Equality 7-2521 In Ayn Rand's Anthem

In the opening pages of Anthem, Equality 7-2521 gives much background knowledge of the society he lives and the horrible details of the laws and regulations they have created. Along with that he explains that he has committed a grave sin already which is writing and that in doing so it doesn’t allow him to live, tagged with other misdeeds in which is labeled as “transgressions.” Being categorized as a Street Sweeper he has unwinded the discovery of a hidden tunnel that once existed during the Unmentionable Times. "Since the Council does not know of this hole, there can be no law permitting to enter it. And everything which is not permitted by law is forbidden."(Rand, 8) This tunnel that he keeps in secret with International 4-8818 helps roll in the spirit of inquiry for him to continue with the science experiments and writings only to be soon caught and

“We placed our glass box upon the table before them. We spoke of it, and of our long quest, and of our tunnel, and of our escape from the Palace of Corrective Detention...And slowly, slowly as a flush of blood, a red flame trembled in the wire. Then the wire glowed.” (Rand, 25) With the rejection of his creation, "It must be destroyed!"(Rand, 27) it turns Equality 7-2521 to turn against his society and run away with the light bulb. He renders into the Uncharted Forest believing that no man would follow him here in which he uncovers the unknown that the Great Rebirth has hidden away. Before long, the Golden One accompanies Equality 7-2521 in his awaited journey to find a home that contains the long lost manuscripts and books that he presently reads. This results in him to rename himself Prometheus and brings the plot to a close with himself finding his true identity and what he has always believed to be a curse to be a gift that helped him to unveil the long lost word