Anthem Essay- Comparing It to the Bible
Compare and Contrast of Adam and Eve and Equality 7-2521 In the novel Anthem, Equality 7-2521’s circumstance of rebellion create similarities and differences to the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible. Adam and Eve’s sin can be compared to Equality 7-2521’s sins. Adam and Eve break one and only rule in the Garden of Eden by eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God gives Adam and Eve a permission to eat any fruit in the Garden of Eden except for the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A serpent tempts Eve to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and she gives some to Adam who was with her. Equality 7-2521 breaks many laws in his dystopian society where it is a sin to “be alone, ever and at any time, for this is the great transgression and the root of all evil” (Rand 17). He had the courage to seek and find knowledge from the Unmentionable Times, and to love the woman of his choice. Adam and Eve and Equality 7-2521 are aware of what will happen next, but they still fall into temptation and are condemned from their societies. Expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and the story of Equality 7-2521 are similar by falling into temptation, yet knowing that it is wrong. Adam and Eve’s reaction toward their sin can be contrasted by Equality 7-2521’s reaction. Adam and Eve break their one and only rule by eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. “Then the eyes of [Adam and Eve] opened, and they knew that they were naked” (ESV Bible, Genesis 3:7). They made themselves loincloths from sewing fig leaves together and hid themselves from the presence of God among the trees. They were afraid of God, and they were ashamed of themselves. Equality 7-2521 is not ashamed of what he did, nor did he fear anything. Equality7-2521 “only [wishes] to be away, away from the City and from the air that touches upon the air of the city” (76). He runs away to the Uncharted Forest