Anthem

"The Breath of Gaea" by Josephine Walls

I would like to analyze the "glass box" discussed with the World Council of Scholars on pages 70-77. While in reality the glass box is no more than a light bulb to us the reader, to the people that reside in the world and time of Equality 7-2521 the glass box is very dangerous. The box symbolises everything that Equality 7-2521 has done up to that point in the novel. It is the "inner glow" that people with imagination, and pride have. Equality 7-2521's box that glows with "fire" is Ayn Rand's way of showing the inner glow that Equality 7-2521 is and has been experiencing. The fact that it is glass shows how easily seen an individual can be. This glass casing over something different, something imaginative- over the glow within, is a mirror of Equality 7-2521. Always his teachers noted that he was different, and thereby easily read as I stated.

"I understood the blessed thing which I had called my curse. I understood why the best in me had been my sins and my transgressions; and why I had never felt guilt in my sins. I understood that centuries of chains and lashes will not kill the spirit of man nor the sense of truth within him." (Rand 98)
I particularly found this passage interesting in that Equality 7-2521 finally accepted what could not be accepted by society. I felt that in this passage was placed at a point in the novel where understanding and justification was necessary. Not only did Equality 7-2521 find what he wanted but in this passage Rand gives her readers a message within a message. She is showing people clearly that there is a reason for all, and eventually one will figure out why and when that happens.
I really found The Golden One's name choice interesting. "Gaea" or "Gaia" is a Greek Goddess said to be the daughter of Chaos. She was the mother of everything you see, "Mother Earth" as she is often referred to today. It is also said that the only thing that meant more to her than her children were the "rebels" even those that rebelled against her many "godlike" children (many of them actually were Greek Gods) were favored by here simply for the rebellion within them. Overall i really liked this book, the reference to Greek Mythology at the end was by far the best part, but that could be because I am beginning to lose interest in the Dystopia aspect of the novels we have been reading. I thought that Rand stayed in character with a skill I only wish I had when it comes to writing. However, I personally did not think this was the best work I have read by her.