Anthem by Ayn Rand

What is the meaning of the word, "I"? Many people take the word for granted. What if one day, a new society comes along and casts it away, unto the dirty dry ground and buries it into history. What now? Would we further more be known as the great “We”. No longer being allowed to be depicted among men, no ownership, and now all our efforts must be done in the sake of our “brothers”.

In the novel Anthem, one man dares to go against everything he has been taught and society. He learns to accept the word “I”, and symbolizes ownership by loving the woman of his choice. He brings forth the light from the ancient times, and he does all of these acts not for his brothers, but for himself and himself alone, as one. Cause this is the one true thing that brings him pleasure and enjoyment, is being allowed to call something his own , and act upon his own efforts and strengths. Though he is punished for his actions, he does it in hope that a man can be referred to as one and not "We".

Ayn Rand wishes to portray her theory of objectivism by showing what the world would be like if men freely gave up their right to be their own person, and work for themselves. Being allowed to show that you are the most important thing, and though we are constantly paying the price for our fellow men, cause they are trying to hold us back from our true potential. Ayn Rand is one of the few modern day philosophers who has chosen to accept the facts of reality, which most of us hide from.