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Anthem (ISBN 0451191137), first published in 1938, is a science-fiction novella by Ayn Rand.
Anthem is a look into the future results of the socioeconomic trends of the beginning of the 20th century -- a distant future-world where mankind has entered another dark age. This is a dark age of the ego, as well as one of technology. It describes a dark age born from mankind choosing social values of equality and brotherhood as replacements for the productive values of achievement and individuality.
The protagonist, Prometheus (also named Equality 7-2521 and The Unconquered at various stages in the story) lives within this dystopia. He is the only individual left, as everyone else in his society has surrendered their life to the state. Anthem narrates the events in his life that led to his escape from society and repossession of his freedom.
Plot Synopsis
Prometheus, writing in a tunnel under the earth, explains his background, the society around him, and his Transgression. His exclusive use of first-person plural (we and they) to refer to himself and others is immediately obvious. He recounts his early life. He was raised in the Home of the Infants, then transferred to the Home of the Students, where he began his schooling. At the latter, he realised that he was born with a curse: he is eager to think and question, and unwilling to give up his self for others. He excelled in math and science, and dreamed of becoming a Scholar. However, the Council of Vocations assigned him to the Home of the Street Sweepers. Prometheus decides that diligently working as a street sweeper will repent for his Transgression.
However, he remains curious. One day, he finds the entrance to a tunnel in his assigned work area, and explores it, despite his colleague's protests that an action unauthorized by a council is forbidden. Prometheus realises that the tunnel is left over from the Unmentionable Times, and is curious about it. Every day, he enters the tunnel and undertakes scientific experiments.
Working outside the City one day, by a field, Prometheus meets and falls in love with Liberty 5-3000, whom he names "The Golden One".
Continuing his scientific work, he rediscovers electricity and the lightbulb. He decides to take his inventions to the World Council of Scholars, so that they will recognise his talent and allow him to work with them. However, his absence from the Home of the Street Sweepers is noticed, and he is arrested and sent to jail, from which he easily escapes.
The day after his escape, he walks in on the World Council of Scholars, and presents his finding to them. They are horrified, and reject it because it was not collectively created or authorized by a Council. When they try to destroy his invention, he takes it and flees into the forest outside the City.
After living in the forest for several days, Prometheus stumbles upon the Golden One, who has followed him from the City. They embrace, and struggle to express their feelings to each other, as they have no knowledge of the word "I". They find and enter a house in the mountains, and decide to live in it.
Whilst reading books from the house's library, Prometheus discovers the word "I", and understands the word's sacred value and the individuality it expresses. As the book closes, he talks about the past, wonders how men could give up their individuality, and charts a future in which they will regain it.
Copyright status
According to the introductory text of the Project Gutenberg edition, Anthem is in the public domain in the United States due to a failure of the rights-holders to renew its copyright at some point in the past. It is still under copyright in Canada and probably in most other countries, especially those party to the Berne Convention. It is the only one of Ayn Rand's novels to be in the public domain in the United States, because she began her writing career after 1922.
Trivia
The concept piece 2112_(album) by progressive rock band Rush has a story that very strongly parallels "Anthem" (the invention here being instrumental music, rather than electric light). The liner notes of the album acknowledge "the genius of Ayn Rand" as a source of inspiration.
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