I. Any Rands Anthem is a science fiction novel set in the dark ages of the future in a loveless world.

II. Equality 7-2521, The Golden One, and International 4-8818 all play a significant roles in the Anthem. Equality 7-2521 is a genius who is made to be a street sweeper. Equality 7-2521, or Prometheus which he names himself, believes in individualism and rejects what society offers around him. He understands the significance of individualism. Equality 7-2521 desires to be free and is curious what the rest of the world has to offer. “For the coming of that day shall I fight, I and my sons and my chosen friends. For the freedom of Man. For his rights. For his life. For his honor.” (104) The Golden One (Liberty 5-3000) is a beautiful peasant with whom Equality 7-2521 falls in love with. The Golden One demonstrates her subservience to Equality 7-2521 by allowing him to change her name from Liberty 5-3000 to the Golden One, and later, Gaea. The Golden One is proud, strong and bitter. She sticks to Equality 7-2521’s side through everything. They became a team. “We knew not where we were going. We knew only that we must run, run to the end of the world, to the end of our days.” (75) The Transgressors were very significant to this story. They were burned alive for saying the word I. As they are being burned they makes no sound and shows no fear. They lock eyes with Equality 7-2521 and this brings out the unstoppable side of Equality 7-2521. He now knows the true meaning of individualism. They also represent a way to die properly. “And it seemed as if these eyes were begging us to gather that word and not to let it go from us and from the earth. But the flames rose and we could not guess the word…” (51)

III. The scene in which Equality 7-2521 shows the scholars the light bulb is one of the turning points in the Anthem. Collective 0-0009, the oldest and wisest of the scholars, asks Equality 7-2521 who he is, and Equality 7-2521 gives him his name and tells him he is a street sweeper. The scholars are very angry that a street sweeper would have interrupted their meeting. (69 &70). Equality 7-2521 stops them by telling them he has brought them the greatest gift ever presented to mankind, they listen to him while he tells the scholars the story of the invention of the light bulb, the tunnel, and his incarceration in the Palace of Corrective Detention. The scholars hear his story, but when he lights the light bulb, they become terrified and huddle against the walls, trembling together. (70) Equality 7-2521 laughs at them and tells them that he has tamed the sky for them and has presented to them the key of the earth. Collective 0-0009 lambasts Equality 7-2521 for breaking all the laws of their society and even boasting of doing so. The other scholars begin threatening Equality 7-2521, telling him they will have him burned at the stake or lashed to death. Equality 7-2521