Anthem v.s The Island

Everyone has an ego. Imagine being trapped in a society and stripped of your individuality and personal choices. That is exactly what happens to the main characters in the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand and the movie The Island directed by Michael Bay. One can clearly pull out many similarities between the main character in Anthem, Equality 7-2521and the main character in The Island, Lincoln-6-Echo.

First, each character refuses to conform in their respective societies. Also, both characters use their knowledge and resources to further understand their situation. Finally, each character eventually breaks free of their societies. For these reasons and more, Equality 7-2521 and Lincoln-6-Echo are unconquered souls.First, both characters refuse to conform to society.

Equality is "born with a curse...[which drives him] to thoughts which are forbidden" (Rand 18).

In the Anthem society, each person must think the same. Having different thoughts than your "brothers" is not allowed, yet Equality constantly "...wishes [for things] men may not wish" (18). He has desires to be an individual, and wants to pursue a career in Science, although he his not supposed to have preferences.

In comparison, Lincoln-6-Echo consistently has nightmares about his "past". He has memories which are not his own. Since he is a clone, the only thoughts Lincoln should have are the ones implanted in his brain, yet he has more thoughts than fellow members of his society. These thoughts drive him to question his overall situation and what is really going on in his society. Overall, both characters do not let their leaders have full control of their mind, proving they are unconquered.

Also, both characters use their knowledge and resources to further understand their situation. Equality "...saw an old iron grill over a black hole.

.. [and] since the council does not know of this hole there can be no law permitting to enter"(31). Yet, Equality continues down the hole and "...

knew suddenly that [the] place was left from the Unmentionable Times" (32). Equality continues to visit this strange place over time and eventually makes discoveries like electricity which lead him to knowing about the outside world. Likewise, Lincoln has a friend on the outside who he tries to gather information from. He visits a secluded room from "before contamination" and learns about the outside world from Maccoy by listening to stories about his experiences and opinions. Although Lincoln doesn't understand everything he is told, he makes discoveries like a live bug. The bug shouldn't be there since the clones are supposed to be the only living organisms in this society, so this leads him to understand there is life outside of the protected society he is living in.

To conclude, both characters use their knowledge and resources to their best abilities, showing that they are unconquered souls.Finally, the two characters eventually break free of their societies. Upon coming to conclusion that not even the Council of Scholars understand his great discovery of electricity, Equality decides to escape. At that moment he does not care where he goes, as long as he is no longer trapped in this society. This is shown when Equality says," It mattered not where we went.

.. we knew that men would not follow us, for they never enter the Uncharted Forest"(76). Eventually though, Equality's companion the Golden One has the courage to follow him into the forest and they achieve ultimate freedom to begin a new life.

Similarly, when Lincoln realizes "The Island" is not real and people go there to be killed, he takes matters into his own hands. He escapes with his companion Jordan, and they eventually come back to free all the clones in their society. Lincoln and Jordan also become free to start a new beginning and re-invent their lives. In summary, by removing themselves from their societies, these characters make the ultimate decision to free themselves, thus becoming unconquered.Both Equality and Lincoln are very similar characters. They have a need to be individuals in their controlled societies.

First, they do not conform to their respective societies. Also, both characters use their knowledge and resources to further understand their situation. Finally, each character eventually breaks free of their societies. In conclusion, the character Equality and the character Lincoln both achieve ultimate freedom, thus proving they are unconquered souls.