As the novel opens Equality 7-2521 states that what he’s doing is a sin. In his society it is a sin to do things that do not involve others, and the words he thinks and writes are for no one eyes to see or hear, but his own. In his society everyone thinks the same, and if you were to be the different one you would be sent to the palace of correction and detention. Equality 7-2521 actually had a mind of his own. As you can see Science fascinated him. For example in chapter 1 while it was dark Equality 7-2521 would sneak into a dark tunnel in which he would spend 3 hours doing scientific research, and experiments.
He would also steal manuscripts from the scholars, and every night he would study. This went on for two years. The difference between Equality 7-2521 and his society is that he actually wanted to succeed, while the rest of his society would settle for what they were told to be. The “glass box”, can also be referred as a light bulb. After countless nights of experimenting, Equality 7-2521 succeeds in connecting the power of electricity to re-invent the electric light. This invention that he came up with can benefit to society, but he doesn’t know how to tell them.
Remember, you can’t do anything that others can’t do. That was the philosophy that the society believed in. He figured that since the council wouldn’t appreciate his work, he would rather show his invention to the scholars. When the World Council of Scholars arrives in his city, he will present to them, as his gift, the “glass box with the power of the sky.” One night while Equality 7-2521 was working on an experiment in his tunnel, he totally lost track of time. He rushed out, and then the council questioned him on why was he late. Equality 7-2521 refused to answer and therefore he was sent to the palace of correction and detention. He was able to escape and retreat back to the tunnel. He found everything the same way that he had left it. He was then getting prepared for the arrival of the scholars.
The World Council of Scholars, arrive and that’s when Equality 7-2521 decides to sneak into the room. He shows his invention to the scholars, but the scholars are disgusted by him. They didn’t like the fact that he was a sagacious person, and proved to be smarter than them. The scholars told him that his invention must be destroyed, because what he invented must be for everyone’s sake, but his own. Equality then realizes that his invention was for his own sake. He then feels bad about his invention, and feels that he has committed a big sin.
When I look at the word EGO, I see the opportunity to live a free person. The human mind requires freedom, a successful life on earth requires it, and therefore the soul thirsts for freedom. Equality 7-2521 also looks at the word EGO as freedom, because he is no longer to be judged. He is now living in a world where he can think on his own and won’t be considered a sin. He is now free from the society that was holding him back. The collectivist society in which Equality 7-2521 lives is similar to Nazi communist states of the twentieth century. The council of this society did not allow for any individual to think freely.
The council wishes to expunge from human nature all thoughts of individuality. Instead of everyone having their individual name, they named them by groups such as Equality, International, Solidarity, and so on. This society was also forbidden to have friendships, and romance. The reason that this collectivist system was successful was because it forbade humans from speaking or even thinking of the word “I.” The states main weapon against individualism is the basic but effective form of thought control that it practices.
Society has mandated, under punishment of death, that all first-person references are with the plural “we,” even when the reference is to a single person. If you think about it, this story is pretty much like a futuristic Dark Age. Some of us may think that this could never happen to us, but it already did. Before the Renaissance age we all lived in a dark period that was known as the Dark Age. So you can actually say that history does repeat itself.
