Standing out from the 13,000 entries from over 100 countries, Elisabeth S.’s essay on Anthem won first prize in the Ayn Rand Institute’s essay contest for students in Grades 8, 9 and 10.

 

Elisabeth, Grade 10, read the Ayn Rand novella in the summer before Grade 9. Her father told her about the essay contest and encouraged her to apply. Anthem revolves around a character named Equality who lives in a world that prohibits individuality and controls technological advances. However, Equality starts illegally experimenting and rediscovers electricity. The essay contest asked the writers to consider what Equality’s motivation was to conduct his scientific experiments. The prompt read: “Do you think that Equality is right to be motivated in this way? Explain the reasons for your answer. What do you think the world would be like if everyone were motivated in the same way?”

 

“Originally, Equality incorrectly believes he is motivated to create something for society,” Elisabeth wrote. “However, he now understands his euphoria is from using his hands and his mind alone, for his own sake, to independently create something of significant value, without sacrifice. Ultimately it becomes clear that his motivation is to attain an individual identity through reason, intellect and inquisitiveness.”

 

Elisabeth further argued that there are merits to “rational egoism,” citing the Declaration of Independence and the pursuit of happiness. Without individuality and the freedom to pursue what interests you, there would be no advancements in society, she said. 

 

“If everyone takes rational actions and works at things that bring happiness while respecting others, greater value will be generated as more monumental scientific advances will lead to higher living standards and potentially greater freedom overall,” she wrote.

 

Elisabeth learned she had won while at Brown University, taking a class on expository writing, and the judges said Elisabeth had the one of the best, most shocked reactions they had heard in a while. When she received a call from a random number, Elisabeth said she was expecting an automated message when she picked up. When she found out what the call was about, she was shocked.

 

“It was so unexpected,” she said, mentioning that she had dreamed of being named a semifinalist. “It has given me a lot of confidence as a writer because at least I know that I have some strengths in my writing. English has always been one subject that has been more difficult for me, so that’s why I found it even more surprising.”

 

In addition to the first-prize recognition, Elisabeth was invited out to dinner with the Institute in New York and also received $2,000.