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Anthem by Ayn Rand is a very interesting book about a group of young people named Equality 7-2521. The world in the book is a world with no sense of individualism, so the characters are not named by themselves, but are placed in groups, which are labeled with a name and a number, like Equality-5221. Also, the characters in the book are to do everything they do for their brothers. In this world you go to school for ten years before receiving a job, which is given to you by the Council of Vocations.

When they were ten, Equality 7-2521 saw the public execution of the Transgressor of the Unspeakable Word, who had discovered the word “I” and was burned to death in the town square as punishment for using the word. While they were burning, the Transgressor showed no pain but locked eyes with Equality 7-2521. Equality 7-2521 comes to believe that that moment anointed him as a disciple of the same crusade as the Transgressor. Then, one day, Equality 7-2521 finds a tunnel which no other men know about. Inside of this tunnel they perform many experiments. This is illegal in the world of Anthem because it gives the impression that they believe they are more intelligent than their brothers. One day, after making many experiments Equality 7-2521 creates a glass box that can produce light and could be used in the place of candles. However, when it is brought to the World Council of Scholars the council says that the box would eliminate the use of candles. Also, they say that because Equality 7-2521 found it themselves and without their brothers that the light cannot be used.

Enraged by this, Equality 7-2521 smashes a window and run into the Uncharted Forest. They plan on living here for the remainder of their lives. Then a group that Equality 7-2521 deemed The Golden One, because of their good looks, suddenly shows up in the forest. They had been following Equality 7-2521. Then the whole group finds an abandoned shack from the Unmentionable Times, in the shack they find scriptures that cause them to discover the word “I.” From then on they vow to protect their home and from there launch a new race of men who will believe in individualism and the never-ending supremacy of the ego.

Click on the link below to get the complete text of //Anthem// by Ayn Rand.

[|Complete Text]