Characters


 * Equality 7 - 2521 ** - A street sweeper, the main character. Equality 7-2521, who later rename themself Prometheus, believe in individualism and reject the collectivist society around him. They are vain and self-centered, strong, beautiful, and intelligent. They are very curious and desire freedom to explore and think, and they are unafraid of the society of mindless drones around them. Equality 7-2521 represents the superiority of a singular mind to the mind of the masses, who cannot think for themselves and are indistinguishable from one another. In the beginning of the novel, they actually follow and agree with the original world of __Anthem,__ then they discover the tunnel and begin to realize that humans are destined to be individual. They eventually discover the word "I" and give individual names to themselves and The Golden One.


 * The Golden One** - A beautiful peasant with whom Equality 7-2521 falls madly in love. The Golden One allows Equality 7-2521 to change her name from Liberty 5-3000 to the Golden One, and later, Gaea. The Golden One is proud and vain, strong and bitter. She loves Equality 7-2521 because he is different from most men around her. With him, she grapples with a desire to find the word “I” in order to express her love for him. The Golden One originally follows along with the society in //Anthem//. Then they fall in love with Equality and also vow to protect the importance of individual ego.


 * International 4 - 8818 ** - Equality 7-2521 ’s only friend. They assist Equality 7-2521 discover the tunnel in which Equality 7-2521 hides to write his journal and make his discoveries. International 4-8818 represents the citizen who secretly seeks his own meaning but is unable to realize it because he cannot break with his society. International 4-8818 also begins as a praticing citizen. Then he is torn between loyalty to his friend and his desire not to break the law. When Equality 7-2521 ventures off into the Uncharted Forest, International 4-8818 does not come along.