Lawrence Bialek

English - II / CPW / Romano , McGee

December 16, 2015

Anthem Discussion Questions

Question 2:
A man can feel a variety of emotions. From the pleasant burst of energy endured
during joy and excitement, to the drainage of power felt during a time of embarrassment
or fear, emotions determine a great deal about a mans attitude. Take for example a
man who is fearful; this person will complete any task or do just about anything to rid his
own body of the emotion so unpleasantly plaguing him. This concept is very similar to
an idea represented in the novella Anthem by Ayn Rand. Anthem describes a society
filled to the brim with fear; it is the most prevalent emotion in the book. This society
exists with no individuality and the reason it has not crumbled to dust is because of fear.
On the first page of this piece of literature, Equality 7-2521 describes fear; in this
instance, it is in a form of waiting. Equality 7-2521 describes fearing What punishment
awaits us if it be discovered we know not, for no such crime has come in the memory of
men and there are no laws to provide for it (Rand). Equality 7-2521 talks of the fear
they have of the punishment they await due to the transgression they performed. This is
just one way in which fear presents itself.
Equality 7-2521 is not the only one with fear. While never directly stated, all
people have fear until their death. The way in which readers can find this out is during
the Saint of pyres execution. During the execution, it is said that while all the faces in
the crowd seemed angered, annoyed, afraid, the face of The Transgressor was the
calmest and the happiest face (Rand). Through this, it seems as though in this society,
death is a gift you have to earn by suffering through life. Fear is also dominant within the

society as a whole. Fear forms in different ways. One is fear of the unknown. A belief
formed from this concept is that the reason the institution still stands is the fear of the
unknown and what would happen without unity is too scary that not even individuality
trumps it, for most people. However, Equality 7-2521 is not like most people.

Question 3:
Many real totalitarian societies, as well as fictionalized societies like the one
presented in Ayn Rands novella Anthem, make children live apart from their families.
This decision is a power policy. Many people suggest that it is harsh of a totalitarian
ruler to keep children apart from their families. In these societies, it is a very dangerous
thing to have parents raise their children, not only because of potential inequality, but
because of the fact that parents generally shape the thought process of their children. If
a cowardly adult has ideas that the government or acting governing body has flaws and
instills this idea upon their courageous child, the government could undergo a power
struggle in the future. If children are kept separate from their parents, the governing
body does not have to worry. As said in Rands novella on page 41, Children are born
each winter, but women never see their children and children never know their parents.
This sentence shows how the Council has forbidden family ties.
Other than fear of social unrest, totalitarian governments may keep families
separate for fear of inequality. In Ayn Rands novella, Anthem, people are supposed to
live for each other, not the individual. No one person is better than another. According to
Anthem, We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE,
One, indivisible and forever (Rand). However, as this relationship presents itself in our
society today, on average more people feel a stronger allegiance to their actual blood

relatives than to their friends. If families were formed, this meaning of we would be
forgotten. The idea of potential inequality is derived from the idea that parents want the
absolute best for their children. Most of the time this means having a better lifestyle or
raising a child better and to be better than another child. If this were to occur, society
would not be equal.

Question 6:
Aside from the very rare exceptions (Equality, the Saint of Pyre) this society in
Ayn Rands Anthem shows that there are no leaders in opposition to the governing
body. In a society where individuality is inexistent and social unity is dominant, there is
not much room for a person who has conflicting views with authority. A main reason for
this is due to the fact that people come to many of their opinions based on the input of
others. If every person surrounding one has the same view on a topic (social unity), the
one will most likely formulate similar ideas. In a society where every person, or almost
every person is the same, it is hard to find or create diversity.
Many men in the society depicted by Ayn Rand in Anthem have accepted this life
of obedience, drudgery, and fear. A main part of this is that the Council of Scholars and
World Council said so. These two councils are, in essence, the authority or governing
body. As said on page 26 of the novella, The will of our brothers be done (Rand)
shows the submission of Equality and their brothers to the Council.