PART TEN -anthem

In Chapter Ten of “Anthem,” the narrator describes discovering a house from the Unmentionable Times after traversing a challenging mountain range and forests unseen and undisturbed by human society. This house, distinct in architecture with its two stories, flat roof, and predominant windows, represents a treasure trove of the past, filled with artifacts, clothing, and books from a civilization long gone. Unlike the communal living enforced in their society, this house suggests a more individualistic and possibly familial unit existed, with only two beds within and personal garments that vary in color and material, unlike the uniform attire the narrator is accustomed to.

The discovery is profound for both the narrator and the Golden One, as they decide to claim this house as their own, marking the start and the end of their journey, choosing to live apart from the collective society they’ve fled. The items within the house—books with unfamiliar words, garments of various colors, and reflective surfaces that show their likenesses—spark curiosity and awe, promising a future of learning and understanding about the world of the Unmentionable Times.

The chapter closes with the narrator, reflective and anticipatory, contemplating the new world spread out before them. They perceive it as waiting for a new beginning, a directive or purpose they are yet to give. Despite the unknowns and the massive cultural and historical gap they face, the narrator and the Golden One are resolute in their decision to not return to their previous lives, to explore and inhabit this world that appears to open up with endless possibilities and learning. This chapter marks a turning point, symbolizing a break from the past and a step toward a future filled with personal discovery and freedom.