Anthem Strength and Skill Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

They are a tall, strong youth and their eyes are like fireflies, for there is laughter in their eyes. (1.36)

Equality 7-2521's friend International 4-8818 is, like Equality 7-2521, also tall, strong, and young. He's also got bright and lively eyes, unlike everyone else (whose eyes are dull). The people with a sense of individuality who naturally resist the Great WE seem to be physically marked off from everyone else.

Quote #5

Their body was straight and thin as a blade of iron. Their eyes were dark and hard and glowing, with no fear in them, no kindness and no guilt. Their hair was golden as the sun; their hair flew in the wind, shining and wild, as if it defied men to restrain it. (2.4)

Liberty 5-3000 has another straight, strong, beautiful body. And another pair of glowing eyes. Her eyes are "without kindness" too. Maybe that appeals to Equality 7-2521 because it makes her seem stronger and more ruggedly individualistic? Between that and the guiltlessness/fearlessness, she definitely radiates a kind of aggressive strength.

Quote #6

The eyes of our brothers are dull, and never do they look one another in the eyes. The shoulders of our brothers are hunched, and their muscles are drawn, as if their bodies were shrinking and wished to shrink out of sight. (2.42)

Here we get the description of the masses. They are dull-eyed, afraid, hunched, weak, and small. Just no middle ground between the tall, strong beautiful people and everybody else, is there?