1. Selflessness, Egoism and Free Will
Developing Themes in Anthem

2. Selflessness
Selflessness, the lack of self, is essential in a collectivist society
A selfless person in a collective society doesn’t disagree, has no independent thoughts, doesn’t ask questions and does nothing to set him/herself apart.

3. To be selfless
one must abstain from thinking
and obey one’s master

4. To survive in a collectivist society
one must merge himself into the group
by obliterating individual identity
and individual thought

5. The result?
Anthem is an example of a society riddled with selflessness
Its citizens have no motivation, no ambition and no hope

6. Its citizens are unable to create anything
The society within Anthem provides no room for creativity and innovation

7. Egoism Egoism is the concern with one’s own interests
Egoism means that oneself, rather than others, benefits most from one’s actions

8. Equality “lives for his own happiness; he doesn’t sacrifice himself to others, nor does he sacrifice others to himself. The egoism he manifests is exactly what the leaders try to eradicate; ambition, wanting things for oneself, wanting to learn, wanting a career that makes him happy, loving someone, thinking for himself” -Penguin Group Anthem notes

9. Free Will
Free will is the belief that man can make their own choices, make up their own mind, make decisions and can direct their own lives by the ideas and values they adopt

10. In Anthem, Equality uses his own judgment to make decisions instead of the beliefs of his society.
Equality represents Rand’s view that man has the power to think and direct his own life.

11. Discussion Questions Is it really a bad thing to be selfless?
Our society has a negative connotation for the word “ego”. How do you feel about someone who has an “ego”?
We assume Equality has free will. Do others in the society have free will also?