Ego is defined as one's consciousness of one's own identity. In our society egoists are usually considered to have a lack of respect for other thoughts and beliefs. They believe they are better than the society around them. The word ego in our society has an unpleasant connotation. However, as understood and the context of Ann Rand's story, Egoism is a positive concept. If you were to be dependent on everyone around you, society wouldn't be able to grow and prosper with new ideas. In Anthem by Ayn Rand, Equality 7-2621 is trapped in the middle of a collectivist society, trying to break free from its grips. His discovery of egoism introduces change and the promise of new possibility in his life.
Equality 7-2521 wasn't an egoist in the beginning of the book, but he wanted to be free from his brothers. Equality had a well developed mind unlike the rest of his brothers, but it was a sin to know more than his brothers. For having greater understanding and a thirst to learn he was lashed more than anyone of his peers or "brothers". "Your eyes are as a flame, but our brothers have neither hope nor fire." (Ayn Rand p.83)Equality states that he is above his brothers. He makes it clear that he desires to be set apart from his brothers. Equality 7-2521 couldn't fight his will; it was stronger than the collectivist system that he lived in and led him down the road to discovery.
The discovery of the word "I" changes Equality's world. "It was when I read the first of the books I had found in my house that I saw the word "I." And when I understood this word, the book fell from my hands, and I wept, I who had never known tears. I wept in deliverance and in pity for all mankind" (Ayn Rand p.98) He finds he can finally express his own feelings rather than the collective feelings of his brothers. They were feelings of sadness, that some of his brothers wouldn't ever experience the word "I", and its magical powers.
