light into the world in both a literal and a metaphorical sense. The symbol of light as knowledge is followed by the Uncharted Forest, which represents enlightenment and the process of enlightenment. When he first enters the forest, Equality 7-2521 is in the early stages of enlightenment, but he has not yet completed his arc of self-discovery. He is still heavily impacted by his social conditioning that primed him for living in a collectivist society, which causes him to feel fearful and “doomed.” His oppressed optimism and his process of enlightenment are demonstrated through his opinion that his electric box, which he still possesses, is superior to any technology known to the citizens of the World Council.

Oppressive collectivism is further illustrated though Equality 7-2521’s experience at the prison. The extent of the World Council’s corrupt authoritarian control and of the citizens’ oppression is demonstrated through the imprisonment and the use of torture on Equality 7-2521. He threatens the state of total equality by breaking the rules and by refusing to admit where he was. The World Council takes this threat seriously, removing Equality 7-2521 from the general population. Although corrupt, the World Council is arrogant and complacent because they are unaccustomed to rebellion. Through Equality 7-2521’s relatively easy escape, the author suggests that collectivism is weak, which in turn supports the idea that humans are individualistic by nature.

Love and sexuality are also depicted as inherent features of human nature through Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000’s second verbal encounter. They both demonstrate that they are drawn together despite its being illegal, and they are both willing to take risks to interact with each other. The names they devise for each other—the Golden One and the Unconquered—support the author’s view of Individualism as a Prerequisite for Love. These names, however, demonstrate the incomplete arc of their relationship, as they are descriptive titles rather than personal names. They represent a transition stage between their existing in the collectivist society and their later stage of living together in the Uncharted Forest. That love is an innate human quality is best demonstrated through Equality 7-2521’s affectionate use of the word “dearest” and through the contact between his lips and Liberty 5-3000’s hand. The author alludes to the fact that neither of them knows what a kiss is, but despite Equality 7-2521’s ignorance, he is driven to kiss Liberty 5-3000’s hand. As with the other themes, the concept of individualism and love creatively depicts Rand’s Objectivism. The collectivist World Council prearranges sexual encounters for the explicit purpose of reproduction, while the intimacy between Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000 is driven by individualistic desires. The author criticizes the concept of placing social taboos on sexual pleasure-seeking and illustrates her opinion that sexuality is not necessarily linked to reproduction.