Greatness in Anthem
In a society of many, how can one live to their true potential? One cannot go about finding themselves when criticized and ridiculed for acting and thinking different. This is the idea that Ayn Rand bases her novella, Anthem, upon. Against the society’s laws and beliefs, Ayn’s character, Prometheus, learns “why the best in me had been my sins and my transgressions; and why I had never felt guilt in my sins” (98). He finds that his sins enable him to bring back such a power to the society, even if others are against it. He can use his sins to become better. One cannot stand alone in this obscure society, unless they gain such knowledge that Prometheus has obtained from sinning. Although greatness is obtained by his sins, Prometheus is threatening the beliefs of the one and only society he knows. Committing such sins and transgressions that are needed to gain his knowledge and power forces Prometheus to break the laws of his society. The society views Prometheus as not only sinful but evil, being smarter and taller (18). Finding greatness within, Prometheus looks to himself for the future. He understands that his brothers’ futures depend upon him because the past’s achievements are only open to Prometheus. His curse allows him to carry these achievements to the future, for his brothers’ “minds are shackled to the weakest and dullest ones among them” (100). One of the attainments of the past that Prometheus is able to obtain is the power of light. He violates the law to discover this power, but never regrets such a transgression. His discovery could literally brighten the future. The future of his brothers could be “cleaner and brighter, than any they have ever known” (60). This discovery would not have been made if Prometheus had not committed his transgression of working alone. Prometheus’s future is influenced by the past. Finding a house from the Unmentionable Times, Prometheus is able to ponder upon the inventions and life styles of those who came before