Anthem (In Review)

Anthem
by Ayn Rand

Plot: Anthem is a dystopian fiction novella by Ayn Rand, first published in 1938. Think of any dystopian (degraded into a repressive and controlled society) story such as Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury or even the movies Nineteen Eighty Four or the silent film Metropolis from Fritz Lang.

In the world of Anthem, the world is a collective one of the whole. Words like "I" or "me" have been lost in general, but if spoken, they are punishable by death. The revelation of technology is controlled (if released at all) and creativity (thinking outside your assigned duties) is strictly forbidden. The story centers around Equality 7-2521 who has a sin (or transgression) of a desire to learn. His love interest is Liberty 5-3000. He also has friends, International 4-8818 and Union 5-3992. And even having friends is sort of a transgression because no one person should value another person over the collective.

Without giving away the end, let's just say that Equality 7-2521 commits the worst of crimes and finds a new name fitting of his new freedom and self awareness.

At first I had to get accustomed to a few things like the long names that included numbers and a constant reference to an individual in the plural. I think I was also challenged with the culture of an oppressed society. Though I have thought that we have a certain type of freedom, it would be naive to believe that our society is without certain types of oppression (economic, religious etc.) and inoculations to hide the truth such as television, the news, self help movement, guru's etc.

It is also obvious that their dystopian world is a shout out to the author's Russian roots. I think a story like this takes on an interesting life of its own when you stop to consider your own freedoms, or whether you truly have any. If someone took away your right for creativity, individualism and focused your whole existence on following a set of orders and protocols in exchange for lodging, food and occasional sex, would you accept that? Knowing what personal freedom is, would you rebel or fall into your intended purpose? And this book sort of asks the question of what gives "the powers that be" the right to force their ideas and laws upon me? When does something like that go too far. And then ask yourself, when does my freedom go awry? Can I become a megalomaniac because I have complete autonomy?

I liked the book. On the surface it is a dystopian sci-fi story that is an absolute classic. But if you dig deeper there are underlying concepts that should be thought about on a personal level if not further considered on a political and social level.

Should you read the book?: Yes