April 12, 2021
Anthem Explanatory Essay

“Anthem” by Ayn Rand reflects the view of our world under communist rule. “Dystopia” is an imagined state or society in which there is great misery, typically one that is totalitarian, and extremely restrictive. For example. “The Giver,” is an example of dystopia. Citizens tend to avoid the outside world, and typically have no independent thought. There is a false sense of freedom, and propaganda is widely spread to shape the citizen’s views on the world and politics. Citizens of a dystopia likely believe that they are living in a Eutopia, or a ********. 
In “Anthem,” The citizens have apparent fear of the outside world, known as the Uncharted Forest. In the Uncharted Forest, there is thought to be scarce food, wild beasts, and dilapidated cities. Equality states, "There is fear hanging in the air of the sleeping halls, and in the air of the streets. Fear walks through the City, fear without name, without shape,” (Rand 53). Humans tend to avoid anything that might harm them, and the government makes the Uncharted Forest look like an unsettling place to live.
In this society, freedom, independent thought, and certain information is restricted. The government uses propaganda, or bias or misleading information, to control the political views of the citizens. Equality must think about, “the will of all men together,” and how they are all supposed to be, “one in all and all in one”. Nobody is allowed to think of, or for themselves and everybody’s decision is made by the grace of every brother. While freedom is not given to individuals, safety is seen through strict boundaries and disciplinary act. “‘Dare not choose in your minds to work you would like to do when you leave the Home of the Students. You shall do that which the Council of Vocation shall prescribe you... and if you are not needed by your brother man, there is no reason for you to burden the earth with your bodies,’” (Rand 61). This explains that in Anthem, freedom is an unwelcomed word and principal. This proves that the article is based on a sense of dystopia and communism.
In addition to what was stated previously, Anthem’s society uses propaganda to control the citizens. One example of propaganda is when a man was executed on the pyre in front of everyone, which implies that the citizens should not break the law and use pronouns, or they will face severe punishment. “But I still wonder how it was possible, in those graceless years of transition, long ago, that men did not see whether they were going, and went on, in blindness and cowardice, to their fate. I wonder, for it is hard for me to conceive how men who knew the word “I”, could give it up and not know what they have lost,” (Rand 35). This means that he is in awe of the people who basically failed to realize that they were converting into a dystopia. This explains how the simple word “I” was taken for granted, and how men did not notice the value of this word, because in a dystopia there is no free thought, therefore there is no “I.” 
To sum up everything stated thus far, citizens in “Anthem,” have a fear of the outside world, are oblivious to the truth due to propaganda, have no independent thought or freedom. Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society. Dystopia is a very limiting way of living life, and it is not desirable, because one cannot choose anything for his or herself, and his or her life is pre-determined.