What Is The Moral Of The Novel 'Anthem' By Ayn Rand?

The novel “Anthem” was written by a Russian-American author known as Ayn Rand. Her philosophy consisted of Objectivism; reality exists independently of consciousness, that human beings have direct contact with reality through sense perception. Anthem was written in 1937 when Ayn Rand was 32. During this time, Russia was undergoing a purge; known as, the Great Purge. The novel shares the same societal characteristics as Russia which was undergoing a communist revolution since 1917 led by Josef Stalin: the leader of the Soviet Union at the time. The citizens in Anthem are controlled by a communist government that is ran by higher officials which no one can surpass, can control their education, and forces everyone to be equal to their peers. …show more content…
These officials go by the name of “The World Council of Scholars”. According to the novel, the protagonist Equality 7-2521 describes the World Council of Scholars as “the body of all truth.” (3; Ch. 1) In addition, the council told Equality 7-2521, “A Street Sweeper! A Street Sweeper walking in upon the World Council of Scholars! It is not to be believed! It is against all the rules and all the laws!”, when he entered the Palace belonging to the World Council of Scholars. (25; Ch. 7) The evidence implies that the World Council of Scholars are superior and no one must defy their authority. They force beliefs into their citizens and treat them as if they are inferior to the World Council. This style of totalitarian rule is a representation of