The society that exists within the pages of Anthem values collective thought and rejects individuality in any way, as “there are no men but only the great WE” (Rand 19). This is especially unfortunate for Equality 7-2521, one man out of his many “brothers” and “sisters.” For Equality is not like his fellow men. He is more inquisitive than his brothers, more intelligent than his brothers. But it is sinful to be different. When Equality became 15 years old and stood before the Council of Vocations to receive his Life Mandate (the job he will perform for the rest of his life), he was assigned the lowly and insulting job of Street Sweeper. This designation did not occur by error or incompetence, however. The Council of Vocations assigned Equality …show more content…
When he first heard of his Life Mandate, he blamed himself for his actions: “We knew we had been guilty, and now we had a way to atone for it” (Rand 26). Although it may have been Equality’s remorse that caused him to speak these words, he was not wrong in his conclusions – the government had indeed punished his independent spirit. Nevertheless, had his exceptional intellect and curiosity gone unnoticed? Surely, if the Council of Vocations had known of his gifts, he would have received a Life Mandate in the Home of Scholars. But this decision was no error. Although the citizens of this society believe they work for their own collective good, their government is truly in control. The Council of Vocations not only dispenses Life Mandates, but in doing so ensures those individuals who are unique from others have their distinctive traits suppressed. This veiled form of control is evidenced by Equality’s Street Sweeper brigade, composed of Equality, Union 5-3992, and International 4-8818. Equality, of course, has never truly accepted the idea of collectivism due to his intelligence and free will. Union, “they of the half-brain,” cannot think properly and is often stricken with convulsions. International makes people smile and laugh, but it is not proper to smile without reason. These three individuals are unlike their “brothers” for completely diverse reasons, yet were …show more content…
There is but one reason why laws suppress citizens’ ideas and strengths: the possession of ultimate power. The World Council is the highest governmental form, and easily conceals its absolute control by promoting and enforcing collective thought and action. By burdening every citizen with demanding labor, the Council can prevent the conception of new, revolutionary ideas. Because every citizen is raised from birth to fear individuality and obey commands, enforcement of laws is relatively easy. And if a citizen was to escape their regimented life, there would be no place to run, for the Uncharted Forest leads to an untimely death (so say numerous rumors), and disobedience leads to a long stay in the Palace of Corrective Detention. Equality wrote, “There is fear hanging in the air of the sleeping halls, and in the air of the streets. Fear walks through the City, fear without name, without shape. All men feel it and none dare to speak” (Rand 46). What made Equality such an extraordinary individual was his practice of egoism every day, without regret, despite this lingering fear. Whether he knew it or not, Equality’s ideas were exactly what his government wanted to eradicate from the