In both "Brave New World," by Aldous Huxley and "Anthem," by Ayn Rand, it is continually shown how the futuristic absolute authoritarian societies are corrupted. Both novels have an overlying theme of the loss of individualism and adoption of ideologies that encourage citizens to act with the greater good in mind rather than viewing themselves as an individual. While they do have their differences, "Brave New World" and "Anthem" are similar in the fact that they depict futuristic "utopias"" with governing bodies that are ridden with corruption, and have protagonists who do not fit into the social ideals of uniformity in their respective societies. In both Huxley and Rand's novels, their protagonists are outcasts, and the societies are corrupt in that their only goal is to maintain complete control over the citizens, and ensure their hold on power.
The protagonists of the novels both develop into characters that fit the archetype of the Outcast. John the Savage, the protagonist in "Brave New World," is a character that doesn't fit in right from the beginning. Being born on the Savage Reservation to a mother from the World State automatically makes him an outcast in the Savage society, where he is not accepted. When he moves to the World State, he finds no place there either because of his different cultural background. Similarly, in "Anthem," protagonist Equality 7-2521 is depicted as different as his "brothers. " He recalls being displeased with activities that the people were meant to enjoy from an early age. It is said by the narrator himself, "We.were not happy in those years in the Home of the Students"" (Rand 21). The protagonists' anti-social tendencies and displeasure with the function of their societies lead them to attempt to create a new society. John, unable to stand the ideology in the World State, retreats to a secluded lighthouse in the woods where he can live out his life in peace while trying to forget the World State altogether.
