The Concept of Truth in Ayn Rand's Novel 'Anthem'

Truth is impossible to recognize by those who are unable distinguish it. The only way that one will be able to understand reality, whether it is subjective or collective, is by having the ability to trust oneself above a municipality. “Man cannot sacrifice himself for others or others for himself,” (Ayn Rand, the Essentials of Objectivism, Anthem). One cannot spend his entire life toiling for the sake of someone else's happiness, which he will never have to do if that other person works for himself. Nothing can be accomplished by depending on another person for help, and one cannot know himself unless he has taken time to analyze his thoughts.

Truth is an incredibly broad word for a very specific yet elusive subject. To Ayn Rand, truth is only accessible through the human mind by means of reason and understanding. “The task of man’s consciousness is to perceive reality not to create or invent it” (Ayn Rand, the Essentials of Objectivism, Anthem). A man who is not willing to see and understand this is not worthy of knowing the truth. In the novel, International 4-8818 becomes an example of one who is not equipped to find the truths. “Then they smiled, but it was not a gay smile; it was lost and pleading... ...'We shall report our find to the city council and both of us will be rewarded.'” (Page 33). This is an example of International's lack of ability to bear the weight of enlightenment due to his ideas of community, which restricts his ability to see clearly. Although International was not able to see truth, there are examples of characters who were, one of them being the Saint of the Pyre. “They walked to the pyre, and their step did not falter. And of all the faces on the square, of all the faces which shrieked and screamed and spat curses upon them, theirs was the calmest and happiest face,”(Page 50). The Transgressor was a rebel who learned the forbidden word ego, and was then punished for it. Despite his harsh and painful death sentence, Prometheus realizes...