In the Novella, Anthem, there are many factors that contribute to the reason why it is very rare for a person in the Anthem society to reach the age of forty-five. Many reasons contributing to the low life expectancy of the Anthem Community were depression and loneliness of the people as they go about living without being able to sympathize their individual thoughts with the others or themselves, had no chance to feel or express their joy and happiness with one another, and when a person reached the age of forty, they were transferred to the “Home of the Useless” (Chapter 1). Here they felt that they had nothing more to live for now that their community had nothing else for them to do, so they commit suicide. The result of this undeveloped society is the reason for the low life expectancy.

Their everyday life is coordinated by a bell that notifies them when they are supposed to awaken, eat, and sleep. Having a life where you can never have your adrenalin pumping from the thrills in life can ware away your senses that may be vital to . A life like this could cause many mental and physical disorders which can be one of the reasons why the life expectancy in the Anthem society is an average of 40 years old. Depression and loneliness is shown in the Novella by two boys Equality meets at the house of students. “Fraternity 2-5503, who cries without reason, and Solidarity 9-6347 who calls for help in the night” (Cht.12 Par.14) Historical fact proven that men’s life expectancy was 20 years old in past pre-industrial societies. Depression and loneliness together can cause many permanent mental disorders, including lower life expectancy.

Their emotions are forbidden, their social life is muted and paralyzed, they can’t write their thoughts and opinions on paper, and everyone is forbidden to question the city council, and so no one dares to. They practically have no civil rights like the U.S. Bill of rights that granted freedom of speech, press, religion, petition, assembly. They miss out on the chance to feel and express happiness with one another as friends, companions or spouses. “We were frightened that we had lived for twenty-one years and had never known what joy is possible to men.” (Cht.9 Par.20) While living a life of fear and estrangement from the council’s power, they could not see there was more to life than only accomplishing the jobs given to you by the council, then going to the House of the Useless and dying.