Morality In Ayn Rand's Anthem

The book Anthem depicts a society where it is forbidden to think for one's self, but one-character breaks free from this dictatorship and lives a life thinking only for himself, and the author, Ayn Rand, shows that that is the purpose of life, and according to her, our morality will teach us to do so, and this is the key to happiness.

The society depicted in Anthem defined morality as a system of conformity to ideals of right human conduct. This society believed that things done in in groups prevails over things done individually. At the beginning of the book Anthem, Equality 7-2521 states that, “… there is no transgression blacker than to do it alone” (Rand 17). These beliefs are what collectivists believe, along with that being alone “…is the great transgression and the root of all evil” (Rand 17). Also, they believe that if you are not needed by your ‘brothers’, -the people around you, figuratively speaking- there is no reason

Equality lives for objectivism because he states, “I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them. I ask none to live for me, nor do I live for any others…” (Rand 96). By saying this, Equality 7-2521 shows he believes in being an individual is more powerful than living for others. He also states that using the word ‘we’ when referring to yourself is “… the root of all evils on earth, the root of man’s torture by men, and of an unspeakable lie,” (Rand 96). The main difference between a collectivists society and Equality’s philosophy of Objectivism is priority. Collectivists believe everyone should live for their brother, and we should give our love away, whereas Equality believes love, honor and respect should be earned. Equality believes you should have the right to choose your friends and ones you will love, but you should neither command or obey