I think the “Unspeakable Word” that Equality is trying to grasp is the word “I.” In this chapter, it
is becoming clear that he is beginning to develop the idea of individuality. When speaking of Liberty 53000, he says “we do not think of our brothers as we must, but only of one, and their name is Liberty 53000” (41). If he is beginning to think about Liberty as an individual, it is only a matter of time before he
begins to see this same quality in himself. Another example can be found when he is describing the
Transgressor he saw burned at the stake for learning the Unspeakable Word: despite all of the torture
he endured following this, including having his tongue torn out so that he could not speak, Equality says
“of all the faces which shrieked and screamed and spat curses upon them, theirs was the calmest and
the happiest face” (50). This kind of joy and confidence can only be known when one knows himself as
an individual, free from others’ attempts to control him.
Claim
Evidence
Commentary