Anthem

In Anthem a major symbol to analyze is the “Uncharted Forest.” As Equality 7-2521 explained, “Beyond the plain there lies the Uncharted Forest, about which men must not speak” (24). In the novel, the forest represents freedom, and the fears that come along with it. The society fears freedom. And even the slightest thought of freedom must be oppressed by law. What Equality realizes is that freedom is now his only choice. “We were in the Uncharted Forest. We had not thought of coming here, but our legs had carried our wisdom, and our legs had brought us to the Uncharted Forest against our will” (94). Even though there was such a large fear of the unknown, of personal freedom, Equality’s wisdom brought him to it. The fear of the forest and its “Uncharted” unknown brought Equality to his home and his true love. Freedom brought happiness, and that is the significance of the Uncharted Forest.

“And yet there is no shame in us and no regret. We say to ourselves that we are a wretch and a traitor. But we feel no burden upon our spirit and no fear in our heart. And it seems to us that our spirit is clear as a lake troubled by no eyes save those of the sun. And in our heart-- strange are the ways of evil!--in our heart there is the first peace we have known in twenty years” (35). This is my favorite quote in Anthem because it represents rebellion. Equality went against his society on several accounts, and doesn’t regret it in the least. This quote reiterates the thought that you shouldn’t regret something that once made you smile. Equality loves knowledge, so he shouldn’t regret learning things the scholars know nothing of, such as the light bulb. He is so passionate about his cause and his invention that he doesn’t care about the consequences he shall face. This is the moment in the novel that foreshadows that Equality will go against his society’s opposition for the better of man kind, and it’s an inspirational quote.

Overall, I took a more positive outlook off of Anthem. It definitely expresses an underdog victory theme with the street sweeper inventing the light bulb while the scholars could not. I did not see the romantic love scene Klimastocles speaks of, but I enjoyed the light mood the relationship between Equality and the Golden One brought to the novel. It took the story from being another Utopian to independence theme to rebirth, and a chance for a new free society to begin. The theme of never giving up on what you believe is also very powerful throughout the story by Rand. Equality fought for what he wanted until the end when he had to flee for his life. The story of Anthem and Equality 7-2521 is inspirational.