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What if there was one word, one forbidden word, that one could not speak without risking the death penalty? In the world of Anthem, a dystopian novella by Ayn Rand, there is such a word. Anthem is in many ways akin to George Orwell's 1984 in that society is being manipulated to perform work for the good of “the state.” However, unlike 1984, men in Anthem are discouraged from associating any actions with themselves and encouraged instead to see everyone around them as their “brother” or “sister.” And unlike any other of its type, Anthem portrays the imagined society as not inherently bad: the people are just “there” to do whatever commission the Council sets before them. But faults in the system come out when a young man, Equality 7-2521, discovers that he wants something more than bland happiness in his life.

 

Anthem starts out as rather dark science fiction. The imagined future society is extremely collective and non-individualistic, so (while it doesn't at once seem evil) the reader immediately feels the lack of freedom. This is a world where everyone is equal (although some are more equal than others), and everyone must adhere to stifling laws and regulations enforced by powerful, dictatorial, closed-minded bureaucrats. The people have been suffocated for so long they acknowledge that even disobedience to the Council and its rules is sinning. Like many dystopian novels, this one eliminates God from the picture. And with no One to turn to, Equality 7-2521 decides to pursue science.

 

The progress he makes is astounding. Equality 7-2521 experiences the joys of biology, chemistry, and botany. His pure and simple amazement at the insides of a frog will be familiar to any past or present biology student. But then Equality makes a monumental achievement: he rediscovers electricity. Society has degenerated so far it has forgotten the secrets of the light bulb. He cannot keep his progress secret any longer. Equality 7-2521 must show the Council his work.

 

If you are well-read in this particular genre of literature, you know what must happen next. In 1984 Winston is tortured; in Brave New World John hangs himself. But not here. A twist of fate gives Equality 7-2521 hope for the future. The forbidden word is discovered.

 

Rand seems to believe that man, when he blindly and wholeheartedly follows a philosophy, eventually turns to the extreme of that philosophy. At least in Ms. Rand's eyes this extreme will always be evil. Without this impediment, however, Rand shows that man is not base or evil. Anthem, like Rand's other works Atlas Shrugged and Fountainhead, is actually an homage to man's greatest strengths — his mind, soul, independence, romanticism, individualism, and love.

 

In a society where corporations tell teenagers what to wear, buy, and listen to, Anthem has no little bearing on people today. We need to think for ourselves. In Anthem we see the horrible effect playing follow-the-leader has, and that arguably is what is happening today. Even following the Bible blindly is no way to live, even if it produces good results. I felt inspired by Anthem to put down my video games and think about what I believe in and what my worldview is. Instead of feeling downtrodden and depressed, as I felt after finishing Animal Farm and Brave New World, I felt this message ring true. Anthem is a brilliant, uplifting, and sobering novella that warns us of and opposes mindless alienation from truth. What was the forbidden word? Read and find out.

 

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