ANTHEM is a dystopian fiction novella by Ayn Rand, written in 1937 and
first published in 1938 in England. It takes place at some unspecified
future date when mankind has entered another dark age. Technological
advancement is now carefully planned and the concept of individuality
has been eliminated.
Equality 7-2521, writing by candlelight in a tunnel under the earth,
tells the story of his life up to that point. He exclusively uses plural
pronoun(s) ("we", "our", "they") to refer to himself and others. He was
raised like all children in his society, away from his parents in
collective homes. Later, he realized that he was born with a "curse",
that makes him learn quickly and ask many questions. He excelled at the
Science of Things and dreamed of becoming a Scholar. However, a Council
of Vocations assigns all people to their Life Mandate, and he was
assigned to be a Street Sweeper.
He accepts his street sweeping assignment as penance for his
"Transgression of Preference" in secretly desiring to be a Scholar. He
finds an entrance to a tunnel in their assigned work area. Despite his
friend's protests that any exploration unauthorized by a Council is
forbidden, Equality enters the tunnel and finds that it contains metal
tracks. He realizes that the tunnel is from the Unmentionable Times of
the distant past . . . (more at www.wisehouse-classics.com)
