Anthem Book Summary

ANTHEM BOOK REVIEW

Basic Summary

Main Characters(s): Equality 7-2521, The Golden One, Counsel of Scholars

Setting(s): Collectivist Society, Uncharted Forest, House in the woods

Summary: Anthem is about a collectivist society where everyone is equal. There is no “I” but only we and everyone functions together with no argument. The society seems to be flawless until young Equality 7-2521 is born. He is taller, smarter, and more curious than everyone else, and people sort of see him as threat for being different. Instead of being put on the counsel of scholars like he wanted, he is assigned to work as a street sweeper because the counsel feels it is too dangerous to allow such a curious mind to interact among them. While street sweeping he stumbles upon a tunnel and in that tunnel he finds and builds a new way to light things up as opposed to candles. He calls it the “box of lights.” While he’s sweeping the streets one day he gazes upon a gorgeous girl and falls in love with her, as she does with him, which is forbidden in the society. Equality, later that day, ventures to the home of the scholars to present his advanced lighting technology hoping to be awarded and put on the counsel. Instead he is scolded and sentenced to death for disobeying society rule and having individual thoughts and actions. He runs away to the “Uncharted Forest” and is followed by the women he saw when he was sweeping, whom he nicknamed “The Golden One” for her great beauty. When they run away they find a house and in it they find books, bringing them newfound knowledge of the “real world.” The two discover the word “I” and name themselves to show individuality instead of being collectivist like they were raised to be. To end the book, Equality and “The Golden One” both plot to go back and show everyone the truth; that everyone is different, and to free the society from its cell and let the people out into the real world to experience individualism and live their lives to the fullest.

Opinion

I really enjoyed the book's approah on life. I have never stopped to think about such small things as individuality as being important. I liked the plot, and really enjoyed the inventions that seem so meaningless to us now, like the light bulb. It is incredible how Ayn Rand can take things so simple and make them something of meaning and it really pulls the idea of life together. The characters are very well described and developed and the ending was excellent. If I had to rate this book I would give it a 9.5 out of 10, it was a great book and I enjoy having this new view on life. Overall, very well written, great plot, setting, and characters, it was awesome book.

Analysis

Ayn Rand was very successful in writting this book and giving everyone something to think about. It was very unique in the aspect that I've never read a book that has made me think about life in such simple terms. It was super fun to read and i could only find one problem with the whole book. When everyone is equal then how come the counsel of scholars is better than everyone else? If Ayn could dvelope a way to make everything and everyone equal it would help enhance the idea of the complete collectivism and possibly make the book better. Dispite this one flaw, it was a great story, great book, written by a great author.