Freedom is something men have been trying to grasp ever since history has been recorded. It's only natural to want to express and do what we feel without any limitations or boundaries to restrict us. I know that without the freedoms given to me, I would be a very unhappy person. Being able to talk and act as I feel within reason is very important to me. In Anthem, by Ayn Rand, the character of Equality 7-2521 does not have these freedoms. Throughout the book, Equality 7-2521 struggles with the lack of freedom in society and eventually uses his knowledge to rise above his peers and realize his true meaning of life.

Because Equality 7-2521 is different from his peers, he values freedom when they do not. Although he has never known specific freedoms, he has always felt himself to be smarter and more of a thinker than...